New Balance Introduces a Handmade $250 Walking Shoe With Tech Hidden in an Elderly Package

New Balance is saying, “hold my beer” when it comes to upholding its reputation as a purveyor of dad shoes.

The New Balance Allerdale Made in UK is a walking shoe that’s begun to surface at overseas retailers and is quickly drawing attention for its $250 price tag and comparatively modest profile. It’s a humble, fuss-free silhouette with a chocolate pebbled leather upper arranging its panels in a fashion similar to the T500 tennis shoe from the ’80s or a few models from Mephisto. Each pair has been handmade in New Balance’s Flimby, United Kingdom factory, and the archaic look belies the modern tech sitting inside the sole unit for your comfort.

FuelCell foam — a fixture of New Balance’s contemporary performance sneakers in running, basketball and more — is hidden away within the rubber exterior. An Ortholite insole then reinforces the comfort underfoot.

Named for a district in Northern England, the Allerdale should be a hit for those looking to blur the lines between dadcore and grandpa core or simply willing to make an investment in a hardy but comfortable sneaker that can rack up the steps with a degree of refinement. Some may scoff at the price tag and others will call it boring, but there should be an audience for the Allerdale nonetheless.

The New Balance Allerdale Made in UK is popping up with late-March release dates for retailers in Europe in Japan, but there’s been no word yet on a launch in the U.S. Pricing is set at $250, and Footwear News will keep you abreast of any updates.