The New Balance 408 is a low-top running-style trainer built with a mesh-and-suede upper for a look that suits everyday casual wear as much as it does an active lifestyle. The toe box and heel counter are finished in a brushed, napped suede-like material, while the mid-panel is an open-weave mesh that lets a darker underlay show through, giving the shoe depth and texture without shouting for attention.
On each side sits a large moulded "N" logo in a contrasting gunmetal grey tone, alongside "408" text moulded into the heel overlay and a raised "new balance" wordmark on the padded heel collar. Fabric pull-loops at the heel and tongue make the trainer easy to get on and off, and the padded tongue adds comfort where the laces sit. Round black laces run through a mix of fabric loop eyelets and a single metal eyelet at the throat for a secure, adjustable fit.
Underfoot, the sculpted two-layer midsole pairs a black EVA-type foam layer with a deep, multidirectional lugged outsole in dark grey-black rubber, with hexagonal and block-shaped tread carried up onto the sidewall. This is a versatile choice for anyone after a comfortable, textured trainer with genuine retro running DNA — equally at home with jeans or joggers, and finished throughout in a black and dark grey colourway with neat contrast stitching along every overlay edge.