New Balance drags their heritage kicking and screaming into the modern era with the Warped Runner. Created by fusing industry-leading FuelCell technology with the looks of a bygone era – the Warped Runner is a departure from the norm for the Boston-based brand.

The sleek upper is reminiscent of NB's break-out models from the 1970s, with shades of the featherweight 205 marathon runner from 1999. Although the inspirations might be retro, the execution is contemporary. Only a handful of suede panels flow across the mesh upper, with their compound curves akin to something formed by nature – rather than a designer's pencil.

The organic forms work well with the FuelCell-equipped sole tooling, where a tall stack height makes for a bold look with function to back it up. As it turns out, what works in a marathon isn't half bad for casual wear either...