What Was the First Dad Shoe? A Brief Look Back at the Early History of Dad Sneakers

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Dad Shoe 101 is the “class” created by Dad Shoe Deals to teach you all about dad shoes. We strive to offer in-depth answers to questions like, “What was the first dad shoe?”

Lesson Plans

• We’ll begin by touching on the early history of dad sneakers and provide a definitive answer to the question, “What was the first dad shoe?”
• We’ll talk more about the first dad sneaker and its massive impact over the years.
• We’ll reveal whether or not this iconic shoe is still around.

What Is the History of Dad Shoes?

The history of dad shoes goes back a lot further than many people realize. To properly answer the question, “What was the first dad shoe?”, we must start at the beginning. We need to better understand what was happening in the sneaker industry when dad shoes first emerged.

The early 1980s saw the original dad shoes released. New Balance, Nike, and Reebok were the first companies to unveil athletic trainers offering the perfect blend of comfort and style. This made them a huge hit among middle-aged consumers, especially dads.

Of course, the term “dad shoe” didn’t exist back then. Because of this, these brands — which would eventually become some of the most popular dad shoe brands — didn’t initially receive credit for jumpstarting the dad sneaker trend. However, a quick look at the history of dad shoes highlights the critical role they played in the success of the earliest models.

What Was the First Dad Shoe?

The first dad shoe was not the Nike Air Monarch. Many people provide this answer when asked, “What was the first dad shoe?” They also often call the boundary-pushing sneaker the “dad of all dad shoes.” However, it didn’t hit stores until the early 2000s.

The first dad sneaker was not the Reebok Classic, either. To some people, it’s the “quintessential dad shoe.” But Reebok released it in 1983, roughly a year after another sneaker dropped that set the stage for all the dad-approved sneakers that followed.

The New Balance 990 is widely recognized as the first dad shoe. It hit stores in 1982, giving it a slight edge over other dad shoes introduced around this time.

New Balance 990v6, $200 at Amazon

What Impact Did the First Dad Shoe Have?

The New Balance 990 had a significant impact as the first dad shoe. In fact, you could argue that dad sneakers, as we know them today, wouldn’t exist if it weren’t the correct answer to the question, “What was the first dad shoe?”

Ironically enough, New Balance marketed the 990 as a “high-performance” running sneaker and sold it for $100. This suggested the brand didn’t design it for dads to wear while mowing the lawn or grilling.

The New Balance 990 was also among the first sneakers with a motion control footbed. This cutting-edge feature prevented a person’s foot from rolling inward during running and other high-impact sports, such as tennis. It further revealed that creating the first dad sneaker was likely the farthest thing from New Balance designers’ minds in the early 1980s.

So, how did the New Balance 990 transform into the first shoe beloved by dads everywhere? Well, what can we say other than…just look at it!

From its gray suede upper to its chunky silhouette, the New Balance 990 embodied everything that dad shoes would become and still are today. It was also ridiculously comfortable, which made it a shoe dads fell in love with almost instantly.

Is the First Dad Shoe Still Around?

The first dad shoe is still around over four decades after its initial release. New Balance has done more than just pay tribute to its timeless design by occasionally re-releasing it. Despite its seemingly endless supply of other dad shoes, the Boston-based brand continues to reinvent the New Balance 990.

From the New Balance 990v2 that dropped in 1998 to the New Balance 990v3 that struck in 2012 to, most recently, the New Balance 990v6 that gave the classic dad sneaker a more modern upgrade in 2022, it just hasn’t gone away. It doesn’t look like it will disappear anytime soon, either.

The New Balance 990 is also no longer just for dads. It has achieved a cult following, with everyone from the late Steve Jobs and Ben Affleck to Jennifer Garner and Hilary Duff spotted wearing it. However, it will always have a special place in dads’ hearts.

Which Other New Balance Sneakers Are Dad Shoes?

People consider many New Balance sneakers dad shoes, not just the New Balance 990. While this game-changing sneaker certainly deserves credit for being first, the New Balance 574, which arrived in 1988, has arguably been the better dad shoe overall.

The New Balance 530 also stole the spotlight following its 1992 release. People loved its patented ABZORB heel cushioning, chunky design, and understated mesh and synthetic upper. It wasn’t an instant classic by any means, but New Balance’s commitment to creating some of the best dad sneakers around ultimately converted it into one when the dad shoe wave swelled throughout the 2010s.

Summarizing Today’s Dad Shoe 101 Lesson

Legendary dad shoes like the Nike Monarch have earned their rightful places in history. Yet, there is one thing that they will never be able to add to their resumes: That they were the right answer to the question, “What was the first dad shoe?”

There can only be one first dad shoe: The New Balance 990. It was the running sneaker that walked so that dad shoes could mow.

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