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Up for Debate
- New Balance has kicked up controversy with the New Balance Made in USA 2040v5, its newly released $400 dad shoes.
- Some people have started calling the New Balance 2040v5 a “super dad shoe.” They’ve justified its unusually high retail price by pointing out that it’s constructed from high-end materials and features top-tier technologies.
- Others can’t imagine buying $400 dad sneakers, no matter what. This has sparked lively debates online.
Why New Balance’s $400 Dad Shoes Are Kicking Up Controversy
From “jumbo shrimp” and “open secret” to “pretty ugly” and “old news,” the English language already contains too many oxymorons to count. But it looks like it may have freed up enough space to add one more: “$400 dad shoes.”
In one of the first Dad Shoe 101 articles I wrote for Dad Shoe Deals, I set out to answer the question, “What are considered dad shoes?” I did so by listing the top features found in dad sneakers. I included things like “retro aesthetic,” “neutral colors,” and “comfortable midsoles.”
Then, I wrapped up the piece by suggesting that one final factor — “affordable price” — is arguably the most important of all.
Dads are always delivering a never-ending stream of classic one-liners about money. They range from “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” to “Do I look like I’m made of money?” So it didn’t feel like a stretch to say that dad shoes and affordability should go hand in hand.
Less than 6 months later, New Balance is putting this theory to the test with — you guessed it — $400 dad shoes.
The Boston-based brand just introduced the New Balance Made in USA 2040v5, the next iteration of the 2040 model that launched in 2012. It’s one of the most expensive general-release sneakers in its storied history.
The 120-year-old company also rolled out the marketing slogan, “Put Your Money Where Your Feet Are,” to promote it.
The New Balance Made in USA 2040v5, currently available only in a “Castlerock” colorway, is far from the priciest dad shoe ever to hit stores. High-end luxury dad shoes like the Balenciaga Triple S routinely retail for twice as much and sometimes even more.
It also wasn’t a complete surprise to learn the Made in USA 2040v5 would be New Balance’s first $400 dad shoe. Previous 2040 models have typically retailed for between $275 and $350. It successfully set a price precedent for the 2040v5.
And yet, none of this made the introduction of New Balance’s $400 dad sneakers any less jarring. “Are 400 dollar dad shoes too expensive?” has been a frequently asked question in sneaker circles since.
How People Are Reacting to New Balance’s $400 Dad Shoes
New Balance introduced the Made in USA 2040v5 at the same time Reebok revealed it would be re-releasing 50 Cent’s G-Unit G6 sneakers. It also announced the 2040v5 would drop the same day as the G-Unit sneakers.
These factors may have tempered the overall reaction to the $400 dad shoes just slightly. But make no mistake about it: The Made in USA 2040v5 certainly sparked its fair share of debates in the immediate aftermath of New Balance’s announcement.
From a media perspective, some sneaker websites and blogs provided the 2040v5 with a warm welcome, despite its $400 price tag.
Highsnobiety referred to New Balance’s newest 2040 as “the Rolls-Royce of normcore sneakers.” WWD echoed a New Balance executive’s words by alluding to it as “one of the most ambitious” sneakers the brand has ever released.
Sneaker News went as far as to christen it a “super dad shoe”:
However, this wasn’t the consensus. Other sneaker sites and blogs weren’t as forgiving. British GQ, for example, ran with the blunt headline, “Why the hell does this New Balance cost £350?”
Redditors also went to town on the New Balance Made in USA 2040v5. In a post titled “$400 🤨,” they chimed in on the brand’s $400 dad sneakers with comments like these:
More than a few social media users also had something to say about the latest iteration of the NB 2040. Here are the most critical comments Instagrammers left on the IG post New Balance published on the day its $400 dad shoes launched:
The back-and-forth between those OK with spending $400 on the New Balance 2040v5 and those not on board with it added more fuel to the fire.
Why the $400 New Balance 2040v5 Is So Expensive
Momentarily, I will make the case for — and against — buying the $400 Made in USA 2040v5 dad sneaker. But first, I want to break down why these so-called “super dad shoes” boast such an unbelievably high price tag.
For starters, it sounds like the $400 dad sneaker’s designers went through a painstaking process creating it, according to New Balance’s Global VP of Lifestyle Product Brian Lynn.
”Every detail was evaluated through the lens of craft, performance, and material integrity,” Lynn said in an NB press release. “Free from trend-driven thinking or unnecessary compromise, the team focused on a singular objective: creating the ultimate expression of Made in USA footwear.”
But let’s dig a little deeper here. These specific features are apparently what make the 2040v5 $400 dad shoes:
- It has a premium Horween nubuck leather upper (now that “leather so soft” image above makes a lot more sense, right? Er, right?!)
- It includes a stacked midsole that blends FuelCell, ABZORB SBS, and ENCAP technologies.
- It provides a pair of full-length carbon fiber plates.
Plus, the New Balance Made in USA 2040v5s are, as their name suggests, made in the U.S. This alone makes them more expensive dad shoes than they would otherwise be.
Still, does all of this justify paying $400 for dad shoes that don’t look all that different from their fellow New Balance sneakers at first glance?
Let’s attempt to put an end to the debate by laying out three reasons to buy New Balance’s $400 dad shoes — and three reasons to leave them on store shelves.
3 Reasons I’m Adding New Balance’s $400 Dad Shoes to My Cart
1. I Almost Feel Bad Describing the Materials Used to Make Them as “High-Quality”
I would describe the materials used to make most of the sneakers included in New Balance’s Made in USA collection — such as the New Balance 990v6 — as “high-quality.” So I’m at a loss for words when describing the materials used to make the New Balance Made in USA 2040v5.
Superior? First-rate? Choice? High-end? Premium? Top-notch?
The uppers on these $400 dad shoes are made using materials from Horween Leather Company. It’s a 121-year-old company based in Chicago, known for producing wallets that sell for $740 and bags that command $1,200. It has also supplied a little organization called the National Football League with the leather used to make its game balls since the 1940s.
All of this signals that these are some of the highest-quality shoes that New Balance has ever introduced.
2. I Don’t Need to Wear Them to Know They’re Comfortable
Generally speaking, I believe the answer to the question, “Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?” is “yes” 99.999999999% of the time. The cushioning included in the New Balance 2040v5 might be the rare exception.
I won’t bore you with complete breakdowns of New Balance’s FuelCell, ABZORB SBS, and ENCAP technologies. But know this: The fact that these $400 dad shoes have all three is a clear-cut sign they’re as comfortable as they can be.
3. I Wouldn’t Have to Replace Them Anytime Soon (If Ever?)
I tend to keep my dad shoes for a long time. Even though I might not wear them much, if you ask me to come over and help you clean out your garage, best believe I’ve got a pair of old, beat-up dad sneakers that I bought back in college (I’m 43 now) that I can throw on.
The New Balance Made in USA 2040v5s look designed to last. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if these ended up being the last lawn-mowing shoes I ever put on.
3 Reasons I’m Abandoning My Cart With New Balance’s $400 Dad Shoes Still in It
1. I Hate the “Put Your Money Where Your Feet Are” Slogan
New Balance has a history of highlighting just how pricey some of its sneakers are when introducing them. For example, it ran with the slogan, “Mortgage the house,” for advertisements surrounding the release of the New Balance 1300 in 1985 (see the third slide in the IG post below).
With this in mind, the New Balance 2040v5’s “Put Your Money Where Your Feet Are” tagline isn’t all that shocking.
But when you consider that a sizable percentage of people in this country — nearly 40% — couldn’t afford a $400 emergency right now, it still feels…Cringey? Icky? Bleh?
Take your pick.
2. I Probably Don’t Need 98% of Their Features.
If I were to buy these $400 dad sneakers, I would most likely wear them to, like, the grocery store and the occasional family party.
Do I really need three types of cushioning and a pair of carbon fiber plates to keep my feet comfortable while I run errands? The New Balance 574 does the job for 25% of the cost.
3. I Doubt Most People Would Notice I Have $400 Dad Shoes on My Feet
When you look at other high-priced dad shoes — think the Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 “Wave Runner” — there is no mistaking them. Most clearly look like the best dad shoes ever. I know at least a few people would offer up comments every time I wore them out.
I’m not convinced the New Balance 2040v5 would get the same reaction, seeing as how they look similar to so many other New Balances. And while I don’t wear dad sneakers to get a reaction out of people — not anymore, at least — I would want something from other people after spending $400 on dad shoes.
So, What’s the Verdict on $400 Dad Shoes?
Do I think paying $400 for a pair of dad shoes is absurd? Yes. Will you catch me wearing a pair of $400 dad sneakers anytime soon? Absolutely not.
The New Balance Made in USA 2040v5 is out of my price range, both literally and figuratively. I’ll happily stick with my $80 New Balance 997Hv1 for now.
At the same time, I can appreciate New Balance building $400 dad shoes that aren’t based on hype alone. They have enough history, not to mention more than enough high-quality materials, to justify their price tag, even if it’s definitely too rich for my blood.
Want to get to the bottom of other dad sneaker debates? Check out our Dad Shoe Debates section. You can also visit our Dad Shoe 101 section to discover more about dad sneakers or our Dad Shoe Discounts section for the latest deals on dad-approved shoes.
FAQs About the New Balance Made in USA 2040v5
The New Balance Made in USA 2040v5 was released on August 20, 2026. It was available on New Balance’s website and through select online sneaker stores.
The New Balance 2040v5 costs $400. The price caused controversy among sneaker enthusiasts.
The New Balance Made in USA 2040v5 is so expensive because of the materials used to make it. The technologies incorporated into it also dramatically increase its price.
Some sneaker websites and blogs call the New Balance 2040v5 a “super dad shoe” because of its high price tag. The features included in this sneaker also helped it earn the title.
Whether or not the New Balance Made in USA 2040v5 is worth buying is a matter of personal preference. It depends on how much you value the next-level materials and technologies used to create it.