Original Story (08/09/22): New Balance is bringing back its Rainier hiking boot and has partnered up with Aimé Leon Dore to help reintroduce the silhouette to the market.
The HL710 Rainier was first introduced in 1982, designed in collaboration with alpinist Lou Whittaker. It was meant to combine the comfort and lightweight of a sneaker with the traction and support of a hiking boot. Whittaker wore the Rainier as he led the first American ascent of the North Wall of Mt. Everest in 1984. Whittaker is also one of the most experienced mountain climbers in the world, with over 250 summits of Mount Rainier in his career.
The New Balance Rainier was reintroduced in 2016 as the Rainier Remastered, though only avid hiking enthusiasts seemed to care. Now, with help from Aimé Leon Dore, the New Balance Rainier comeback is poised to make more noise, not only with hikers but with the trendier crowd as well.
Aimé Leon Dore’s take on the Rainier has been revealed in a couple colorways so far. One comes in a grey and navy color scheme, while the other comes in brown with green accents on the collar and sockliner. Both feature Cordura construction for abrasion resistance and tensile strength, as well as GORE-TEX for weather resistance. Both also come with a black Vibram outsole for advanced cushioning and traction.
Grab a first look at the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance Rainier below. Expect these to drop in the coming weeks via AimeLeonDore.com and the New Balance website.
Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance Rainier
Release Date: 2022
Update (10/07/22): Check out some more photos of the ALD x New Balance Rainier, including a third colorway. Photos via sneakertigger:
Photos via kivijarvi:
Photo via bryantdgiles:
