New Balance 530
A 2000s-style running shoe in white mesh with silver overlays and an ABZORB midsole. CA$139.99 at New Balance Canada and about CA$140 at Foot Locker, Sport Chek and Sporting Life.
CA$139.99Oct 2026 price
First look
The 530 is New Balance's reissue of a turn-of-the-millennium running shoe, now sold as a lifestyle sneaker. The white-and-silver version (U530HFW, also sold as MR530EMA) has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays and a segmented ABZORB midsole on a rubber outsole. It is CA$139.99 at New Balance Canada and about CA$140 at Foot Locker Canada, Sport Chek and Sporting Life.
It suits people who want a cushioned, sporty white shoe for walking and casual outfits rather than a flat court sneaker. Sizing is unisex, and New Balance says most people go down half a size. Kids' versions are widely available, from toddler to grade school sizes.
The 530 is a poor match for a Canadian winter. Mesh lets in slush and water, and salt and grime work into the weave, so keep it for dry seasons. Mesh and metallic overlays also take more effort to clean than smooth leather: use a soft brush and mild soap, and avoid soaking the shoe. Our picks are based on construction, materials, price and availability in Canada; hands-on Lab results are being added as each pair finishes testing.
Pros and cons
What's good
- ABZORB midsole, per New Balance
- Widely stocked in Canada at about CA$140
- Unisex, with kids' sizes available
Watch out for
- Mesh upper isn't suited to slush or salt
- Harder to clean than smooth leather
- New Balance says most people need half a size down
In the Lab
Lab test scheduledThis pair is scheduled for our salt and slush test, a 30-day whiteness reading and fit measurements. Results will appear here, with our own photos, once testing finishes. How the Lab works.
Featured in
Sources
Last updated October 23, 2026 · Lab: Ethan Alexander Whitmore. How we make money.
Also consider
Running
On Cloud 6
On's all-day sneaker in White / White, CA$190 at On Canada, Sport Chek and Sporting Life, with wide-fit versions. A mesh-style upper makes it a spring-to-fall shoe, not a slush shoe.
Court
New Balance 550
New Balance's 1989 basketball shoe, brought back in 2020, with a leather upper and chunky cupsole. CA$150 regular in Canada; white stock was thin and on clearance in October 2026.
Waterproof
Vessi Weekend Classic
Vancouver brand Vessi's waterproof knit sneaker, CA$150 in Marble White. The pick on this list for rain and slush, though Vessi makes no insulation claim, so it is not a deep-cold boot.