South Korean Brand CAYL and New Balance Take on the Outdoors

Published February 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Quick Facts

South Korean outdoor brand CAYL is joining forces with New Balance once more for a two-pack of sneakers
Included is the New Balance Fresh Foam Trainer and the New Balance Minimus Trail
With the focus on nature, the CAYL adds waterproof ripstop to both pairs to prepare for any conditions
The collection releases February 28 via European-based retailer BSTN

New Balance is starting the year off strong. The Boston-based brand has debuted a handful of new models, like the third installment of the ABZORB family, the 5030, the 1890, which launched with a pair of Action Bronson collabs, a new basketball collection with the P350 and P400, Kawhi Leonard’s fifth signature shoe, and a brand new running silhouette, all in under three months. After raking in $9.2 billion last year, New Balance is on an ascent.

Joining them on that upward trajectory is South Korean brand CAYL, short for Climb As You Love. CAYL and New Balance have had a fruitful partnership since 2021, with each collaboration focusing on New Balance’s outdoor and trail shoes. Now, the pair is back together, with CAYL getting a two-pack of outdoor-oriented shoes, New Balance Fresh Foam Trainer and the New Balance Minimus Trail.

For the New Balance Fresh Foam Trainer, CAYL eschews the model’s usual mesh base for a ripstop build, much like their New Balance 1906R colorways from 2024, this time opting for a grey grid pattern. Atop the nylon base are metallic silver overlays on the heel counter, side wall, and toe cap, adding a shimmering sensibility. A thick black Fresh Foam X midsole and matching outsole complete the shining silhouette.

Alongside the Fresh Foam Trainer, CAYL is heading into nature with their take on the outdoorsy New Balance Minimus Trail. The lightweight runner is mostly constructed out of mesh and highlighted by purple sidewall panels. The CAYL reverence for the outdoors is once again highlighted as the heel and toe both come with added weather-resistant black ripstop. The remixed model also features a lace toggle in place of standard laces and is completed by a rubber gum outsole.

The CAYL x New Balance Spring 2026 collection is slated for a release on February 28, 2026, via European retailer BSTN, but we’re still waiting on word for the US release. Available in unisex sizing, the CAYL x New Balance Fresh Foam will retail at $200, while the CAYL x New Balance Minimus Trail runs $180. For everything New Balance and all the latest in sneakers and streetwear, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.