# Slip-On Trail Hybrid Sneakers Junya Watanabe MAN x New Balance MT10T Removes Laces By Amy Duong | Published 2026-04-18 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mt10t References: [blackbirdmediaco](https://www.blackbirdmediaco.com/articles/ebe233b3-01dd-4606-812f-de8674dfa5ac)  [Junya Watanabe MAN](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/urc42) x [New Balance](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minimus-ux200) [MT10T](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-balance-mt10t) is a Spring/Summer 2026 collaboration that reworks the original MT10 trail runner into a low-profile slip-on format. The Junya Watanabe MAN x New Balance MT10T replaces traditional lacing with a streamlined upper constructed from premium leather and nubuck, drawing visual references from loafers and Mary Jane shoes. This shift introduces a more refined surface while maintaining the silhouette’s minimal structure, aligning outdoor performance roots with a pared-back, fashion-oriented finish. The sneaker retains its trail DNA through a rubber mudguard and Vibram outsole, equipped with rounded lugs designed for multi-directional traction across varied terrain. Originally part of New Balance’s Minimus line, the MT10 was built to support natural foot movement, a quality preserved in this iteration through its flexible construction. Branding is kept minimal, with collaborative detailing limited to the tongue. Image Credit: JUNYA WATANABE MAN x New Balance ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.0/10 - Popularity: 74% | Activity: 64% | Freshness: 72% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Hybrid Slip-on Trailwear:** This convergence of slip-on convenience with trail-ready soles creates space for footwear that blends off-road functionality with everyday ease. - **Lace-free Luxury Footwear:** By replacing laces with premium leather uppers, designers are redefining premium aesthetics for performance shoes that prioritize streamlined form. - **Trail-to-formal Crossover:** The fusion of mudguards and Vibram outsoles with loafer-inspired silhouettes suggests new product categories that merge rugged traction with refined styling. ### Who This Affects Most - **Outdoor Footwear:** Trail brands can exploit flexible minimal constructions and multi-directional lug designs to deliver lighter, more versatile off-road shoes. - **Luxury Fashion:** High-end labels have the potential to incorporate technical outsoles into elevated silhouettes, challenging traditional distinctions between formal and functional footwear. - **Performance Materials:** Advances in premium leather treatments and nubuck engineering could enable weather-resistant, low-profile uppers that retain natural foot movement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Enclosed Urban Delivery Trikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/voyager-p2.md) - [Pastel Suede Army Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bw-army-1.md) - [Retro TV Pet Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crt-pet-house.md) - [Camera-Free Smart Eyewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reebok-optical.md) - [Single-Ribbon Metal Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zero-chair-1.md) - [Rope-Tension Plywood Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shortcut-stool.md) - [Pleated Fabric Lighting](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apoc-able.md) - [Compressed Paper Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-paper-log-shell-and-core.md) - [Rooftop Park Domes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yongping.md)