Along with the 550, the 2002r is certainly having a moment as it continues to see collaborations using its silhouette as the base. Luckily, New Balance corrected the formula to re-introduce the shoe in 2020, this time with an updated sole borrowed from the 860v2, a new “R” suffix and a much more palatable $130 price tag. New Balance’s 2010 release of the technically-advanced 2002 running shoe was no exception, because it introduced the full-length N-ERGY, which essentially has its own suspense system to maximize support with shock absorption.Īnd like the newer silhouettes over the last two or three decades, these didn't quite pan out at first, likely due to the eye-popping $250 retail price tag. The 990v3 is one of the most popular versions.Īs with most of the newer silhouettes over the last two or three decades, New Balance knew they needed to push beyond the normal, conventional upgrades other brands were making to their performance-meets-lifestyle kicks. Today, New Balance continues to pay its respects to the pioneering sneaker by featuring it for their Made in USA sub-line, hellbent on making sure it stays atop the brand’s proverbial leaderboard. It would take 16 years for them to evolve the revered sneaker into the aptly named 990v2, which introduced a significant design upgrade that would guide each and every subsequent 990 series moving forward, until v5. However, the silhouette paired with the understated neutral grey colorway - unheard of at the time as other running shoes dawned neon colors - was quickly adopted as the lifestyle sneaker of choice. Four years of research and development went into the making of the original 990 with disruption and performance top of mind, introducing the lauded "Motion Control Device" heel cap. 30 years later, one man’s trash is Teddy Santis’s treasure as he raised the once ostracized sneaker from its grave with his Aimé Leon Dore collaboration in 2020, thanks to the footwear’s complementary aesthetic to the brand’s downtown NYC vibe.ĭubbed "the first performance running shoe priced at $100" back in 1982, you would be hard-pressed at finding another lineage of sneakers as exalted as the New Balance 990. Unfortunately, the 550 was a failure due to the lack of forward-thinking technology and innovation at a time when Reebok Pump and Nike Air were having its day in the sun. The 550 “Basketball Oxford” was designed by footwear legend Steven Smith and released in 1989 at the height of basketball’s biggest footwear trend to date: the desire to play in low top, lightweight sneakers with added stability. New Balance's Best-Selling Men's Sneakers New Balance 550 With that in mind, here's a guide to some of the brand's most important sneakers. New Balance doesn't quite want people to be shopping this way. The catch is that these numbering are more of a general trend than a hard and fast rule. The “80" and “90” with “00" ranges focus on providing competitive runners lightweight options built for speed. Then, the next set of numbers set the range of performance, starting with a focus on control at “40," moving to stability, cushion and comfort in the “50" to “70” range. The next two numbers indicate the level of innovation and performance you can expect, as well as the price tag you can expect to see smacked onto it. M = Mens, W = Womens, T=Trail, or whether they’re manufactured in the US or UK. The first letter or two signifies the gender and/or training type, i.e. Their 6-7 digit code may seem complex or nonsensical, but it’s actually quite simple. ![]() The brand was so stubborn about avoiding typical marketing tactics to try and skew customer’s perception, they avoided gimmicky naming conventions for their styles altogether and went the route of a functional coding system to objectively differentiate their models.
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