New Balance Is Refining The Future Again

New Balance has been on a pretty incredible in recent years thanks to list of who’s who collaborations, the dad shoe trend, and one of the most respected retro lineups in all of sneakers. Blogs like Complex are calling the brand one of the most popular of the moment and according to the Google, searches for New Balance have nearly doubled since the beginning of 2021.

One of the shoes that has been an undeniable part of the company's impressive growth in the last few years has been the New Balance 2002R. Inspired by a 2000s-era running shoe with a similar name, the modern 2002R is really a takedown model of the original that released in 2010. Back then, the 2002 retailed for $250 and was well above the price sneakerheads were willing to pay. For example, the Air Jordan 2010 retailed for $170 that same year and although the NB 2002 was packed with technology, its price prevented it from success.

In 2021, a remade version of the 2002 that used a less expensive tooling from the 860V2 released in collaboration with Salehe Bembury and the 2002R became somewhat of an overnight success. With an upper that feels like something from the iconic 990 series and a material mix of suede and mesh, the timing for the 2002R could not have been more perfect.

Releasing this month, three new colorways of the 2002R "Refine The Future" will give you options to add this retro-inspired runner to your Sneaker Throne. Mirage Grey, Dark Navy, and Vintage Orange colorways of the New Balance 2002R are arriving at retailers like AFEW now, and word on the street is we'll be seeing many more as the year continues.