What Makes New Balance sneakers special?
Back in 1906, English immigrant William J. Riley kicked off the New Balance Arch Support Company right in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts. His big idea: to produce technologically advanced sneakers that blend comfort, performance, and toughness. He got the ball rolling by cooking up arch supports and orthopedic shoes, all inspired by what top-notch athletes really needed. This laid the groundwork for all the cool stuff New Balance would come up with down the line. As the decades unfolded, New Balance continued to push the boundaries of athletic footwear, introducing groundbreaking technologies and designs that revolutionized the industry. From the introduction of the Trackster, the world's first running shoe with a rippled sole, in 1960, to the development of the New Balance ENCAP and New Balance ABZORB cushioning systems in the 1980s and 1990s, New Balance consistently raised the bar for performance and comfort. Today, the New Balance 990 is probably the most well-known model. In the early 21st century, the company launched New Balance Numeric, a dedicated skateboarding line, that quickly gained the appreciation of skateboarders worldwide.
How does New Balance name their models?
New Balance’s model naming convention isn’t the most intuitive for the uninitiated. In combination with the vast NB line-up, this results in sneaker denominations that read like model identification numbers of DVD players. To make it somewhat less confusing, we’ll give you the lowdown real quick:
- Model Number: The first part of the name usually indicates the model of the shoe, such as “New Balance 574" or “New Balance 990.”
- Letters: Following the model number, letters may indicate variations in materials, technology, or design. For instance, "V" might signify a version with Velcro straps, "C" might indicate a children's size, "X" might denote an updated version, and "R" could represent a reflective material used in the shoe.
- Additional Numbers: Sometimes, additional numbers are included to differentiate between different colorways or editions of the same model.
Buy New Balance Online at Bonkers Shop
New Balance are great on and off the board. If you’re less inclined to wear your sweaty New Balance Numeric skate shoes to the bar after the session, be sure to check our our NB models, such as the NB 1906R or the ever-popular NB 2002R. You can check out the current NB collection at our webshop or at our store in Frankfurt.
