The New Balance 997 is one of my favorite New Balance models.  In fact, there was a time I would have said it is my absolute favorite NB hands-down. All the pairs I own are part of the Made In USA line, although the line possesses a few spin-off models that don’t get the premium treatment.

For me, the best thing about the 997 is the shape.  It doesn’t have that bulky front found on a lot of other New Balances.  Instead, we get a nice pointy slope of a silhouette.  I think the early 90s release of the model explains this – at the time pointy-toe wedge-like runners like the Air Max 90 were releasing.  The 997 was right on trend for that time period and today evokes a strong feeling of nostalgia for that design aesthetic.

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