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New Balance has skyrocketed in the last few years as a great brand for sneaker collectors to get into. Given the plethora of NB available today, it can be hard to figure out what styles to go for. Here I try and address what some popular New Balance kicks are as of the writing of this article.
Currently Popular New Balance
Currently, popular New Balance include the 990 (v4 & V6), 991, 998, 550 and 2002r. Those looking for a stylish pair of NB to purchase can see if they like any of those models before moving onto more obscure releases.
I am basing this list off of pairs that I see getting posted a lot on social media that are also available on the New Balance website. That way if you see a sneaker you want, it should be relatively easy to get.
New Balance 998
The New Balance 998 is one of my favorite NBs of all time. The shoe first released in the late 1980s. The pairs I’ve had have all been part of the Made line. In my opinion they have some of the best suede on any New Balance I’ve owned. While the shape isn’t my favorite, it is still quite good. There’s a bit of that classic runner slope offset by a nice, wide foot friendly toebox.
The 998s reputation for superior comfort and great materials has resulted in a resurgence of the sneaker. I’m glad NB has finally decided to spotlight this model. If you’ve never experienced the suede and comfort of the 998, definitely consider grabbing a pair.
New Balance 991
The 991 came out in 2001 and was the first in the 990 series to incorporate both NB’s ENCAP and ABZORB technologies. The sneaker is also typically manufactured in the Flimby, England factory, making this the only one on this list from the Made in England line. What I really like about the 991 is the colorblocking which leads to some really nice colorways.
If you are used to the 992, you might find these to be a similar fit, if not a bit more snug. These types of 990s have a certain “look” to them that are somewhat in common with certain other New Balances, particularly around the toebox area. If you like that type of look on the 992 and 990v3-onward, try this model from the England factory.
Similar to the 998, this model has also seen a recent resurgence in production. Which is lucky for fans or for those that want to try a pair.
New Balance 550
The New Balance 550 originally released in 1989 as a basketball sneaker. With the resurgence in popularity of both New Balance and 80’s-style hoops kicks, the 550 is a sneaker that hits multiple points with collectors. Thus, the sneaker stays getting new colorways released.
ALD collabs definitely helped push this sneaker to the forefront, and many pairs were hard to get at first. With the vintage basketball sneaker trend gaining speed, New Balance has finally started releasing enough colorways that more people can get pairs without having to hit the resale sites. Still, the collabs seem to gain lots of attention, so depending on what you want for your collection, it’s up to you whether to get a pair on the aftermarket or go for a more slept-on general release.
New Balance 2002R
The 2002 was originally released in 2010, and the newer releases add the R on the end of the model as well as the sole unit from the 860v2. The original 2002 was super expensive and made out to be a luxury sneaker; this version makes them a bit more affordable. From what I understand, the “R” in its name stands for “Re-Engineered,” in order to showcase the modern retooling of a vintage model.
The 2002R has a silhouette similar to some releases in the 990 series, particularly around the toebox. However, this sneaker is not typically part of the Made line, so the quality can be hit or miss. I’ve had pairs with very soft suede and other pairs that seem a bit less material-focused.
The Protection Pack is probably the most well-known subseries within the model. I remember when the first pairs came out, everyone wanted them! Nowadays, there are several colorways available with the Protection Pack theme, sporting a stylishly ragged look around the paneling of the sneaker.
There are a lot of colorways out for the 2002R. If this look is for you, you have a lot to choose from!
New Balance 990: v4 and v6
The New Balance 990v4 came out in 2016 and typically releases as part of the Made line these days. The 990V- series is one of the flagship models of the NB Made in USA line, as it still gets updates. New Balance likes to spotlight retro models from the line periodically, and right now we are seeing a lot of V4 releases.
While not the flashiest of models, the V4 is still a very comfortable choice. It often has great quality materials and construction. If you are looking for a more lowkey pair of 990s akin to the V5, the V4 should be right up your alley.
The New Balance 990v6 was announced a couple years ago. Production is in full swing now with a few new colorways releasing this year. The look of the sneaker was a bit divisive at first, but the shoe seems to have found its fanbase and continues to sell well for NB. Again, this series is looked upon as one of the flagship sneakers for the brand. If you want the latest and “greatest”, this is probably a good bet.
The shoe does seem to have a good mix of old school influence with a fresh appeal. This might be a good choice for those that want to dabble in the Made in USA line of NB with a shoe that has both retro vibes and updated features.