Guide to the New Balance 2002R
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By Stadium Goods |Guide to the New Balance 2002R
The popular lifestyle sneaker’s origins, new life, best colorways, sizing info, and more.
Mat DeSciora
It’s New Balance’s world, and we’re all just living in it. In 2022, the Boston footwear company had one of its finest years ever on the strength of all the great colorways and collaborations it released, and the rise in popularity of a once forgotten shoe called the New Balance 2002R.
Debuted in 2010 as a performance running shoe, the New Balance 2002R was re-released as a lifestyle option and an alternative to the New Balance 990 collection in the present day. Just like the New Balance 990 series, the 2002R is supremely comfortable and classic-looking, which has made it a core part of the brand’s collection. If it’s not already, the New Balance 2002R should be on your radar beginning… right now.
Whether you’re familiar with the New Balance 2002R dating back to its original days as a running shoe and need a refresher on what’s new on the modern version of the model, or you’re just getting acquainted with it for the first time, this guide to the 2002R has everything you need to about the undeniably hot sneaker.
This is the Stadium Goods Guide to the New Balance 2002R.
Origins: The Early Days of the New Balance 2002R
Today the New Balance 2002R is enjoyed by folks looking for a casual shoe that’s both comfortable and stylish enough to be worn with anything and everything. And while that was certainly the case when the sneaker debuted in 2010, the 2002R was definitely more of a performance-oriented shoe back in the day. Its price tag and design details can attest to that.
The New Balance 2002R was saddled with a hefty retail price tag to the tune of a cool $250 in 2010, which almost $100 more than the shoe costs at retail as of this writing. There was a reason for the price, though, and it had to do with the technology in the shoe. The original 2002R featured, as Kith’s Ronnie Fieg once explained to Complex, “A midsole [that is] stacked with a suspension system better than most of your cars.
Thanks to New Balance Japan’s Creative Director, Tetsuya Shono, the contemporary New Balance 2002R now features the New Balance 860 V2’s more simplified midsole, which retains the brand’s signature N-ERGY foam cushioning in the heel.
From the Track to the… Vault?
The New Balance 2002R was appreciated by those who came across the model back in the day. But in spite of the shoe’s popularity among a niché market, it ultimately didn’t connect with the masses like New Balance hoped it would, thus it was shelved soon after its debut.
It wasn’t until the “dad shoe” trend of the late 2010s that people began checking for sneakers with a design profile similar to that of the 2002R. After reviving several retro sneakers with a chunky design, New Balance finally reissued the 2002R (now with the “R” suffix at the end—the original shoe was just called the New Balance 2002.)
Key New Balance 2002R Releases: Best Colorways and Collaborations
To recap, we’ve gone over the New Balance 2002R’s history, including the shoe’s original retail price, its performance background, and subsequent disappearance and reemergence in the culture. Now it’s time to hone in on the model’s best colorways and collaborations.
The 2002R started popping up again in 2019, but it really hit its stride when folks like Joe Freshgoods put their spin on the shoe in 2022. In fact, the Chicagoan’s “Conversations Among Us” collaboration is one of the best 2002R releases yet. Salehe Bembury’s “Water Be the Guide” and “Peace Be the Journey” colorways are also standout early 2002R collaborations.
Another New Balance 2002R collaboration worth checking out is contemporary artist Bryant Giles’ decidedly modern New Balance 2002R Mule, which transforms the retro running shoe into a casual slip-on style.
One last release worth mentioning is the New Balance 2002R’s original “Protection Pack.” Released in 2021, and again in 2022 (and 2023), the “Protection Pack” is a series of colorways that give the 2002R a unique look with “unfinished” or “raw” jagged edges.
Sizing: How Does the 2002R Fit?
You know about the New Balance 2002R’s history, its most important colorways and collaborations, but what about how the shoe fits? From our experience with the 2002R, the sneaker fits true to size. Going with your standard athletic shoe size when purchasing the New Balance 2002R is a safe bet. If you have wide feet, you may want to size up half a size from your standard shoe size. Otherwise, don’t make things complicated, just go with the size that you usually take in New Balance’s footwear and you should be good to go.
The New Balance 2002R Is Here to Stay
The New Balance 2002R ultimately failed to generate much interest as a performance running shoe, but has enjoyed a second run as a lifestyle shoe in the present day. With the “dad shoe” trend showing no signs of slowing down, the New Balance 2002R’s place in sneakers is secure.