New Balance Upgrade the 2002R with GORE-TEX

News of this release was first published on July 21, 2022.

Update August 10, 2022: After releasing over in Japan, pairs of the New Balance 2002R GORE-TEX have started arriving at European retailers such as 43einhalb. Hit the buttons below to cop in your region.

Since thisisneverthat and Salehe Bembury helped New Balance introduce the 2002R back in 2020, the running-turned lifestyle model has received a cornucopia of new styles. It's been ripped and torn, reimagined as a hiking shoe, dirtied up, made into a mule and much more, but never – until now, at least – has it been made fully waterproof. For the first time ever, New Balance have upgraded the 2002R with a GORE-TEX membrane, making for a shoe that combines a little bit of GORPcore with a lot of retrofuturism and running-inspired style.

Arriving in a mountainous dark brown and steel grey plus a celestial light grey and blue, each pair features weathered, artificially aged suede and mesh detailing reminiscent of the ultra-popular 'Protection Pack' but turned up a few notches to drive its rugged nature home. Callouts to the GORE-TEX lining are kept to a minimum, with the left shoe opting for a small lateral collar tag while the right shoe places a medium-sized logo on the outer half of its toe cap. Down below, familiar N-ERGY midsoles round off the look.

Both of these GORE-TEX-lined New Balance 2002Rs are set to release via New Balance Japan and select Japanese stockists on July 23. Price-wise, each retails for a tax-included ¥ 24,200 JPY (roughly $175 in US dollars). There's currently no info about a global release, but we'll be sure to keep you updated when/if it surfaces!

Looking to learn a little bit more about the 2002R? Check out a brief history and familiarize yourself with its five most influential colourways as well.