The New Balance 990v1 ‘Version 1’ is the Original Status Sneaker
‘On a scale of 1000, this shoe is a .’ This brashly confident piece of copy has proven true for almost 40 years, as premier runner maintains its presence as a status symbol among the sneaker community. For those who’ve yet to experience the OG 990v1, this upcoming ‘Version 1’ is the one to get.
The lore of the NB 990 has been well documented over the years, so here’s the abridged version. NB broke the ceiling of luxury running in 1982 after four years of development with the 990, introducing influential innovations like slip-lasting and the Motion Control Device (MCD), which remain present in the sneaker industry today. New Balance have long been appeasing even the most scrutinising sneakerheads who consult catalogues and compare retro releases to OG examples to ensure the latest drops are to spec. These picky customers will be pleased to see period correct details from top to bottom – down to the Vibram rubber outsole just like the 1982 OG.