We Hope This New Balance 2002R Isn’t A Japan-Exclusive

Jovani Hernandez August 18, 2022

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Outside of the “Refined Future” collection (often mistakenly dubbed the “Protection Pack”), the New Balance 2002R has captivated savvy and casual consumers alike for its technical design and strategic partnerships. Recently, the late-2000s proposition emerged in a “Castlerock/Eclipse/Gold Metallic” color combination reminiscent of the Japan-exclusive 1700 from 2010.

Akin to the New Balance 1700 prepped by the North American company’s Far East counterpart, the latest 2002R to surface via official product imagery indulges in a high-quality leather build overlaid atop breathable mesh. Profile “N” logos opt for a golden trim that makes direct reference to the aforementioned silhouette, with logos on the lateral heel following suit. The 860v2 tooling underfoot opts for a semi-“aged” aesthetic that rounds out the homage to the decade-old predecessor.

Enjoy official images of the pair ahead, and anticipate a NewBalance.com launch soon.

For more from the Boston-based brand, check out the New Balance 990v6 expected to debut before 2022 ends.

Castlerock/Eclipse/Gold Metallic

Images: New Balance

Written by

Jovani Hernandez, Editor

Jovani Hernandez joined Sneaker News in December 2019. He’s covered breaking news about adidas Yeezy and interviewed Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky amongst his 5,800 posts. A sub-5-hour-marathoner, he now enjoys running sneakers the most, but fondly reminisces about Nike Basketball and Sportswear from 2007 to 2014.