When it debuted in 1982, the New Balance 990 was an anomaly. It wasn't just that the running sneaker was at the top of the technical heap for its time—though that is indeed true. It was the price: $100. The 990 was the first major athletic shoe to break the three-digit barrier. At the time, that was a big deal. Now, it's just, well... a good deal.
Which is why it's particularly exciting that as part of its ongoing run of resurrecting the dad-core classics for 2018 (the OG 574 just got a revamp last month), New Balance is reissuing the 990 at its original 1982 price. But even though the cost is completely retro, the shoe itself isn't.
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The "1982" colorway of the made-in-America 990v4 that drops on Saturday, April 14 takes the gray-on-gray NB style we all know and love, and then throws a little navy into the mix for good measure. A navy outsole is complemented by hits of dark blue at the tongue, heel, and logo backing. Plus, of course, there's that embroidered "EST. 1982" to remind you of the shoe's heritage.
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A note on that heritage: While this new drop shares the DNA of the 1982 edition of the 990, it's not exactly the same. This particular iteration is a riff on the 990v4, the most recent version of the 990, which got updates 1998, 2012, and 2016. The latest silhouette streamlines the look of the old-school model with modern lines, details, and functionality, but keeps the iconic feel of the 990 firmly in place.
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If you're in the market for a pair—and at $100, you probably should be—mark your calendars and get ready to do more than jump online and hit the "order" button. The 990v4 "1982" is limited to just 1,500 pairs across the globe and is only available at a series of pop-up locations. So some IRL effort will be required to score some for yourself.
In the interest of convenience, here are the U.S. locations. Good luck.
New York City, NY - New Balance, 150 5th Ave
Atlanta, GA - Foot Locker, Greenbriar Pkwy SW
Palo Alto, CA - Shoe Palace, 451 University Ave
Philadelphia, PA - Kicks USA, Roosevelt Mall, 2339 Cottman Ave
San Francisco, CA - New Balance, 856 Market St
Washington, D.C. - YCMC, 1060 Brentwood Rd NE
Windsor Mill, MD - YCMC, Security Mall, 6901 Security Blvd
This story originally appeared on Esquire.com. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.
