Aaron Hope 
Just after the turn of the calendar into 2010, New Balance purchased the OTB Boots brand in a story largely ignored by the sneakerhead scene. Little did we know that this deal that let New Balance leverage OTB’s tactical expertise and OTB (now New Balance Tactical) access NB’s domestic manufacturing facilities, would result in a sequel to one of last year’s best-loved releases. The Concepts x New Balance 999 ‘S.E.A.L.’ was built with the most elite US Navy special ops in mind, inspired by the OTB Abyss II boot and featuring superior traction for environments as watery as their tonal blue accents. These already got their hometown debut a couple of weeks ago, and this Saturday, August 18th, you’ll be able to find them at select retailers like Kith after you click through to see more details, like how the Morse code tongue tags offer a reminder of who designs the sickest NB999s.
