The New Balance 550 Embraces Its Basketball Roots With A Classic Look

Mesh material and gum soles return the 550 to it's 1989 roots.

Andrew Rizzo March 4, 2024

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When you achieve fame, it’s important not to forget your roots. That’s the essence of New Balance’s latest 550 delivery.

Brought back in 2020 via Aimé Leon Dore collaborations, the New Balance 550 now stands alongside street icons like the Nike Air Force 1 as one of the sneaker world’s go-to lifestyle pickups. A catalyst behind the model’s success has been its ability to speak multiple different design languages. Recent months have seen the release of patent leather models, denim builds, and a steady diet of collabs that each embrace unique aesthetics inherent of outside influences. However, the 1989-born 550 will always be rooted in basketball, a heritage that receives ample celebration on this latest pair.

The most apparent hardwood callbacks appear on the collar, treated with wide mesh akin to the look of basketball nets, and underfoot with an all-gum outsole. Back in the day, natural gum soles offered better traction than rubber technology, an explanation as to why so many old-school kicks (and retro models) feature them. The rest of the build takes on white leather and grey suede, making space on the tongue, heel, and New Balance “N” logo for royal blue hits.

No release date has been set at the time of this writing, so return to our Sneaker Release Dates page as we keep an eye out for firm details. In the meantime, enjoy official images below.