Sneaker News Another successful drop is in the books for New Balance, which just unleashed the first-ever Abzorb 2000 release to the public. There’s no better way to launch a new product to market by ending up with retailers reporting “out of stock” everywhere; now, the momentum continues to build for the silhouette as several drops are confirmed for Fall and Winter 2025. To give you some more background on the Abzorb 2000, we chatted with New Balance Design Manager Charlotte Lee to dive a bit deeper into the silo. Read our Q&A below and stay tuned for updates on future launches.
Sneaker News: The 2000 was first seen on the streets of São Paolo rather than announced in an official capacity. What went into the decision to do that guerilla-style unveiling?
Charlotte Lee: With Absorb 2000 being a bold expressive design, we knew it needed to be seen in new and unexpected way. There was something powerful about sharing the shoe in a low key, relaxed setting by showing it first in the streets of São Paolo. We were able to build curiosity organically to let the shoe start the conversation without over-contextualizing it.
There are some comparisons being made between the 2000 to the 9060. Would you say that’s an appropriate comparison? Why and/or why not?
While both silhouettes feature some of the same design philosophies, the 9060 plays in the lane of classic New Balance 99X series with modernized proportions and legacy materials, while the 2000 pushes the absorb technology visual into the future paired with a reductive yet intricate upper design. They speak to different design vernaculars.
ABZORB SBS is typically used in the heel. What challenges came with making it a full-length feature? What was the thought process in really foregrounding that tech with the 2000?
Expanding ABZORB SBS into a full-length feature meant rethinking the entire structure of the sole. It was a technical challenge to ensure stability and comfort across the entire footbed while maintaining the architectural look. The midsole concept was enhanced by being designed in 3D, the elaborate concave and convex sculptural form was only possible by considering every surface in a 3D space. But from the start, the idea was to bring contemporary visual tech to the forefront.
Any debut colorway is obviously an important one, and people seem to love the “Blue Agate.” What went into the decision to go with that one?
Blue is a key part of the Abzorb SBS story; with the original gel technology being typically available in blue. We felt that this colour speaks to the tension between past and present, it feels nostalgic and new at the same time. As the model was designed with a y2K aesthetic blue made complete sense as a prominent futuristic colour from that era.
A lot of the official messaging around the 2000 highlights a past-meets-future idea. With many of the other models in the current catalog sharing that topline “2000s runner” concept, what void do you feel the ABZORB 2000 fills?
The ABZORB 2000 pushes the idea of “past-meets-future” further than anything we’ve done before. While other models channel Y2K purely through color or overlays, the 2000 reengineers structure and silhouette through a contemporary lens for a new look at visible tech.
There’s no suede or mesh or other typical materials in the model. Is NB trying to get away from the “dad shoe” rep a bit?
While the upper is mesh with printed overlay patterns, you’re right that we’ve diverted from using more of our typical dense materials for this model. We’ll always embrace the heritage that got us here – but with the 2000, we wanted to show a new side of New Balance. Incorporating minimalist elements and technical prints instead of suede and mesh allowed us to strip things down and let the sole architecture shine. It’s not about walking away from the “dad shoe” look, but more so about building off that in a modern way to expand the range of what New Balance offers.
The below article is our original coverage of the New Balance Abzorb 2000 “Blue Agate”; the shoes are now sold out.
2025 has already been a strong year for New Balance, but it’s not overstating their state of affairs to say that all their efforts so far pale in comparison to what’s taking place on June 12th. The New Balance ABZORB 2000, one of their most highly-anticipated new models in recent memory, tips off via their official site and partnering retailers, clocking in with a $170 retail price and a “Stillwater/Agate Blue” colorway. With the high heat surrounding the release already, we’ve compiled a complete store list within our “Where To Buy” section. Scroll further for official shots of the silhouette and a detailed breakdown of what it has to offer.
WHERE TO BUY
Mens New Balance 2000
US 06/12/2025 Thursday
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| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sneaker Politics | Sold Out | Sold Out |
| New Balance US | Sold Out | Sold Out |
| Concepts | Sold Out | Sold Out |
| Extra Butter | In Store Only | Offline Only |
- M 4.5 / W 6
- M 5 / W 6.5
- M 5.5 / W 7
- M 6 / W 7.5
- M 6.5 / W 8
- M 7 / W 8.5
- M 7.5 / W 9
- M 8 / W 9.5
- M 8.5 / W 10
- M 9 / W 10.5
- M 9.5 / W 11
- M 10 / W 11.5
- M 10.5 / W 12
- M 11 / W 12.5
- M 11.5 / W 13
- M 12 / W 13.5
The New Balance ABZORB 2000 is built on a dual-density package of ABZORB and ABZORB SBS pods, the latter a patented NB invention of thermoplastic compression units that offer long-lasting propulsion. Those chunky pods underfoot also offer up one of the defining visual characteristics of the 2000: the sculpted and segmented midsole. An exposed Stability Web shank in the midfoot adds to that teched-out aesthetic, as do the varied textures in the upper, though no-sew construction allows a sleek profile to emerge despite the heavy hardware on display.
For this initial delivery, a “Blue Agate’ colorway is the choice, executing a pretty stark divergence from the brand’s trademark neutrals, almost as a visual confirmation of the 2000’s groundbreaking nature. In an overall marketing parallel, it also pays off our first look at the silhouette in Brazil. A few months later, the brand would host the ABZORB House activation that included teases of some upcoming colorways — in addition to that group, retailer shots of an almost-inverse New Balance 2000 “Grey/Blue” add to our understanding of what the model has coming down the pike.
