New Balance 550
The New Balance 550 is a lifestyle sneaker from New Balance
designed by legendary sneaker architect and “The Godfather of dad shoes,” Steven Smith. Rooted in basketball-ready
design, the silhouette was reintroduced in 2020 by the Teddy Santis-led Aimé Leon Dore (ALD). It has since been established as one of
New Balance’s best-selling lifestyle shoes on the market.
Check out some frequently asked questions about the New Balance 550 below, followed by the latest news, “Where to Buy”
guides, and features.
The New Balance 550 originally released in 1989 under a “P550 Basketball Oxford” model name. The low-top basketball shoe featured premium smooth and perforated leather uppers, breathable mesh interior lining and a rubber sole unit. At the time, the New Balance 550 was not very popular as it could not compete with the technology-forward basketball shoes of the time, such as the Reebok Pumps, Nike Air, Air Jordan, etc.
As of Spring 2024, pricing for the New Balance 550 is as follows:
- • Men’s $110-130
- • Women’s: $110-130
- • Big Kids: $95
- • Little Kids: $80-$85
- • Toddler: $70
The 550 is available for purchase on NewBalance.com in full family sizes.
The New Balance 550 became the “it” shoe among sneaker heads and fashionistas when it first returned in Fall 2020. In 2021, the 550 became one of the most coveted silhouettes on the market, and by 2022, New Balance had increased production of the model as part of its seasonal product offerings.
The 550 gained popularity for a number of reasons; it was something entirely “new” to the market as it hadn’t released since its original run in 1989. It also gave sneaker-heads something other than the typical Air Force 1 and Dunk to get interested, which Nike had over-saturated the market with.
Yes.
The New Balance 550 will be among the more available models from New Balance. Several colorways are available right now on NewBalance.com.
New Balance 550
The New Balance 550 Turns Back The Clock In “Moonbeam”
After a few months with less action than usual, the New Balance 550 is back in full force. A surge of fresh colorways unveiled over...
The New Balance 550 Returns To Vintage Hoops With “Relic Brown” Accents
The New Balance 550 has been surmounted by the 1906R and 2002R when it comes to demand, but despite consumer’s newfound love for Y2K running...
New Balance Wraps The 550 In Grey Suede
Look no further than New Balance’s “Made In USA” line; grey suede is the Boston brand’s favorite fabric. While other New Balance shoes can’t possibly...
This Women’s-Exclusive New Balance 550 Sports Chilly “Turtledove”
After about a month of dormancy, the New Balance 550 is back in our lives. Filling out NB.com with a litany of women’s colorways in...
“Mushroom” & “Sea Salt” Create A Rich New Balance 550 For Fall
At this stage, it’s likely fair to class the New Balance 550 as the Boston brand’s version of the Dunk. While the industry-defining buzz around...
The New Balance 550 Softens Up In “Pink Granite”
We’re not even five years removed from the New Balance 550‘s celebrated resurgence, but the sneaker industry landscape looks far different now than it did...
The New Balance 550 Is Back In A Big Way, But Only If You Love Suede
Even if the New Balance 550 has been partially surpassed by some of its inline peers, the New Balance 1960R and New Balance 9060, there...
The Women’s New Balance 550 Returns With A Set Of Gum-soled Options
Things have changed since the ALD led-heyday of the New Balance 550. Now ceding pole position in the Boston brand’s catalog to styles like the...
New Balance Shrinks The Logo Again On The 550
The New Balance 550 isn’t nearly as popular as it was a few years back, but the retro basketball-turned-lifestyle shoe still looks to play a...