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 Train Continues Through Fall With New Colorways
Mainstream consumer preferences have shifted toward tech-runners and slim-soled models like adidas Samba, but for all those fond of retro, vintage aesthetics, the New Balance...
The New Balance 550 “Heron Blue” Is Available Now
Models like the New Balance 1906R and 9060 may have leapfrogged the New Balance 550 in terms of virality in the last year or so,...
New Balance Brings The Summer Heat For Models In London, Dads In Ohio, And Everyone In Between
New Balance How does New Balance continue to be the brand worn by supermodels in London and dads in Ohio? One word:...
The New Balance 550 Rolls Out The “Denim Pack”
The New Balance 550 may have slipped from its status as NB’s premier “hype shoe,” ceding space to currently collab canvases de jour like the New...
The Women’s New Balance 550 Surfaces In “White/Mauve”
Unless things change drastically over the course of the next few weeks, the New Balance 550 stands to be one of the biggest shoes of...
New Balance Adds White Lace Material To The 550
We’ve documented the Boston brand’s need to experiment with the New Balance 550 plenty at this point, but even given that prompt, their creatives continue...
The New Balance 550 Readies For Summer In “Angora/Copper”
New Balance just dropped a fresh New Balance 550 colorway ahead of summer, furnishing a contemporary palette on a new women’s pair. The design fits...
The New Balance 550 Takes On Kentucky Blue
Though the New Balance 550 has found new life as the lifestyle shoe de jour for the Boston Brand, its basketball origins are never too far...
The New Balance 550 “Sashiko Pack” Is Available Now
Though the New Balance 550 is only a few years into its renewed run, the sheer demand and resulting supply has expedited its life cycle....