Now more than ever, it feels like the New Balance 2002R‘s best days are behind it. The Boston brand is intent to move on through new cuts like the New Balance 204L, 2000, and 2010, all while the 2002R has cooled off when it comes to collabs and standout GRs. However, just as we saw with the New Balance 550, the 2002R is too strong a seller to drop entirely.
Here we have simple black colorway set to release in the near future, complete with a black mesh base, suede overlays, and reflective hits on the heel/New Balance logos. In adding just a dash of flavor, off-white “Oat” appears on the outsole and select areas of the midsole.
At the risk of reading into things, the colorway epitomizes the era in which the 2002R now finds itself in. Rather than take on a large number of different, more unique colorways, it’s like the model will continue settling down with versatile crowd-pleasers New Balance knows there’s interest in.
The New Balance 2002R “Black/Oat” releases Fall/Winter 2025 via newbalance.com and retailers, priced at $155. See official images below if you’re considering copping.





WHERE TO BUY
Mens New Balance 2002R
Retailer | Release type | Status |
---|---|---|
New Balance US | Standard | Check Site |