New Balance 990

One of the old timers of the brand, New Balance 990 shoes have been leading the pack since 1982, the pivotal year in which the running world was changed forever. These performance-optimised sneakers boast a breathable upper well suited to addressing the discomforts of hard exercise, and the NB 990’s midsole features several innovations that vary between models, including a Motion Control Device (MCD) on the heel, ABZORB cushioning, and ENCAP inserts. All of these serve to make the 990 a reliable trainer, no matter which version you choose to pick up from the JD Sports Australia range.

The Evolution of the New Balance 990

After multiple decades in the spotlight, New Balance 990s continue to be a staple of people’s footwear collections—not just the collections of runners, but also those of the fashion-forward crowd. These sneakers are always evolving, their silhouette regularly taking on new designs to remain fresh, trendy, and ready to tackle the challenges faced by a modern shoe.

The first version of the NB 990, known as the 990v1, set the stage for what was to come, focusing on the selling points of ‘flexibility and support.’ The collection was immediately successful thanks to its premium quality and never-before-seen MCD. But the brand didn’t stop there; they wanted to iterate, to give sneakerheads something new to slide their feet into. The result of this iteration: the 990v2, a natural progression of the original with added ABZORB cushioning and a familiar pigskin upper. We see this pattern of evolution persist over the years, with the biggest shift being that performance was not the sole focus of later releases; models such as the v4 and v6 emphasise the turn toward the lifestyle market by playing around with the size and position of the iconic ‘N’ logo.