Be Casual and Run With New Balance 995
New Balance has been a trusted brand in footwear for over 100 years. Their first running shoe, the Trackster, was released in 1961 and paved the way for New Balance's future. That future included moving beyond running shoes into a line of classic casual shoes like the New Balance 995.
Are there special editions of the New Balance 995?
While the initial New Balance 995 men's low-top sneaker was a hit among runners, it certainly was not limited. The style became popular among other athletic circles and even had several special editions released over the past 30 years.
New Balance partnered with Danner to release a version of the 995 in 2017. Danner is a boot company based in Oregon that promotes its shoes for those seeking adventure, exploration, and hard work. The partnership resulted in the 995 American Pioneer shoes, which feature nubuck leather, embossed branding, and oxidized copper eyelets.
The Northern Lights edition paid homage to the starry skies. It features a gray and black upper with a speckled motif on the sole unit, lending to the feeling of a dark and starry sky.
Also for the 30th anniversary, New Balance released a retro Baseball Pack edition of the shoe. These featured a colorway of plush burgundy suede, with accents of medium blue and premium leather. This colorway evokes that of retro baseball uniforms from the turn of the 20th century.
The 30th anniversary saw many other colorway releases. There was the burgundy release, which featured burgundy suede uppers. In February 2017, there was a castaway blue with white accents.
New Balance also developed a turf version of the 995 which used a nubbed rubber outsole. This shoe features all-black construction, perfect for those officiating baseball and football games.
What were the differences between the original M990 and the 995?
The original M990 was released in 1982, and reportedly took four years to research and develop. There are even rumors that Steve Jobs played a hand in the initial concept that became the M990. New Balance took the next four years after its initial release to fine-tune design and function, resulting in the 995.
The differences between the original and the 995 included the SuperFlex sole, the ENCAP cushioning, and the reflective N logo. It was also all these features that endeared the line to runners and sneakerheads alike.
How did the New Balance 995 make its mark as a suede fashion shoe?
The New Balance 995 was originally released in 1986 as a low-top men's runner and was the second in the M990 series. It featured some incredible technology for the time, including the SuperFlex sole and the ENCAP cushioning system.
The ENCAP was a proprietary cushioning system that used an EVA wedge surrounded by a polyurethane shell in the heel. This provided extra support, shock absorption, and responsiveness to aid runners.
The original construction included a plush gray suede upper along with a reflective N logo on the side panels. This logo offered a little added safety for people who ran in the darker hours.
It was the popularity of the second edition of the M990 series that led to the development of the rest of the line. Thirty years after they debuted, New Balance resurrected the 995 as men's low-top sneakers for those seeking retro fashion.
Is the New Balance 995 made in the USA?
Two of the chief concerns about many suede fashion shoes is where they are made and the labor used to make them. The New Balance 995 is one of the made-in-the-USA shoes produced by New Balance. In fact, the company manufactures and assembles all their shoes in one of five plants located in Maine and Massachusetts.
How well do New Balance 995 casual shoes fit?
The New Balance 995 suede fashion shoes run true to size for the medium-width shoes. This combined with the ENCAP cushioning system makes them the perfect men's low-top sneakers.
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