Five of the Best Ever New Balance 991 Releases
The is celebrating its big 20th anniversary in 2021, which means it’s the perfect time to champion the beloved model’s impact on the sneaker scene. A signature silhouette in the , the 991 originally hit shelves in 2001 as a modernised take on the classic . With a sleek toe box as the main attraction, the ABZORB tech down below provided another key selling point. New Balance also enlisted the help of their Ndurance outsole for greater durability in high-wear areas.
Twenty years later, and the New Balance 991 remains one of the greatest silhouettes that the Boston-based brand has ever created. With 2021 expected to be a killer year for the sneaker, we thought we would round-up five of the best that have ever been released.
Patta x New Balance 991
To commence celebrations for the 20th anniversary, started 2021 by reworked the New Balance 991 in tasty tones. Fresh off the back of their collaboration, the Dutch streetwear and sneaker stalwarts took the legendary 991 and dressed it in the perfect combination of ‘Cork’, ‘Light Petrol’, and ‘Peach’. Elsewhere, subtle grey accents made the heel branding shine. These bad boys sold out quickly after being released on January 29. If you’re up to paying a pretty penny on the secondary market, then head to or .
New Balance 991 ‘Flimby 35th Anniversary’
In 2017, New Balance celebrated the 35th anniversary of their legendary Flimby factory in the United Kingdom. Alongside a , and , there was a super handsome 991. Dressed in navy, and built using the most premium nubuck and leather, this was a very popular release. Finding a pair nowadays may be tough, but keep those eyes peeled on secondary market retailers like .
Concepts x New Balance 991.5 ‘Lake Havasu’
and New Balance got together in 2018 to deliver a collaboration on the hybrid model. Dubbed the ‘Lake Havasu’, it was not just a heater colourway, the shoe was also inspired by the peculiar story of a US businessman relocating the London Bridge to Arizona in the 1960s at the cost of millions of dollars! has a few sizes available... of the shoe, not the bridge.
New Balance 991 ‘Grey’
Every sneakerhead should have a grey New Balance silhouette in their arsenal. The classic grey-on-grey colourway boasts everything that so many people love about the Boston-based brand. And the 991 looks right at home in the unofficial New Balance scheme of choice! The combination of high quality materials with that signature tonal vibe makes it a compulsory member of this top five.
Crooked Tongues x New Balance 991 ‘Black Tom’
If you were a sneakerhead in the early 2000s, then you’re most likely familiar with – a forum-turned-sneaker-retailer that dominated that era with insane colabs. In 2006, they crafted a collection with New Balance dubbed the ‘Confederation of Villainy’. There were four shoes within the pack, each inspired by some of history’s most treacherous villains. The 991 in the pack was inspired by 18th century highwayman Black Tom. You’ll be hard pressed finding these out in the open market, as only 99 pairs were ever created.
Want more New Balance 99x? Read our article on the New Balance 990 series: .