The New Balance brand has become a huge phenomenon in the sneaker world, but it wasn't always that way. Just a few years ago, in 2020, New Balance was primarily associated with dads who enjoyed gardening and weekend barbecues. It was far from being the trendy choice for young, hip sneakerheads. So what changed? How did New Balance go from a boring brand to a favorite of hypebeasts? The answer is the New Balance 2002R "Protection Pack."
This shoe was first released in 2010 as a follow-up to the 2001, which was a great performance shoe but not very attractive. The 2002R was a chunky shoe with lots of details and a bulky shape. It appealed to some casual runners, but not many others. However, in 2020, New Balance decided to bring the shoe back for its tenth anniversary. It didn't get much attention at first, but some sneaker fans began to appreciate its retro look and snapped up some of the initial colorways. But the real success came in 2021, when the "Protection Pack" was released.
The "Protection Pack" was designed by Yue Wu, who gave the old shoe a fresh, modern twist. He changed the name from "Refined Future" to "Protection Pack" and improved everything about the shoe. He used high-quality suede instead of leather and mesh, and redesigned the panels with jagged edges and raw cuts for a cool, unfinished look.
He also made the shoe look like an antique, with a worn ABZORB midsole and yellowed accents that gave it a vintage feel. He also created a variety of incredible colorways, such as the “Phantom,” the “Sea Salt,” and the most popular, the “Rain Cloud.” This was the shoe that made everyone want to have a pair of New Balance shoes in their closet. To meet the high demand, other colorways were later added, such as “Orange,” “Pink,” and “Purple.” There was also a special “Lunar New Year” edition that was very popular in Asia.
You might think suede shoes are difficult to maintain, but they're actually quite easy to care for. All you need are a few basic tools like a suede brush, an eraser, and a microfiber cloth. You can use these to remove dirt and dust from your suede shoes and make them look like new again. For more stubborn stains like oil or grease, you can use a little cornstarch to absorb them. For sticky things like chewing gum, you can freeze your shoes until they harden and then peel them off. It's not complicated at all.
One of the best things about the Protection Pack is that you can wear it with almost anything. Unlike the original shoe, which was more suited to athletic outfits, the Protection Pack is more of a street style shoe. You can wear it with an Off-White T-shirt, a Supreme hoodie, and Carhartt WIP cargo pants for a cool look. Or you can opt for an oversized Palace sweater and ripped Fear of God jeans for another cool option. There are so many ways to style it.
These are just a few of the reasons why you need the New Balance 2002R “Protection Pack” in your sneaker collection! It’s a shoe that combines luxury, vintage, and style in one package. Although it’s more expensive than the regular version, it’s worth every penny.