New Balance released the 990 in 1982 for $100, around twice what most running shoes cost at the time, and made it grey in a market full of neons and whites. More than four decades on, that suede-and-mesh formula is still the one everyone recognises. The 990v7, the first new 990 in four years, is built on the team's idea of "memories from the future".
Underfoot, a redesigned sole unit pairs a softer FuelCell foam for cushioning and energy return with ENCAP, the CR device and a new TPU shank for guidance, keeping the cushioning-to-support ratio that has defined the 990 since day one. FuelCell first appeared in a 990 on the v6, and this is its second pass. Up top, the pigskin suede and breathable mesh stay, with tumbled leather accents adding structure.
