New Balance 480

480

In the 1980s, New Balance created its first basketball trainers, starting with 1983’s Pride 480 – a solid high-top founded on reliable traction and decent breathability that was soon followed by a low-top version known as the BB680. A popular shoe, it was worn by legendary players like James Worthy, and nearly four decades later, New Balance celebrated its sporting heritage with a powerful modern relaunch.

The New Balance 480’s upper is made from smooth, high-quality leather with suede elements for added durability and style. Layered panels give the shoe a sturdy structure, with perforations bringing breathability through the toe box and a strong heel counter enhancing stability. This last feature combines with the plush tongue and traditional lacing to offer firm lockdown, while the luxuriously padded collar surrounds the ankle in a soft embrace.

The 480’s supportive cupsole incorporates comfortable EVA foam cushioning, with a thick stack beneath the heel for reliable impact protection and a thinner slab in the forefoot for tangible court feel. This low-profile design boosts the overall stability of the shoe without adding too much bulk, ensuring a lightweight on-foot experience. The durable rubber outsole has wavy tread lines that deliver top-level traction on both indoor and outdoor surfaces, even in wet conditions, while thick, supportive lugs around its edge and a pivot circle on its medial forefoot facilitate quick, confident movement.

A classy heritage aesthetic defines the New Balance 480, with its layered upper exhibiting dual lines of stitching that reveal the fine craftsmanship that goes into each shoe. Refined New Balance text decorates the heel, and a dashing NB logo has been embroidered into the woven 480 tongue patch. On the flanks, the brand’s N logo creates a compelling visual effect through its eye-catching two-layered design.

Following a special release with Jolly Rancher and Kawhi Leonard as part of a 2020 collection celebrating New Balance’s partnership with the NBA superstar, the brand fully launched the 480 in 2021. Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe helped boost its release, crafting a dapper black and white edition with distinctive ‘eYe’ branding. Meanwhile, the first general release colourways pay homage to 80s designs through elegant white uppers and throwback team-inspired accents.

The New Balance 480 was a success, and a high-top version based on the BB680 followed, along with other variants like the 480 SL golf shoe and the skater-friendly Numeric 480, whose adaptations consist of a soft yet propulsive FuelCell foam midsole and a reinforced toe built to withstand the rigours of skateboarding. This has been a particular favourite for collaborators, attracting partnerships with regular New Balance skaters including Andrew Reynolds and Jamie Foy, skating lifestyle brands like BRONZE56K, Chocolate Skateboards and Brooklyn Projects, and fashion label Kith, all of which have made the 480 incredibly popular.

Intricately linked to a captivating part of New Balance’s sporting history, the 480 is a suave retro sneaker with a stable and comfort-focused design that makes it ideal for all-day wear, whether on or off the court.