The New Balance 2002R “Protection Pack” Returns With Utilitarian Upgrades

Updated September 27th, 2023: A release has been scheduled for October 1st, 2023 on newbalance.com.

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Very few of New Balance’s releases have come close to the success of the 2002R‘s “Protection Pack.” And following almost an entire year since its last installment, the collection — which is also commonly referred to as “Refined Future” — is returning in four new colorways, all of which feature some notable upgrades.

The charm of the “Protection Pack” is not at all lost with these forthcoming additions. Every pair is constructed — or, rather, deconstructed — in the same manner as their predecessors, boasting uniquely cut panels throughout the entirety of the shoe. Here, however, these overlays are done up in leather instead of suede; the mesh unders, too, have been replaced, opting instead for a more robust, ripstop fabric. Elsewhere, the lace unit has undergone modifications of its own, forgoing traditional strings in favor of a lace toggle system.

Enjoy a closer look at all four options — olive, navy, brown, and cream — via the official images added ahead. These should be hitting NewBalance.com and select retailers soon at a retail of $160 USD.

In other news, the adidas Crazy Infinity Chalk is debuting this week via Packer Shoes.