Andrew Rizzo Andrew Reynolds, one of the most recognized names in skateboarding, became the face of New Balance Numeric the moment he put pen to paper on a sponsorship deal in late 2022. While we’ve yet to see the release of a true signature shoe, you could argue that Reynolds’ ambassadorship of the Numeric 480 has made an equally significant impact on the brand’s skate division.
The Flordia-born skater saw the release of his first special edition Numeric 480 in September of 2023, and now as those pairs have surely become worn-down by now, Reynolds has a new colorway dropping July 2024. From the same school of contemporary, versatile skate footwear as his last pair, Reynolds’ Sustainable delivery features a “Sea Salt” leather base, gum soles, and brown accents on heel, quarter branding, and co-branded tongue tag. Now in his mid-forties, it appears Reynolds’ collaborative New Balance catalog will continue to favor toned-down, agreeable sneaker aesthetics as opposed to flashy, color-blasted product, a testament to the staying power of the signature rider.
To the uninformed, the New Balance 480 is a basketball shoe from the 1980s that’s since been re-tooled for skateboarding, with the Numeric version emerging right around the same time Reynolds joined the team a couple years back. It’s firmly risen to become the sub-brand’s tentpole model, largely due in part to Reynolds’ endorsement and a wide array of readily available styles and colorways.
New Balance Air Max 97 QS Obsidian Numeric 480 ($100) is set to release July 29th via newbalance.com and skate shops. Reference our “Where To Buy” section below on that date for purchase links.
WHERE TO BUY
New Balance 480
US 07/29/2024 Monday
| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Uomo New Balance 997 Sport Rain Cloud Pigment | Standard | Check Site |
