A Brief History of New Balance Numeric
Obviously, when you announce that you will be entering the skate market, skateboarders will instantly be asking a couple of questions. What will the shoes look/skate like, and who will be on the team?! Well, New Balance knew this was coming and came prepared with four super-strong silhouettes and four big-name team riders too! In their first public announcement during the 2013 Agenda Trade Show, New Balance Numeric introduced the Logan 637, Stratford 479 (which quickly morphed into the PJ Stratford 533), Brighton 344, and the Quincy 254. A lovely spread of cup sole and vulc designs. Oh, and the team? That was just PJ Ladd, Levi Brown, Tom Karangelov and Arto Saari... Clearly someone had done their homework and it's safe to say they entered the skate world with a bang!
By August of 2013, New Balance Numeric dropped their first video, “A Place in the Sun”, filmed and edited by Russell Houghten and almost exclusively features LA spots. By this time the team had already grown slightly, with Jordan Taylor and Tyler Surrey also joining the ranks. Another two very well thought out additions to the team, it must be said! This video truly set the tone for how New Balance Numeric was going to function from there on out. Not only was the skating great – of course it was, look at the team – but the production easily rivalled anything released beforehand and yes, that includes Pretty Sweet or Fully Flared. When you watched that video for the first time, you could feel that every aspect of New Balance Numeric was going to be of the highest quality possible. Luckily for us all, that was exactly how it turned out.
Using their bottomless pit of technology and materials, New Balance Numeric has consistently released incredible skate shoes since their inception, even going so far as to make their very own skate-specific technology, ensuring their styles function just as well as they look. When you break down the key requirements for skate shoes, the main factors that need to be addressed are; durability, impact protection, fit, comfort, board feel and of course aesthetics. Not only that, skateboarders often hold these requirements with varying importance, meaning no one shoe can keep everyone happy. So, alongside having a spread of designs, you need technology to suit each aesthetic, something New Balance Numeric do with ease.
Of course, all Numeric models are made of the highest quality materials, but if you look at their slimmer designs such as the Jamie Foy 306, it's a classic court silhouette with a vulcanised sole unit, meaning there isn't much room for lots of tech. But with a hidden rubber toe cap for added durability and a closed-cell polyurethane insole for impact protection, it then becomes the perfect shoe for someone seeking a slim shoe with maximum board feel. On the other end of the spectrum, some skaters opt for absolute foot protection and comfort, which when you look at a model such as the Tiago Lemos 1010 it's safe to say New Balance Numeric has you covered there too. To be honest, the 1010 seems to have had all the technology they had available thrown at it, with FuelCell foam, Orthalite insoles and Fantomfit internals all working together to create a shoe that not only keeps your feet incredibly safe and comfortable but also skates unbelievably well.
New Balance Numeric FAQ's
Do New Balance Numeric shoes fit true to size?
New Balance Numeric shoes tend to come up half a size small, so if you would usually buy a UK 9, we would advise you take a UK 9.5 in New Balance.
Do New Balance Numeric shoes come with spare laces?
Unfortunately, there is not a straight answer to this one. Some do, some don't, it really depends on the style.
What does the "Numeric" mean in "New Balance Numeric"?
Numeric denotes New Balance products that are part of their skateboarding sub brand.
Can I skate in New Balance Numeric shoes?
All New Balance Numeric skate shoes are specifically designed for skateboarding!
Who skates for New Balance Numeric?
Currently, the New Balance Numeric skateboard team consists of Tiago Lemos, Jamie Foy, Frankie Villani, Brandon Westgate, Jake Hayes, Tom Knox, Andrew Reynolds, Ronnie Kessner, Trey Williams, Jordan Trehan, Tom Karangelove, Jack Curtain, Charlie Birch, Flo Mirtain, Samarria BrevardTyler Surrey & Jordan Taylor.
