KITH Debuts New Balance 992 and 998 Collaborations

KITH has officially debuted collaborative iterations of New Balance‘s 992 and 998 in its Spring 2 catalogue. Part of a “five-shoe pack” according to KITH founder Ronnie Fieg -— who’s been teasing the silhouettes on his Instagram in past weeks — both offer a colorway seemingly inspired by the legendary 1300 “Steel Blue,” a shoe resurrected earlier this year.

Both 992s and 998s use dark grey suede and soft, smooth tan leathers laid atop a light blue mesh base. The midfoot’s N logo is dressed in a vintage sail tone, and rimmed by more bright blue trim. Sockliners and trim keep things light-hued as well. The main difference present here is the midsoles: 992s proffer GEL pucks in heel and forefoot alike to add a dash of vibrancy and a world of signature NB comfort. Meanwhile, the 998 uses a full ABZORB midsole, split between dark and light grey shades. Signature “Made in the USA” embroidery is stitched on each tongue to underscore the domestic craftsmanship.

Of course, Fieg’s statement indicates that there are three more styles included in this “Steel Blue” set. Other posts have teased a 990v2 and 997, but the fifth silhouette has yet to be revealed. What is for certain, however is that the first two are set to release this upcoming weekend — most likely on Saturday, May 23 as a Sunday release would be unusual for the New York-based retailer.

Expect a KITHSTRIKE-style release of the 992 and 998 via the KITH web store this weekend, each with a yet-to-be-determined retail price. The other three “Steel Blue” styles will likely follow in the forthcoming weeks as well.

For more appealing New Balance styles, check out the 1300’s woodsy “Green/Grey” colorway.