A Mysterious Pair of New Balance 2002Rs With Tech Pockets Appears

In its short lifetime, the New Balance 2002R has already appeared in dozens of renditions from collaborations to special release colorways, GRs and even a mule, but now it is set to take on its most tactical form as a pair wearing stash pockets has surfaced.

Served in an olive green, gray, and navy blue colorway, the shoe adopts a palette akin to sneakers that often drop around 4/20. While this is merely speculative, technical nylon pockets shrouding the 3M-equipped rope laces do suggest this could be the case. Here, lowercase New Balance branding graces the pockets, while a zip runs along the top of each piece.

Elsewhere around the shoe, we find a tongue made from leather that’s been given an ostrich leather-esque finish, while smooth leather makes up the mid-panels. This overlays the tech nylon base that peeps through on the toe box, front quarters and heels, while hairy suede hits up the toe. As if the contrasts weren’t already enough, smooth nubuck graces the heel panels alongside 2002R and New Balance branding, while an NERGY-packed sole unit underpins the moody design atop.

Take a look at the mysterious pair of New Balance 2002Rs above, and pick up a pair from atmos Tokyo on April 21 and at HBX on April 22 for￥24,200 JPY (approx. $195 USD).

In other news, Dover Street Market has teased its upcoming New Balance 991 collaboration.