Andrew Reynold’s First New Balance Signature Sneaker Barely Looks Like a Skate Shoe
At 46 years old, Andrew Reynolds is still finding firsts in his legendary skating career. Three years after signing with New Balance, and another three after leaving his longterm home at Emerica, he’s now receiving his first signature model from the Boston-based brand.
The New Balance Numeric 933 is a blend of the fat tongues and wide foundations of skate shoes and the dad shoe aesthetic that’s made so many of New Balance’s retro runners popular. Specifically, the silhouette borrows lines from the iconic 993. It’s also positioned to be just as comfortable as you’d expect from the 993 and its ilk, which will be welcomed news even if you haven’t put in nearly as many frontside flips as “The Boss.”
“For me, being a skater in my forties, the wrong shoes will hurt my whole body,” Reynolds said in a press release. “So, it’s very important to me that I can make something to avoid that. I want to be able to skate with youthfulness. If I take part in designing something that is going to help that, then I think, why not?”
A dual density Abzorb midsole sits underfoot for that purpose and has been co-molded without glue. Arch support comes from a TPU midfoot shank, and the NDurance outsole is tailored to gripping the board. And while the upper’s exterior brings a familiar mix of suede, leather and mesh, FantomFit technology sits within to support the foot. A Controlled Reaction device then cradles the heel, and an adhered toe cap boosts durability.
“When I’m skating in the park, people say, ‘Oh, you’re skating in runners?'” Reynolds told Highsnobiety in an interview last week. “And that’s sick. That’s what I was hoping for.”
Reynolds received his first signature shoe in 1998 courtesy of Emerica, and they’d go on to release 13 total models until they announced they’d parted ways in 2019. A short stint with Vans followed, and as his New Balance debut was still cooking, Reynolds worked with the brand to reconfigure the 480 basketball sneaker for the Numeric skateboarding sublabel.
“The signature model shoe is the highest accolade in skateboarding,” Tyrone Romero, senior marketing manager for New Balance Numeric, said in a release. “He’s done so much for the culture — he continues to give back, is building a legacy, and creates careers for other people. Giving him a signature shoe is a complete honor.”
Andrew Reynold’s New Balance Numeric 933 will release April 28 through New Balance’s website. Pricing is set at $130, and width sizing will be offered.