SoleGRIND
New Balance is on an absolute tear right now, and the brand-new 983 silhouette is about to continue that momentum. This is a fresh model built from the 2000s running archive, and it looks incredible.
Fronted by Coco Gauff and Aminé, the 983 takes inspiration from early-2000s NB running shoes but brings it firmly into 2026. The ABZORB SBS pods and wave moldings on the midsole give it that chunky-but-refined look that’s been dominating the lifestyle sneaker space. The “Shadow Blue” colorway (SKU U9835DU) is the launch drop.
Coco Gauff helped introduce the 983 ahead of her time in New York, and the timing couldn’t be better. New Balance is having a cultural moment, and the 983 feels like the brand confidently saying “we can do this all day.” The shoe drops October 1, 2026, with a retail price of $160.
The 983 is a lifestyle model, not a performance runner, but it’s built on real running DNA. The 2000s archive inspiration means you get that early-internet tech aesthetic without the retro cosplay energy. It’s genuinely a new shoe that respects its heritage without being chained to it.
With the 2000s running trend still going strong and New Balance’s cultural cache at an all-time high, the 983 has “next mega-hit” written all over it. British GQ already called it exactly that. Don’t sleep on the October 1 release.
