It’s been barely a week since I showed off a New Balance shoe, and yet here I am with another! This time, although we’re still looking at the same collection, we’re rewinding even further into the past with the ABZORB 2000–a model that’s sure to give off that chic dawn of the millennium aesthetic. Let’s jump right in!
ABZORB 2000
Previewed at Milan Design Week 2025 in early April, the ABZORB 2000 combines a progressive design, a minimalist upper, and futuristic details to offer a new look at visible tech.
The design process tapped into 3D tools to craft a hyper-detailed, articulated sole unit; capturing complex curves that traditional sketches just couldn’t convey–ultimately creating a shoe of the past using, ironically, the technology of the future.
Just like its 2010 counterpart, this experimental design features a full-length combination of ABZORB cushioning and ABZORB SBS pods, with the added distinctive feature of 2000s running-inspired classics as a focal point. This results in a truly versatile shoe that effortlessly absorbs impact for an ultra-comfortable ride, no matter where you’re headed.
As for the design, the iconic look of the ABZORB SBS gel cushioning is reimagined through a contemporary lens, resulting in what I find to resemble the blobject shapes that defined the 2000s.
Meanwhile, its streamlined upper—made from breathable mesh and accented in cool, almost icy shades of blue and teal—gives it a fresh, futuristic silhouette that still pays homage to the bold, performance-driven designs of the past.
Top it all off with the signature “N” branding now finished in a reflective, silvery sheen–and at last, the ABZORB 2000, as Design Manager Charlotte Lee puts it, strikes the beautifully fine “tension between the past and the present.”
So, if you’re ready to journey through time and space like no one’s done before, get yourself a pair of New Balance’s ABZORB 2000 to do exactly that in both comfort and style!
Starting from today, the shoe will be available on the official New Balance website at a price of S$239 along with select retailers like those at Orchard ION and Paragon–so get yours today!
Visuals Courtesy of New Balance.
