{"title":"NEW BALANCE","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"new-balance-2002r-protection-pack-phantom","title":"New Balance 2002R Protection Pack Phantom","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe darkest, most brooding and most architecturally compelling release in one of New Balance's most celebrated modern packs. The New Balance 2002R Protection Pack Phantom is the standout piece of a three-colourway capsule that took the sneaker world by storm in Fall 2021 — a deconstructed, monochromatic dark grey and near-black execution of the 2002R silhouette that has since become one of the most consistently sought-after and widely referenced releases in New Balance's entire lifestyle catalogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe Protection Pack concept is as considered as the shoes themselves. Three neutral colourways — each inspired by the idea of protection, shelter and the natural world — stripped back to their most elemental and most architectural expression, the 2002R's layered construction treated not as decoration but as design language in its own right. The Phantom is the darkest of the three, and the one that has proven most enduring — the colourway that collectors and lifestyle sneaker enthusiasts return to again and again as one of the most wearable and most aesthetically resolved New Balance releases of the decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe monochromatic dark grey and near-black palette runs entirely throughout the upper — not a single contrasting accent, not a single colour that draws attention away from the extraordinary material and construction story being told across the shoe's surface. A breathable mesh base forms the structural foundation, with raw-edged suede overlays sitting on top in the deconstructed style that defines the Protection Pack — their edges unfinished and deliberately exposed, referencing handcraft and process in a way that feels simultaneously technical and artistic. The multi-layer suede panels cover the mesh base across the majority of the upper, with only the toebox and carefully considered areas left slightly revealed — creating a graduated, textural depth that rewards close inspection from every angle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe tonal 'N' logo on the quarter panel sits in the same dark grey as the upper — present but undemonstrative, speaking to the wearer who notices rather than announcing itself to everyone in the room. A discreet '2002R' callout on the lateral side completes the branding with the same quiet confidence. The grey stripes and circles on the outsole contrast subtly with the near-black upper image — the only visual movement in a colour story that is otherwise a study in absolute tonal discipline. Flat laces complete the refined, minimal presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe ABZORB midsole is borrowed directly from the 860v2 — one of New Balance's most respected performance platforms — delivering lightweight cushioning and a smooth, responsive ride that has lost none of its performance integrity in its transition to lifestyle context. N-ergy technology in the sole provides additional shock absorption through a combination of cushioning and compression resistance, giving the Phantom an underfoot experience that is as compelling as its visual story. The distressed finish on the midsole adds further deconstructed character — raw, considered and entirely intentional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eOriginally released on 14 August 2021, the Protection Pack Phantom has demonstrated the kind of sustained demand and cultural staying power that separates a truly great release from a seasonal moment — still trading above retail years after launch, still appearing on the feet of the most considered dressers, still the first New Balance release many collectors point to when asked which pair defined the brand's lifestyle era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eUpper: Breathable mesh base with raw-edged multi-layer suede overlays — deconstructed finish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eColourway: Monochromatic dark grey \/ near-black throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBranding: Tonal 'N' logo on quarter panel \/ discreet '2002R' lateral callout \/ New Balance branding on sides, tongue and heel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eMidsole: Distressed ABZORB — borrowed from New Balance 860v2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTechnology: ABZORB cushioning \/ N-ergy shock absorption\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eOutsole: Rubber — grey stripes and circles detailing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClosure: Traditional lace-up with flat laces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eUpper Materials: Mesh and suede\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eStyle Code: M2002RDB\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eColourway: Phantom \/ Magnet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"New Balance","offers":[{"title":"6","offer_id":64733896147293,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"7","offer_id":64733896180061,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"7.5","offer_id":64733896212829,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"8","offer_id":64733896245597,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"8.5","offer_id":64733896278365,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"9","offer_id":64733896311133,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"9.5","offer_id":64733896343901,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10","offer_id":64733896376669,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"11","offer_id":64733896409437,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1073\/0088\/0733\/files\/New-Balance-2002R-Protection-Pack-Phantom-Crepslocker-Front_45633c9d-c995-4634-9c77-c206991ba50f.webp?v=1779147377"},{"product_id":"new-balance-2002r-protection-pack-rain-cloud","title":"New Balance 2002R Protection Pack Rain Cloud","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe most wearable and most universally loved colourway in one of New Balance's most celebrated modern packs. The New Balance 2002R Protection Pack Rain Cloud is the lighter, more accessible sibling of the Phantom — and the one that has consistently proven the broadest and most enduring appeal of the three-piece Protection Pack capsule since its release in August 2021.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe Protection Pack tells a story rooted in the Y2K aesthetic — inspired by New Balance designer Yue Wu's original concept of a refined future, the pack uses the 2002R's layered construction as a canvas for exploring what it means for a sneaker to show its age with dignity and character. Each pair is built to reference wearable relics — objects that carry the marks of time as a feature rather than a flaw. The Rain Cloud is the most atmospheric and most evocative expression of that concept — a greyscale colourway that genuinely captures the quality of natural light on an overcast day, with the premium hairy suede panels and raw-edged construction adding a tactile richness that rewards handling as much as wearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe breathable grey mesh upper forms the structural foundation of the Rain Cloud — a cool, neutral grey that provides the tonal base for the deconstructed material story layered above it. Tonal jagged suede overlays sit on top of the mesh in irregular, raw-edged panels — their uneven lines deliberately conveying the impression that the material has eroded naturally over time, a design decision that speaks directly to the Protection Pack's concept of wearable relics and the Y2K aesthetic of objects that exist outside of conventional time. Premium hairy suede adds a textural character to the overlays that is unique to this pack — tactile, warm and unlike any other material treatment in the 2002R's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThe exposed foam tongue accentuates the deconstructed aesthetic with complete conviction — no lining, no overlay, just the raw foam construction revealed in the same spirit as the raw-edged suede panels, each element of the shoe's construction made visible and celebrated rather than concealed. A reflective New Balance logo sits on the upper — the only moment of material contrast in an otherwise entirely tonal grey palette, catching light with a subtle shimmer that rewards wear in any lighting condition. The cream N-ergy midsole provides the one warm colour note in the entire design — a soft, slightly off-white sole unit that grounds the cool grey upper with a warmth and contrast that is as considered as every other detail on this shoe, completing the Protection Pack's earth-toned, natural world palette with total coherence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eLightweight cushioning is delivered by a distressed ABZORB midsole — borrowed directly from the New Balance 860v2, one of the brand's most respected performance platforms — paired with an N-ergy outsole for improved impact protection and a smooth, responsive ride that gives the Rain Cloud a genuine comfort story to match its visual one. The grey outsole completes the tonal greyscale story from upper to ground, maintaining the Protection Pack's colour discipline across every surface of the shoe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eOriginally released on 14 August 2021 as part of the three-piece Protection Pack alongside the Phantom and the Sea Salt, the Rain Cloud has demonstrated remarkable cultural staying power — restocked on 18 November 2025 due to sustained demand, making it one of the few New Balance releases to receive a formal restock years after its original launch. That restock is itself a statement of the Rain Cloud's enduring relevance — a colourway so perfectly conceived and so universally wearable that the market simply kept asking for more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eUpper: Breathable grey mesh with tonal raw-edged jagged suede overlays — premium hairy suede\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBranding: Reflective New Balance logo on upper — tonal grey throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTongue: Exposed foam — deconstructed finish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eMidsole: Cream N-ergy — distressed ABZORB cushioning borrowed from New Balance 860v2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eOutsole: Grey rubber — N-ergy impact protection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTechnology: ABZORB cushioning \/ N-ergy shock absorption\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClosure: Traditional lace-up with flat laces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eUpper Materials: Mesh and premium hairy suede\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eStyle Code: M2002RDA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eColourway: Rain Cloud \/ Magnet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"New Balance","offers":[{"title":"6","offer_id":64733904011613,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"7","offer_id":64733904044381,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"8","offer_id":64733904077149,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"9","offer_id":64733904109917,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10","offer_id":64733904142685,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1073\/0088\/0733\/files\/New-Balance-2002R-Protection-Pack-Rain-Cloud-Crepslocker-Front_f1ff1f1d-5358-40a5-97fe-97b1d4f31e9b.webp?v=1779147635"}],"url":"https:\/\/jnbcollective.com\/collections\/new-balance.oembed","provider":"JNB Collective","version":"1.0","type":"link"}