Must: New Balance 1300JP3

They’re finally back.

The 1300JP is back. For NB fans, a lot of people regard these as one of the best sneakers ever made (yes, even better than the 990s). The last time they released (2015), we missed out and regretting it ever since. With a hefty price tag, why are New Balance fans fiending over the 1300JP?

To really understand the fascination over a quinquennial model, we have to go back to 1985, the first time the shoe ever released. Priced well over any other sneaker during that era, the 1300 set new standards with its quality and materials used, craftsmanship in the truest sense of the word. The Japanese, like the true sneaker conoisseurs that they are, fell in love with the shoe, eventually pushing NB to reissue in 1995. Since then, the 1300 was renamed to the 1300JP.

The 1300JP was then reissued in 2000, 2005, 2010, and most recently 2015. With each release, New Balance worked on creating the most faithful rendition, with a couple of tweaks to further improve on the cult favorite. With its blue mesh and iconic grey suede uppers, ENCAP midsoles and vibram outsoles, the 1300JP should be on everyone’s classic rotation. For this year’s edition, New Balance ups the ante further with Horween leather, which looks better with every use.

Yesterday, Commonwealth teased us all for its local release. Expected to drop this weekend, we have to wait and see for the release mechanics for this revered sneaker.

The New Balance 1300JP3 is expected to retail for Php 15,995.