Latest Pickup: New Balance Made in USA 1300 "Angora"

With its current "Made in USA" collection, New Balance stays true to what makes the range so strong: classic silhouettes, understated colours and subtle material details that only really stand out upon closer inspection. The new New Balance Made in USA 1300 "Angora" fits perfectly into this picture. At first glance, it’s a clean, off-white trainer with blue accents. But when you hold it in your hand, it feels distinctly more special.

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This colourway features a light angora base which, depending on the light, ranges from cream to off-white to a subtle sea-salt shade. This complements the classic 1300 silhouette very well, as it gives the shoe a look that is not too sporty, but rather understated and high-quality.

The most exciting detail, however, is clearly the upper. The overlays, the "N" logo and the heel feature an embossed texture reminiscent of crocodile leather. From a distance, this makes the shoe look almost entirely clean. Up close, though, the 1300 has much more depth than a standard suede or leather trainer.

The contrast created by the blue details works really well. The "N" logo and the heel tab in Blue Oyster stand out clearly against the light-coloured upper without making the shoe look too loud. You can see particularly well in the photos how the dark blue shade gives the trainer more character.

Added to this is the mulled wine-coloured lining on the inside. The colour isn’t the first thing you notice, but it’s precisely this detail that nicely breaks up the very light-coloured look. Together with the red NB logo on the tongue, this means the colourway doesn’t look sterile, but significantly warmer.

The 1300 really comes into its own here thanks to its textures. The embossed pig suede gives the shoe a premium look, whilst the light-coloured mesh on the toe, tongue and side panels maintains that classic running vibe. Added to this is the slightly cream-coloured sole, which doesn’t look too starkly white and complements the model’s vintage character well.

It’s also great that New Balance hasn’t gone overboard with the colours on this pair. Angora, Blue Oyster and Mulled Wine are more than enough. The shoe retains a clean look without being boring. It’s precisely this aspect that makes it an interesting ‘Made in USA’ release.

The "Angora" is also the only 1300 in the current Autumn/Winter 2026 Made in USA line-up. Alongside new 990v4, 992 and 993 versions, this gives the 1300 a fairly prominent place within the season. For anyone who likes the silhouette, this is a good time to take another look at the model.

The 1300 looks sleeker and more classic than many of the newer New Balance models. That’s precisely why this colourway works so well. The crocodile-embossed pattern adds a unique twist without overloading the silhouette.

Underfoot, it retains the familiar 1300 setup with ABZORB in the heel and forefoot, and ENCAP/C-CAP in the midsole. It’s not as cutting-edge as a 991v2 with FuelCell, but that’s precisely what gives the model its character. The shoe feels stable, classic and suitable for everyday wear.

The Ndurance outsole makes the 1300 robust enough for everyday wear. And although the colourway is light, the texture of the upper and the darker accents mean it doesn’t look quite as delicate as a completely smooth white trainer.

Release and price
The New Balance Made in USA 1300 "Angora" is now available online from New Balance. The price is €210.