Latest Pickup: New Balance Made in UK 991v2 ‘Elevated Neutrals’

With the Made in UK 991v2 ‘Elevated Neutrals’ pack, New Balance is releasing two new colourways that are perfectly suited to the current season. Instead of eye-catching colours, the focus this time is on muted shades of grey, brown and blue. What makes these two trainers particularly interesting, however, is not so much the colour palette as the mix of materials. Coarse waffle mesh is combined with high-quality suede and reflective details.

With ‘Iron/Mulch’ and ‘Turbulence/India Ink’, we’re treated to two different takes on the 991v2. Both remain true to New Balance’s classic design language, but the dark materials give them a slightly more technical and robust look than many of the previous ‘Made in UK’ releases.

For us, the most striking detail of the whole pack is the black Waffle Mesh, which features on both trainers on the toe box, the sides and around the collar.

Unlike the classic, fine-mesh fabric found on many 991v2 colourways, this material has a significantly coarser, almost lattice-like structure. This creates an interesting contrast with the soft suede overlays.

New Balance combines the mesh with high-quality suede, synthetic inserts and reflective elements. It is precisely because the colours are so understated that the different textures really come into their own.

The result looks familiar, but visually feels a little different from the usual 991v2 releases. It’s precisely these little changes that we like at New Balance.

The New Balance 991v2 ‘Iron/Mulch’ (U991EY2) is the warmer of the two. Light, slightly greyish leather covers the toebox, the side panels and large sections of the heel. This is complemented by significantly darker brown and charcoal tones around the eyestays and the lower side panels.

The combination works particularly well with the black Waffle mesh. The dark base allows the lighter overlays to stand out more clearly and gives the shoe greater depth. Reflective N-logos with light outlines add an extra touch without altering the understated overall look.

The midsole is also finished in dark grey and anthracite tones. The lighter ABZORB SBS elements provide a subtle contrast and make the distinctive 991v2 sole construction easily recognisable.

For us, the Iron/Mulch is a really great autumn colourway. The mix of cool grey, dark brown and black mesh goes perfectly with denim, cargo trousers or loose-fitting black trousers.

The New Balance 991v2 ‘Turbulence/India Ink’ (U991EC2) takes a different approach to colour. Cool greys and dark blue-grey tones dominate here, creating an almost monochrome look when combined with the black Waffle Mesh.

The lighter-coloured leather overlays on the toe box and heel stand out clearly against the darker side panels. These are complemented by grey synthetic reinforcements in the forefoot area and reflective ‘N’ logos.

We particularly like the way New Balance has distributed the various shades of grey. The shoe is dark, but it’s not just plain black. Depending on the angle of the light, the slightly bluish hues in the suede stand out to varying degrees.

The dark midsole also complements the upper perfectly. It echoes the colours and gives the whole trainer a rather cohesive look.

For us, the Turbulence/India Ink is the slightly sportier and more technical version, whilst the Iron/Mulch, with its warm accents, leans more towards a classic heritage running look.

Among the new materials is the familiar 991v2 technology. New Balance combines full-length FuelCell cushioning with the tried-and-tested ENCAP construction. The softer foam provides cushioning, whilst the durable polyurethane rim offers additional stability.

This is complemented by the semi-transparent ABZORB SBS pods in the forefoot and heel areas. These have now become one of the most distinctive features of the 991v2 and add subtle visual accents to both colourways.

In our opinion, New Balance has got it spot on with the laces too. Both colourways are shown in the official product images with dark laces that complement the black Waffle Mesh.

We particularly like this contrast on the Iron/Mulch. The dark laces tie the different shades of brown together and give the trainer a slightly more striking look.

With the Turbulence/India Ink, they also go perfectly with the cool, dark upper. Of course, you could also use the other laces supplied in dark grey, but let’s be honest: why change anything when it already looks so good?

Although both models use the same mix of materials, they look quite different on the foot. The Iron/Mulch brings a little more colour into play with its warm earthy tones, whilst the Turbulence/India Ink opts for a cooler, almost entirely grey look.

What we like about both is the combination of high-quality suede and coarse mesh. It is precisely this unusual texture that ensures the shoes stand out from the many other 991v2 colourways.

Personally, we’d choose the Iron/Mulch for autumnal outfits featuring brown and beige tones. The Turbulence/India Ink, on the other hand, is the more versatile all-rounder, which goes particularly well with black, grey and dark denim.

The New Balance Made in UK 991v2 ‘Elevated Neutrals’ pack is now available online at New Balance. Both colourways cost €250 each.👇