Over the past decade, corporate brands have significantly influenced the skate shoe industry through pro signings, technical innovations, and significant investments. However, this influence often carries the weight of their broader brand legacy beyond skateboarding. When two seemingly unrelated worlds, such as skateboarding and mainstream sports, intersect, there can be initial skepticism. Yet, other sports often demand durability, grip, traction, and comfort even more than skating does, so there might actually be a hidden benefit in the mix.
Take New Balance, for example: the 480 was originally launched in 1983 as their first basketball shoe, part of an effort to expand beyond running into other sports. Much like the Nike Dunk, it emerged from basketball, faded away for a while, and then was resurrected through skateboarders. Fun fact: Michael Jordan’s iconic Jumpman logo was actually inspired by a photo of him wearing New Balance 480s.
But enough about basketball; we’re here to talk about the New Balance Numeric 480, a version fully reworked for skateboarding. Backed by skating legends like Andrew Reynolds, Justin Henry, Ryan Lay, Jordan Trahan, Charlie Birch, and Marcello Campanello, this shoe has serious street cred. If you caught the Village Psychic article, you know Reynolds got deep into New Balance’s archives during the process, even cutting apart his shoes in true Weartested fashion, and his influence played probably a role in getting this shoe back on the market, especially after dropping his own colorway last year. Keep reading to see if The Boss’s stamp of approval came through in our review.
The NB# 480 fits true to size.
When evaluating the durability of a skate shoe, we focus on three key areas: the toe, midfoot, and outsole. The NB# 480 excels in all these zones. The double-stitched suede toe box held up well during our 10-hour wear test, maintaining its shape despite some minor stitching wear. The combination of suede and leather uppers in this area provides excellent stability, while the suede contributes to the shoe’s flick. The midfoot showed minimal signs of damage, and even the seams connecting the layers remained intact. Additionally, the shoe’s thick outsole sidewalls helped protect the toe, ensuring solid durability overall. In conclusion, the NB# 480 boasts excellent durability, with the majority of wear concentrated in the toe area.
One of the standout features of the NB# 480 is its cushioning. The shoe uses a cupsole construction, filled with FuelCell foam and topped with an ABZORB foam sockliner. The FuelCell foam is thinner at the toe to enhance boardfeel, while the thicker midfoot and heel areas provide impact protection. The removable foam insole adds extra dampening, ensuring the shoe can absorb the shock from medium-impact skating and bails. In short, the NB# 480 performs well when it comes to cushioning, offering solid protection without sacrificing boardfeel.
The shape of the NB# 480 is intriguing. While it appears and feels somewhat wider, it actually hugs the foot closely in the midfoot area. The toe area, notably, has a slightly pointier shape than expected, but this proved to be a pleasant surprise. The result is a shoe that offers a great precision, particularly when it comes to flicks.
As a cupsole model, the NB# 480’s boardfeel develops over time. Initially, the upper feels stiff, and the multi-layer sole construction takes some breaking in to reach its full potential. The thinner toe area contributes most to boardfeel, allowing for a more responsive feel.
The sole features a wide, deep tread pattern, which provides solid grip for a cupsole—though it can’t quite match the performance of a vulcanized sole. Once broken in, the shoe’s grip improves significantly, with the sole adapting to the concave and griptape. Overall, while the NB# 480’s sole feels stiff at first, it becomes a reliable, no-frills performer after a few sessions.
Comfort in a skate shoe depends on weight, ventilation, and an overall well-constructed interior. Despite being a cupsole, the NB# 480 is surprisingly lightweight, and its interior is thoughtfully designed. One standout feature is the fixated tongue, which keeps everything in place and secures your foot. This addition seems to be a recent update, as earlier colorways lacked the tongue strap. While breathability is solid, it’s not exceptional.
The NB# 480’s stability is one of its greatest strengths. The combination of a stable sole and a durable suede-leather upper ensures that the shoe maintains its shape throughout extended wear. The toe and midfoot areas feel snug and locked in, contributing to a secure fit. However, despite the overall stability, there is some heel slippage due to the slick lining material at the heel, which could be an issue for some skaters.
The New Balance Numeric 480 stands out with exceptional cushioning, excellent stability, and top-tier durability. The boardfeel and cupsole-like grip are solid, though one notable downside is some heel slippage.
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