A classic reborn for skateboarding
Before entering the skate market, the 480 most people know and love was a basketball-inspired silhouette, used mainly in pub gardens. Well, at least in the UK that is. However, the first time anyone first laid eyes on the 480 was in 1983. Until 1989, it was a well-respected high-top basketball shoe used by professional players and enthusiasts alike. In fact, the iconic Michael Jordan 'Jumpman' logo used for the Air Jordan shoe series is inspired by a photo of Michael flying through the air wearing the OG 480 basketball shoe!
When looking back at which shoes were being used by skaters in the '80s and '90s, you would often see shoes designed for use on the courts, whether it's tennis or basketball. Just look through the amazing Read and Destroy book by Dan Adams and you will see shoes such as the OG 480 being worn on many of the pages. This is due to the silhouettes of these shoes being a perfect base for what a skater needs from their skate shoes; a flat sole unit, a rugged construction and, of course, a pleasing aesthetic.
Subtle changes make a big difference
To the untrained eye, the regular 480 and the 480 Numeric appear to be the same shoe. There are a few giveaways though. Firstly, the sole unit on the Numeric version is ever so slightly thicker (for reasons we will get into later). The other noticeable difference is the tongue which has a thicker construction to it, mainly to protect the top of your foot, but it also gives the shoe a more comfortable and snug fit. However, as with most things in life, it's what's beneath the surface that truly counts and the 480 Numeric is a perfect example of this.
On the upper part of the shoe, the changes are minimal compared to the standard 480. That's not to say that the changes that have been made aren't significant though. I have mentioned the slightly more puffed-out tongue, giving the top of the foot far more protection and increasing the comfort, but the main change New Balance have made for the Numeric collection has to be the reinforced toe area. As we all know, skateboarding is not kind to shoes, especially the toe area, so a solid reinforcement placed under the panel really does help keep the shoe going for much longer. Something both you and your wallet will appreciate massively!
Durability, impact protection and board feel
Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty of it all... The sole unit.
First things first, the sole unit used for the New Balance 480 is a cemented cup sole. Usually, the common perception with this type of sole unit is that there is not much "board feel" and generally a higher level of detachment between your foot and the grip/concave of the deck. Worry not! With the 480, the rubber used is New Balance's very own 'NDurance' formula which has been designed to give the shoe an almost unrivalled amount of grip when compared to other brands' cup sole silhouettes. The 'NDurance' rubber is also incredibly durable, meaning the sole itself has far more life in it, especially compared to the regular 480 silhouette.
Above the 'NDurance' rubber outsole sits a 'FuelCell' midsole. This cushioning technology created by New Balance is used in their high-end basketball and running shoes, as well as their Numeric skate programme. The advantages the 'FuelCell' brings to a skate shoe are incredible. The first thing you think of when considering cushioning tech in a skate shoe is does it allow you to jump down sets of stairs for much longer than other compatible shoes. The short answer is, yes! But it's not just advantageous for those large impacts, it also helps keep you skating for longer in general. Even if you spend the day trying to film a manual clip, you'd think the cushioning of the shoe wouldn't be overly important, but you would be wrong. Every time you bail the trick, stamp your foot on the ground or do the unimaginable – land primo, your feet are far more protected, easily giving you more attempts to get the clip. Sat atop of the midsole, lies the 'Abzorb' insole, created again to add to the impact protection as well as the comfort of the shoe.
To summarise, the regular New Balance 480 is the equivalent of homologation cars created to be road-legal versions of the race cars you would see in motorsports such as touring car races or rally driving. Great cars, of course, but a watered-down version of the vehicles that race. They are not designed for the particular stresses track racing puts these vehicles through. The New Balance Numeric 480 is the race car, designed to be able to hold its own in adverse conditions. The 480 Numeric not only holds its own when it comes down to the stresses skateboarding puts them through, they thrive.
