Brand Knew: 8 Things You Might Not Know About New Balance Numeric

July 17, 2026

Welcome back to Brand Knew, the series where we take a closer look at the brands that keep skateboarding, snowboarding, and boardshop culture moving.

This week we’re talking about New Balance Numeric, the skateboarding side of New Balance. Yep, that New Balance. The brand your dad might wear to mow the lawn, your favourite pro might be skating down a handrail in, and somehow both versions make perfect sense.

New Balance Numeric has blown up and become one of the most respected skate shoe lines in the game recently, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. The shoes are comfortable, durable, good looking, and they actually feel like they were made for skating instead of just being a regular sneaker with a skate label slapped on it.

Here are 8 things you might not know about New Balance Numeric.

#1. New Balance Numeric is the skateboarding division of New Balance

New Balance has been around forever, but New Balance Numeric is the part of the brand built specifically for skateboarding. Think Nike SB or Converse CONS.

Numeric builds shoes from the ground up with skateboarding in mind: reinforced materials, grippy soles, better impact protection, and silhouettes that can actually survive your MOB grip.

That’s probably why Numeric has managed to win over skaters who usually roll their eyes when a massive footwear brand enters skateboarding. These don’t feel like a cash grab, they feel like real skate shoes.

#2. Numeric officially launched in 2013

New Balance announced Numeric in late 2012, debuted the line at the Agenda trade show in early 2013, and officially launched it in the U.S. and Canada in July 2013 through local skate shops and not big box stores.

At the time, skate shoes were in a bit of a weird place. Some brands were going super slim and minimal, some were still holding onto chunky tech shoes, and a lot of people were just skating whatever felt good.

Numeric came in with something different: classic New Balance design mixed with proper skate construction.

It wasn’t instantly everywhere, but over time the line kept getting better. The shoes started looking cleaner, the team got heavier, and skaters started realizing that New Balance might actually know what they were doing here.

#3. The team is seriously stacked

One of the biggest reasons New Balance Numeric has become so respected is the team.

Over the years, Numeric has been connected with a seriously heavy lineup, including names like Andrew Reynolds, Tiago Lemos, Jamie Foy, Brandon Westgate, Franky Villani, Tom Karangelov, Tom Knox, Jordan Trahan, Justin Henry, and more.

That’s not just a “throw some cool names on a website” team. That’s a real skate team with different styles, different eras, and different types of skating represented. You’ve got Tiago making ledge tricks look fake, Jamie Foy hitting every handrail in sight, Reynolds being Reynolds, and Westgate skating with the kind of speed that makes your knees hurt just watching.

When a brand has that many heavy hitters, the shoes have to actually work. Skaters are picky. Pros are even pickier. Nobody is sticking with shoes they hate just because the logo is nice.

#4. The Tiago 1010 is one of the best examples of what Numeric does well

The New Balance Numeric Tiago Lemos 1010 is one of those shoes that makes the whole Numeric thing click.

It has that classic mow-the-lawn New Balance look, but it’s built like a proper skate shoe. The 1010 mixes ’90s skate inspiration with New Balance heritage style, while adding modern skate features like FuelCell cushioning and a durable rubber cupsole.

Basically, it’s supportive and padded without feeling like a moon boot, and made for people who want more comfort and impact protection than a super thin skate shoe without sacrificing board-feel.

Tiago Lemos also has one of the best styles in skateboarding, so it makes sense that his shoe has that same mix of power and cleanliness. It looks good, it skates good, and it doesn’t feel like every other skate shoe on the wall.

#5. Jamie Foy’s 306 is built to take abuse

Jamie Foy does not exactly skate gently.

So when you see his name on a shoe, you can probably assume it was not designed for someone who only does flatground kickflips on fresh pavement once every two weeks.

The Jamie Foy 306 has become one of Numeric’s most recognizable skate shoes because it hits that sweet spot: familiar shape, good durability, and a low-profile vulcanized feel. The shoe uses rubber underlays and suede reinforcement to help it handle the kind of skating that usually destroys shoes fast.

Basically, if your shoes usually look like they got attacked by a belt sander after a few sessions, the 306 is worth checking out.

#6. Andrew Reynolds getting a New Balance shoe just makes sense

Andrew Reynolds skating New Balance is one of those things that feels weird for about five seconds, and then suddenly it feels perfect.

Reynolds has always done things his own way. He’s one of the most influential street skaters ever, helped build Baker into one of the most important skate brands of all time, and has somehow made grown-man comfort look cool.

His Numeric 933 leans into classic New Balance runner DNA while adding skate-focused technology like a primo patch. It has that heritage New Balance look, but with enough skate function to make sense on a board. And for those with a keen eye, you can spot an easter egg that nods to Reynolds legendary career on the bottom of the sole.

It is one of those shoes that works for skating, chilling, walking the dog, or watching Baker 4.

#7. The new 340 is trying to solve the classic vulc shoe problem

The newest addition to the Numeric lineup is the New Balance Numeric 340, and it is a pretty interesting one.

Vulcanized skate shoes are loved for a reason. They usually feel flexible, grippy, broken-in, and super connected to your board. The downside is they can also feel pretty thin under your feet especially if your jumping down stuff, skating crusty spots, or just spending hours on your board.

The 340 is Numeric's answer to that. It keeps the classic vulc feel, but adds a built-in polyurethane midsole and heel wedge for more impact protection and comfort.

Basically, the 340 is made for skaters who want the boardfeel of a vulc shoe but dont want their feet to feel completely cooked after every session. It is still low-profile and skateable but with a bit more under the hood then your average vulc.

And that sums up what New Balance Numeric is all about - take something skaters already like, make it more comfortable and reliable, without ruining what made it good in the first place.

#8. Numeric fits right in at Rumor

At Rumor, we’re always looking for shoes that actually make sense for the people walking into the shop.

Some people want something slim and simple. Some people want a cupsole with more support. Some people want something they can skate in and still wear every day without looking like they just left a 2004 skate video premiere.

*but we do have the right shoe for that look too ;)*

That’s where New Balance Numeric fits in really well.

The lineup has options like the 272, 306, 440, 480, 933, and 1010, so whether you want something low-profile, something more supportive, or something with that classic New Balance comfort, there’s probably a pair that makes sense.

And honestly, that’s the best thing about Numeric. It doesn’t feel like the brand is trying too hard to be “core.” It just makes good skate shoes, backs a heavy team, and lets the product do the talking.

We can respect that.

Final thoughts

New Balance Numeric has gone from “wait, New Balance makes skate shoes?” to one of the strongest shoe lines in skateboarding.

They’ve got the team, the tech, the comfort, and the kind of shoes that work whether you’re skating every day or just need something better than a blown-out pair of old runners.

You can find New Balance Numeric at our Edmonton and Leduc shops, or on our website.

Got questions about sizing, tech, or what pair makes the most sense for you? Come by the shop or hit us up on Instagram. We’ll point you in the right direction.