BEAMS Weatherproof New Balance 996 with GORE-TEX

News on this release was first published on November 13, 2023:

Update November 14, 2023: Following the initial tease from BEAMS, full looks have now surfaced of their take on the New Balance 996 built with GORE-TEX.

Japanese retail giant BEAMS have unveiled that they’ll soon be adding to their sneaker colab catalogue by putting their spin on a New Balance classic – the NB 996.

BEAMS are one of Japan’s largest retailers, and they have a reputation for linking up with prominent footwear manufacturers for left-field creations. They’re no stranger to working with New Balance either. Earlier this year, they took a sneaker and turned it into a clog with the 2002R Mule, and now they're giving this same energy by waterproofing the NB 996.

BEAMS' latest concoction promises a weather resistant ‘Made in the USA 996’. Full looks aren’t yet available, but their teaser image shows what fans of the 996 will no doubt expect with the signature pigskin hairy suede and mesh upper accounted for, but freshened up with subtle green and grey outdoor hues.

The particular twist here is that the kicks are built with GORE-TEX technology, lending them an off-road, gritty texture that super powers both their aesthetic and durability. This pairing of street fashion with off-the-beaten track adventure continues BEAMS’ penchant for mismatching juxtaposed elements that deliver a fresh interpretation of a familiar silhouette.

The BEAMS x New Balance 996 GORE-TEX doesn't currently have a release date, but stay locked to FhyzicsShops for more updates as they develop.