It’s perhaps one of the most popular releases from New Balance: the sneakers from the ‘Protection Pack.’ Originally released in 2021, consisting of the colorways ‘Phantom Black’, ‘Rain Cloud’, and ‘Sea Salt’, the pack remains more relevant than ever four years later, with new colorways reappearing, each featuring the distressed upper.
On October 6, 2025, the New Balance 2002R will drop in the colorways ‘Shipyard,’ ‘Black,’ and ‘White Reflection.’
'Protection Pack'
Under the motto “never change a winning team,” New Balance is releasing three new ‘Protection Pack’ colorways of the 2002R. Designed by footwear designer Yue Wu, the pack was brought to life in 2021 as a response to the trend of not wearing sneakers.
According to Wu, sneakers should be worn, and they should look like it. The result is a design with worn and torn elements that effortlessly combine materials such as mesh, suede, GORE-TEX, and leather into a groundbreaking design. Now, three new colorways are making their debut.
As with previous releases, the colorways Shipyard, Black, and White Reflection feature distressed details. Each release has a monochrome color palette. The sneaker relies on New Balance’s renowned technologies: the ABZORB midsole with N-ergy and ABZORB SBS technology provides optimal cushioning and comfort.
Whichever colorway you choose, the New Balance 2002R ‘Protection Pack’ is a solid choice this fall, thanks in part to the waterproof GORE-TEX upper, which can come in handy in the Netherlands.
Release
All three colorways will drop on October 6, 2025, via New Balance. Sneakerjagers got an early look at the ‘Black’ colorway. Check out close-up shots of this variant below, and head to Sneakerjagers’ Instagram for images of the other two colorways.
The designer of the pack, Yue Wu, originally gave the three sneakers the name ‘Refined Future’ (Complex, 2021). According to Wu, the name ‘Protection Pack’ doesn’t actually belong to the designs, but it has become so widely adopted that changing it back is no longer possible.
