New Balance is dipping into its archive to bring back a rarely released sneaker with a devoted cult following.
The New Balance 1300JP will be rereleased this year, its first launch since 2020. The iconic style is released just once every five years, a tradition which began in 1995, 10 years after the sneaker debuted on the market. In 1985, the sneaker was made in the USA and was a premium running shoe, commanding a $130 retail price which was considered so expensive at the time that New Balance’s marketing joked customers would need to “mortgage the house.”
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Constructed from premium nubuck and mesh and cushioned with the brand’s full-length Encap technology, the New Balance 1300JP features a rather nondescript gray and steel blue color palette. Rather than rely on flashiness, the 1300JP elevated through its handmade construction and high quality materials.
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In its early days, the 1300 sneaker’s price tag was prohibitively high, but that didn’t stop it from catching on with style-savvy consumers, particularly in Japan. Its feverish following in Tokyo and beyond led New Balance to release the ’95 reissue exclusively in Japan, which brought about the 1300JP nomenclature.
“The 1300JP is a shoe like no other, an emblem of the soul of New Balance, that is prized by collectors and appreciators around the globe,” Shinichi Kubota, vice president of New Balance Japan, said in a press release. “Even before joining New Balance myself 34 years ago, I was inspired by my father’s work with the brand on the innovative sole design for the original 1300JP. This legacy model has been a constant throughout my career at New Balance, from spending years perfecting the first reissue, to working diligently on each subsequent launch to evolve the style in subtle ways while remaining true to its roots. With 2025’s launch we are excited to continue the 1300JP’s legacy, showcasing the design’s timeless appeal to loyal fans and a new generation.”
True to its legacy, the 2025 version of the New Balance 1300JP is handcrafted in the brand’s Skowhegan, Maine factory. It will be released May 29 globally at 10 a.m. ET on newbalance.com and select stores to coincide with New Balance’s annual month-long “Gray Days” celebration. Retail pricing for this year’s 1300JP iteration is set at $330.