New Balance continues to expand its archive with new names, and the New Balance 2010 “Neptune Grey Violet Crush” (U20106KC) is one of the most interesting recent additions. A cool grey base with a purple undertone: just different enough from the standard grey runner, without sacrificing the wearability you expect from the brand.
While the 2002R and the 1906 are now everywhere, the 2010 is still relatively unexplored territory. That makes it appealing to men who want the recognizable New Balance aesthetic without wearing the same shoe as half their friend group. The silhouette fits into the brand’s technical runner lineup, while still bringing its own character.
Grey with a twist
Neptune Grey is anything but an ordinary shade of grey. It has a cool, slightly purplish-blue cast that’s enhanced by the Violet Crush accents. From a distance, the shoe reads as grey — and therefore easy to pair with — but up close, you’ll notice there’s more going on. It’s exactly the kind of subtlety that makes an outfit more interesting without demanding attention. Check the current price here: [sz_price_from stylecode=”U20106KC”].
Styling it with character
At its core, treat this 2010 like a grey sneaker: straight-leg jeans, black cargos, or grey sweatpants on more relaxed days. The interesting part comes with what you wear up top. Cool tones — navy, ice blue, charcoal — bring out the purple undertone, while black gives the whole look a sharper edge. A grey hoodie under a black puffer is the safe option; a navy overshirt over a white T-shirt is just a little more considered.
Avoid large blocks of warm earth tones. Camel and beige clash slightly with the cool undertone of this colorway. It’s not a major issue, but the look could be cleaner.
Getting ahead of the crowd
Newer silhouettes like the 2010 have one major advantage: you can get in early. If this model follows the same path as the 2002R did back in the day, you’ll already be wearing it while everyone else is still discovering that it exists. And if it doesn’t, you’ll still have a great grey runner in your rotation. You really can’t go too far wrong here.
Where to buy?
Because the 2010 isn’t yet standard stock at every retailer, availability and pricing can vary considerably from one shop to another. Solezilla has rounded up every retailer offering the “Neptune Grey Violet Crush”, including the available sizes and the lowest current price at each store: [sz_price_from stylecode=”U20106KC”]. Compare your options, and you can pick it up at the best possible price.