New Balance WRPD Runner “Linen/Brighton Grey/Olivine” UWRPDBGS

We’re nearing the one year anniversary of the New Balance WRPD Runner, and though many of the styles we’ve covered have been appealing, we’re still awaiting a real defining colorway for the burgeoning silhouette. With previous looks for the shoe tending either towards trademark NB neutrals or more vibrant two-tone arrangements, maybe the novel color-blocking introduced with the “Olivine” WRPD Runner will help it achieve just that.

The contrast sole formula that’s been relied on for statement executions for years in the footwear industry makes one of its first appearances here, donning the FuelCell unit in militaristic “Olivine.” Though simply on a saturation level it differs starkly from the upper, the notes up top are still complementary, swapping between “Brighton Grey” mesh underpinnings and “Linen” suede overlays. The swatch of dark grey rubber that juts onto the medial midsole completes the look.

The construction of the WRPD Runner already makes it an eye-catching piece of footwear, but the pair featured here threads the needle between totally eccentric and fully conservative, and just might make for a successful home base going forward.

The New Balance WRPD Runner “Olivine” is available now via NewBalance.com, retailing for $150. The link under “Where To Buy” just ahead will land you directly on the product page to pick up yours.

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.