Comfort has a name, it’s ABZORB.
In a landscape full of breakthrough tech, New Balance continues to create. The NB ABZORB 2000 isn’t just a play on nostalgic silhouettes or nailing the Y2K revival; it’s a technical flex and a lesson in cushioning. Because what makes this progressive model more than just a midsole? One word: ABZORB.
What is ABZORB tech?
Let’s get one thing straight: ABZORB tech isn’t just foam. It’s New Balance’s patented cushioning technology, designed to do one thing really, really well: absorb impact and disperse energy. Developed in the mid-90s as a revolutionary running tech and an integral piece of the NB Suspension System, ABZORB is a dual-density foam and rubber blend engineered to minimise shock without killing ground feel. It doesn’t just cradle your foot, it responds to it, making each step feel edited to your stride.
As the label stepped into the 21st century – just as the millennial tech boom reshaped everything from sneakers to phones – ABZORB evolved through iterations like Full Length, DTS, and now it’s most recognisable ABZORB SBS. Today, it’s become a fan favourite for lifestyle pairs like the 1906, 1000, and 2010.
Digitally carved comfort
The Boston brand knows how to reinvent heritage without trying too hard. The ABZORB 2000 is a continuation of the brand’s long-standing affair with technical footwear and late-90s performance wear. Visually, it’s chunky, not clunky. But peel back the design language, and the real poetry is underfoot. The ABZORB sole plate spans heel to forefoot, creating a ride that’s plush yet precise. Unlike some EVA-based midsoles that compress over time, ABZORB holds its integrity under pressure.
The design DNA of models like the ABZORB 2000 and its siblings, including the ABZORB 1000, traces back to early-2000s New Balance performance runners. Spearheaded by designer Charlotte Lee, the ABZORB 2000 wasn’t just an homage; it was a thought experiment: What if ABZORB tech had evolved uninterrupted since the noughties era? The answer is a sneaker that blends throwback aesthetics with a moulded midsole that looks digitally carved, because it kind of was.
“The real challenge in designing the ABZORB 2000 was finding the right balance between heritage and modernity,” said Charlotte Lee, Design Manager. “We wanted to amplify those iconic design cues, like the ABZORB SBS gel cushioning, but rework them through a contemporary lens. It’s that tension between the past and the present that really drives our design philosophy.”
Using advanced 3D tools, designers shaped the hyper-detailed, articulated sole and nailed curves you could never fully capture on paper. The outcome? An experimental build with full-length ABZORB cushioning and targeted ABZORB SBS pods – a hallmark lifted straight from NB icons and used as a focal point. It’s nostalgic, but not retro, more like a parallel timeline where early-2000s tech never stopped pushing forward.
New Balance ABZORB 2000 – it’s in the details
An asymmetrical toe-down view sets the Y2K-tone, with the upper pattern lifted from the NB 743 and dash-line detailing that nods to the 860v2’s precision engineering. 3D screen-printed overlays replace traditional hot-melt TPU, reducing waste while sharpening every contour. Beneath, a recycled foam insole showcases open mesh to reveal its flecked pattern, and ABZORB midsoles sit atop the outsole’s tread, which echoes the aggressive lines of 2000s-era running shoes.
Previewed at Milan Design Week, the ABZORB 2000 may be a newcomer, but it’s not a solo act. The New Balance 2010, another lifestyle-techwear crossover, also shares the same shock-dampening DNA. Both pairs each uniquely transform this functional feature into a fresh visual design statement, standing out amongst other NB silhouettes, its comfort without compromise, running heritage through a modern lens. New Balance, with its ABZORB platform, is making it clear, you just need a concoction of good design and a sole that won’t quit.
The New Balance ABZORB 2000 is available at size? now.