The New Balance 990v7 Lands on 6th November – Here’s What’s Changed

The king of dad shoes is getting a new crown. After weeks of teasers, celebrity sightings and one very small billboard in New York, New Balance has confirmed the 990v7 lands on Friday 6th November. If you’ve ever owned a pair of 990s, you’ll know why that matters.

The key details

• Release date: 6th November 2026, from 9am on the New Balance site
• Price: £210
• First colourway: “Kool Grey” (style code U990GR7)
• Made in: USA, as always for the 990 line

So what’s actually new?

The headline change is underfoot. The midsole uses FuelCell foam paired with New Balance’s ENCAP construction, which should make it noticeably softer and bouncier than older 990s while keeping that famously supportive feel. There’s also extra stability built in through a stability component and a TPU shank plate, so it’s still a shoe you can be on your feet in all day.

Up top, the upper has been reshaped but it’s still unmistakably a 990: grey suede and mesh, with little hits of pale blue, soft yellow and off-white to keep it interesting. New Balance is calling the design approach “memories from the future” – basically, familiar enough that long-time fans won’t be put off, fresh enough to justify a new number.

A quick history lesson

The original 990 arrived in 1982, and since then we’ve had the v2 (1998), v3 (2012), v4 (2016), v5 (2019) and v6 (2022). Each one has had its fans and its haters – I know plenty of people who still swear the v3 was peak 990 – so it’ll be interesting to see where the v7 lands in the rankings.

Getting hold of a pair

The first wave goes out through New Balance directly and selected stockists, so it’s worth checking your favourite independent menswear shops too in case they’ve got an allocation. Grey 990s tend to go quickly, so if you’re set on a launch-day pair, have your size ready and be online at 9am sharp.

Not a grey man? A black version is already doing the rounds and is expected later in the season, so if you’d rather something a bit stealthier, it might be worth holding fire.

The Scented Gent verdict

£210 isn’t pocket change, but the 990 has always been a buy-once, wear-to-death kind of trainer, and the comfort upgrade sounds like it’ll make the v7 one of the best in the line. It’s also the perfect partner for everything autumn: chunky cords, a chore coat, a fisherman’s knit. Grey suede and a cosy, slightly soapy musk scent – that’s the whole weekend sorted.