New Balance 996

About

The New Balance 996 launched in 1988 as the third model in the brand's 99X series, arriving between the 995 (1986) and the 997, which Wikipedia places in 1990 or 1991. Where the step from the 990 to the 995 had been modest, the 996 was a complete overhaul, pairing a dual density C-Cap midsole with the ENCAP wedge for what New Balance marketed as "the ultimate hybrid" of stability, support, and cushioning. It introduced a two-tone outsole blending blown and carbon rubber, a high-tensile mesh upper, and a revised Motion Control Device with a more tapered profile than earlier 99X models. The standard 996 is built with signature pigskin hairy suede paired with mesh, and New Balance continues to produce it under its Made in USA range. The silhouette has stayed active in sneaker culture well beyond its running origins, with releases and collaborations spanning 2020 to 2024 that include a Franck Muller partnership, a Journal Standard edition combining suede with CORDURA nylon, a BEAMS Gore-Tex weatherproof version, and a place in Teddy Santis's MADE in USA collection alongside the 990v4, 990v6, and 998.