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New Balance ‘Made in USA 1300JP': Hands-On With the $500 Sneaker That Releases Once Every 5 Years
By Ben McKimm - News
Published: 30 May 2025
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Readtime: 4 min
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The cherry on top of Grey Day 2025 is the New Balance Made in USA 1300JP, which is only released every five years. You rarely get the chance to get your hands on a near-handmade sneaker from one of the biggest brands on earth, but now's your chance as the 1300JP is set to be released on and New Balance The Galeries store beginning on May 29th, 2025, with a suggested retail price of AUD$500.
It might sound crazy to spend this much money on a pair of sneakers, but the 1300JP is specially crafted in New Balance's Skowhegan, Maine, manufacturing facility. Here, it is produced with a level of detail, expertise, and premium quality that is quite frankly unrivalled in the sneaker world, especially amongst the top brands.
'The 1300JP is a shoe like no other, an emblem of the soul of New Balance, that is prized by collectors and appreciators around the globe,' said Shinichi Kubota, Vice President, New Balance Japan. 'Even before joining New Balance myself 34 years ago, I was inspired by my father's work with the brand on the innovative sole design for the original 1300JP. This legacy model has been a constant throughout my career at New Balance, from spending years perfecting the first reissue to working diligently on each subsequent launch to subtly evolve the style while remaining true to its roots.'
New Balance 1300JP | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of Many
To provide some historical context before I jump into my hands-on thoughts, the 1300JP was first released in 1985. It was known for its combination of technological innovation and premium materials, but it was never appreciated as a pure performance running shoe. It was all about comfort, style, and wearability, and people were happy to pay for it.
When it was released, the New Balance 1300JP had a retail price of nearly USD$130, which significantly raised the ceiling for sneaker prices. That works out to be about AUD$460 in today's money!
Sneakerheads know that this is a special shoe, but in an industry where cost-cutting is constantly changing (ruining) the most famous sneakers in the world, it's refreshing to see a brand reproduce a shoe in its original form with only minor changes. New Balance has kept the construction true to the shoe, with a slightly updated design that adds premium comfort and design features. Cushioning is provided by full-length ENCAP alongside premium materials, mostly nubuck and mesh.
New Balance 1300JP | Image: Supplied / New Balance
New Balance 1300JP | Image: Supplied / New Balance
New Balance 1300JP | Image: Supplied / New Balance
New Balance 1300JP | Image: Supplied / New Balance
The first reissue of the 1300JP was in 1995. It has been released every five years, celebrating the brand's rich heritage and building anticipation for this extremely limited release every year since.
It's one of those shoes that you almost don't want to put on your foot. You know it's going to be a comfortable shoe, but it's equally a work of art, constructed in a special factory that only produces the brand's most famous models. There's some 574-like design here, which was a takedown model that launched at a more affordable price-point back in the day, but has gone on to be a successful shoe in its own right. However, I find that this shoe has a more authentic appeal, utilising elevated materials and with meticulous craftsmanship.
It's easy for me to see (and feel) why this shoe continues to capture the attention of fashion and sneaker culture every five years. 'With 2025's launch, we are excited to continue the 1300JP's legacy, showcasing the Confidential – Not for Public Consumption or Distribution design's timeless appeal to loyal fans and a new generation,' said Kubota.
The 1300JP is set to be released on and New Balance The Galeries store beginning on May 29th, 2025, with a suggested retail price of AUD$500.
