Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here.

Ryan papenhuyzen 1180x90
Ryan papenhuyzen 778x150
New balance 2002r backyard legends feature

Up There x New Balance 2002R is Technical Elegance


It’s no secret that we’ve been going New Balance crazy at Man of Many. The brand hasn’t taken its foot off the pedal in a quest to drop the best collaborative sneakers in the footwear game and their latest might be our favourite yet. We’ve seen collaborations with menswear staples including Aime Leon Dore, JJJJound, and Sahlehe Bembury, but Aussies weren’t getting their time in the limelight until now with Melbourne staple Up There Store unleashing a 2002R and promptly sending shockwaves throughout the sneaker game. When you consider it’s a local drop, your best chance is to pick up a pair Downunder and we’re breaking down all the release information below.

Related: Can’t get enough New Balance? Check out all our sneaker news, review, and more in one place.

New balance 2002r backyard legends sandy
Image: Up There Store

What: Up There x New Balance M2002RUT
Release date
: Exclusively at Up There in-store from 8am AEST July 15, 2022 with an online release from 8am AEST on July 16, 2022.
Where to buy: Up There Store
Price: $250 AUD

Dubbed ‘Backyard Legends’ the 2002R forms the base for the collaboration, a shoe that we’ve championed in the past for its general release colours, and one that’s found its way into a number of other high-profile releases including the Protection Packs. Translating Aussie’s love for backyard sports and a relaxed lifestyle, the sneaker features technical panelling and N-ergy infused sole to bring comfort to the forefront as always.

Your eye is immediately drawn to the colour palette, a mix of green suede uppers are intersected by purple ultralight patterns. We can’t underestimate how tricky it is to pull off a colour palette like this, so full props go to the design team. You’ll catch other pastels throughout the sneaker, including powder blue on the custom N logo and tongue logo that flips the “USA” tag to “AUS.” A lace shroud is a defining feature of the sneaker that allows them to be worn like a slip-on, and the inclusion of Sure Laces (an early 2000’s invention) adds to the technical style of the 2002R. All these features find their way onto a sneaker of technical materials including white mesh on the upper, and classic suede on the hits of colour.

The Up There Store x New Balance 2002RUT ‘Backyard Legends’ will release exclusively at Up There in-store from 8am AEST July 15, 2022 with an online release from 8am AEST on July 16, 2022. The shoe will retail for $250 AUD and we expect there to be a big lineup and a very slim chance to grab them online. As with most New Balance collaborations in Australia, we expect pairs to be extremely limited. Click the link below to try and grab a pair for yourself.

Buy it here

Climbing over a fence in the 2002r
Image: Up There Store
New balance 2002r backyard legends details
Image: Up There Store
New balance 2002r backyard legends running on street
Image: Up There Store
New balance 2002r backyard legends details 2
Image: Up There Store
New balance 2002r backyard legends feature 2
Image: Up There Store
In stair well
Image: Up There Store
New balance 2002r backyard legends heel
Image: Up There Store
Video still of guy on fire
Image: Up There Store
Camera guy
Image: Up There Store

You’ll also like:
Where to Buy Nike Dunk Low Panda in Australia
It’s Time to Cop New Balance’s ‘Grey Day’ Exclusives