New Balance 992 “Rewind”

Looks: 

The 992 rewind, like the rest of the 99X-series New Balance Runners, has a lot of panels. A navy colored mudguard in a medium thick suede sets the toe of the bulk of the upper, starting at the front. 

The somber blue is broken up by a variety of colorful accents. The toe box, tongue, and heel counter all have brilliant metallic aqua mesh panels. These mesh panels were stabilized with fuzzy purple mesh panels from New Balance.

The bright green outline on the N logo, on the other hand, stands out the most. It's the first thing that grabs your attention.

The 3M reflective hits are another feature on this sneaker that is worth noting. These shoes, unlike other 992s, include a highly reflective material on the rear "USA" emblem, the tongue, and the side panels. This panel also has a faint rainbow color to it. It's difficult to convey in words, but it's straight out of 1994 in person. YCMC also used a different typeface on the 992 rewind than on a regular 992, heightening the 90s nostalgia even further.

The shoe comes with four different laces: one in navy, one in all white, one in white with pink and yellow accents, and one in pink with navy and yellow accents. While I usually go for multi-colored footwear, the last two seem excessive. There isn't much other yellow on the sneaker. They're also all about 4 inches overly long, as is usual with New Balance.

A vivid purple sock linger and a multi-colored comic-book-style footbed line the inside of the shoe.

This shoe's midsole tries to let the top do the talking - at least for the most part. The midsole is mostly made up of several hues of white. The midsole foam in the front has a faint blueish tinge, while the foam in the rear has a tiny yellowish tint, but you can only notice from a few inches away.

A splash of purple rubber in the front and a pink heel counter in the rear – both with the green “New Balance” emblem – break up the whites. It wouldn't be a 90s sneaker if pink and green didn't appear somewhere. The off-white rubber of the “ABZORB” strip on the rear of the shoe is the only additional color on the midsole.

Fit & Comfort: 

The 992 rewind is compatible with all other 992s. To put it another way, it's a long last with a broader heel and a narrower toe box. Widefooters will almost certainly never feel completely at ease in them. Fortunately, the materials are forgiving and will fit most feet, however the fit may be a little sloppy. I wear a size 13 in these. In the Jordan 1, I'm a 13, in Stan Smiths, a 12.5 and in Ultraboosts, I'm a 13.

If these are your first New Balance shoes, you'll notice that the comfort isn't what you're used to from a modern sneaker. The boost and react/ZoomX/etc. from Adidas and Nike are both quite fluffy. Sophisticated running-shoe type sneakers offer a distinct sensation when combined with modern designed uppers that fit like a sock.

That isn't how the 992 rewind feels. Instead, the shoe is designed to provide support. The midsole is large, thick, and substantial. Between the front and rear, there are foams of varying densities. The heel counter is quite firm. The top portion is substantial. This is a shoe made to support your foot rather than adapt to it.

Materials & Construction: 

The bulk of the sneaker is of excellent quality. The majority of the top is made up of pig-suede navy panels, which are the main attraction. These have a fantastic hand and should last the duration of the shoe.

The midsole and outsole are made of high-quality materials, which complement the suede. The 992 rewind is designed to withstand miles of use. The EVA cushion provides support and is long-lasting, while the solid rubber outsole is robust and won't wear out soon.

But it isn't without flaws. Some of the panels are surprisingly affordable. Almost every shade of purple on this sneaker is particularly awful. The purple support panels have a vinal feel to them, and the purple sock lining is a very thin fabric. I'm almost convinced that the first point of failure on this shoe will be the sock liner.

The construction quality is comparable to the materials. The shoe is, for the most part, quite nicely constructed. However, there are a few spots on the top where the stitching isn't quite straight.

Ease of Care: 

While the materials described above are high-end, they are also more difficult to clean. Unlike the Jordan 1s, which are plastic-coated and simply require water to keep clean, these sneakers will necessitate more work. Everything will be shod in suede. Only the natural oils from my palm were evident on the blue suede, as you can see in the photos.