The New Balance CRT 300 WR “Refined Future” Prolongs The Unfinished, Late Stage Aesthetic

The New Balance 2002R “Protection Pack” aka “Refined Future” series marked a significant moment in New Balance’s uprise in the 2020s. It immediately caught the eyes of retro-running enthusiasts due to an aesthetic that can only be described as “unfinished”. The exCut edges on the upper made the shoes appear as if it there were a few stages left in manufacturing, a look championed by Virgil Abloh back in 2016 with the Off-White x Nike “The 10”.

New Balance aims to continue the late-stage appeaerance with the New Balance CRT 300 WR, the latest variation of the popular 1906 tech runner series. Similar un-cut overlays appear on the upper as they extend downwards over the midsole; the same build strategy appears at the lowermost eyelets, covering the base of the tongue. The thick ribbons that make up the slanted-N logo also need trimming as the flat cords spill downwards to the ground.

The “thrown together” look persists via the label that has gone askew on a diagonal and un-fixed to the mesh. Finally, a touch of aged yellowing adds the finishing touch to achieve that lost-in-the-vault presence.

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Currently, the New Balance CRT 300 WR is beginning to appear at retailers overseas, but should release on newbalance.com stateside soon. A firm USD MSRP hasn’t been confirmed yet, so stay tuned for updates.