[Update 15 Feb 2023] The New Balance 1906R Cordura “Black” is releasing in Japan today and new images via ABC Mart give us a closer look at the details of this pair. Spot the speckles on the grey midsole and purple accents that adorn the shoes in the images.

The other “Wheat” (or “Tobacco) colorway is rumored to be dropping in Japan this month, so follow along for more updates.

[Update 15 Feb 2023] More release details for the New Balance 1906R Cordura pack has now surfaced. Set to arrive on 28 February, grab your pair for 179.95 EUR (~US$195) via New Balance and selected retailers.

New Balance has built a sizeable following over the last few years. Whether it’s due to collaborators like Salehe Bembury or simply the evolving palette of the market, the iron is hot for NB to strike and so they did—hammering down with the 1906R, one such at the vanguard of their offerings.

The silhouette struck gold when it was subsumed into the hallmark, crowd favorite “Protection Pack”. Since going “on a tear” with it, NB has integrated MIL-SPEC Cordura fabric onto its upper. The result is another successful run. With all the “wins” it’s collecting along the way, it makes sense it would need a bag to stash all the W’s. Hence, for its next outing, it will bring with it modular stash pockets first seen on the 2002R.

The two-pack will see the 1906R in uniform “Wheat” and “Black” colorways. The titular Cordura fabric forms the base layer of both pairs with nubuck leather overlays adding a dynamic touch.

The former sees a tonal brown outfitting making up the upper and the sole unit. This along with hits of crimson adorning the various branding elements like the “1906R” on the lateral as well as the “N-ERGY” imprint on the midsoles. It also shares splits the load with the mustard yellow laces while dressing the underside of the signature modular bag above it.

The color blocking remains similar for the Black. Where the red accents mark its contemporary, purple does it here, particularly on the underside of the bag and the “1906” imprint on the lateral. Grey serves as a tonal alternative complementing the blacks on the laces and the midsoles.

Aside from the nylon mini bags on the crown of the shoe, the Cordura label marks both pairs on the lateral right above the TPU exoskeleton on the heel counter.

No other details have been disclosed but these official images does provide optimism that the pack’s release is sooner rather than later.

While waiting, have a look at the tripartite collaboration of the ASICS × GRIP SWANY × atmos GEL-SONOMA 15-50 GTX.