A bit of healthy competition never hurt anyone and this is the spirit we’re rolling with today. The UK has long been a major player in the world of fashion. A history of subculture and love for high-end craftsmanship means that the little island punches well above its weight in terms of influence in style. On the other end of the spectrum is the USA. This juggernaut of production is the hub of sneaker culture and streetwear in general, home to the vast majority of the names you need in your wardrobe right now. One such name? New Balance.
But New Balance’s cult-followed collection is partly split into two distinct sides. On one side you’ve got New Balance Made in USA, on the other New Balance Made in UK. The "Made in" collections are known for their higher standards when it comes to quality of materials and builds, making them a favorite section for the real heads out there.
But the question begs to be answered: which is better? To solve this dilemma, we rounded up some Highsnobiety staffers to decide once and for all whether New Balance Made in USA had the better of New Balance Made in UK.
Scroll down for three rounds of New Balance Made in USA vs. New Balance Made in UK.
Round 1 — Made in USA 992 vs. Made in UK 991
Made in USA 992
New Balance
Made in UK 991
New Balance
Yulia: I've got to go for the 992 here. I love the retro colorway on a chunky sneaker.
Ahmed: Me too, the 992 is a definite winner for me. I find the colorway super nostalgic, like something I used to wear at school.
Rhianna: For me you really can't beat a classic Made in the UK 991. I love the 992s, but this pair is ultimately timeless.
Alek: Chalk up another point for the USA here. The 992 looks clean in the white colorway. It's like a more accessible version of the Aimé Leon Dore 993 from FW21.
Round 2 — Made in USA 990v3 Core vs. Made in UK 920
Made in USA 990v3 Core
New Balance
Made in UK 920
New Balance
Yulia: The layered upper construction of 920 makes them stand out for me.
Ahmed: I've never been a big fan of dark shoes but I'm willing to break the rules for the 990v3 here. There's just something about that silhouette.
Rhianna: For some reason the 920s don't quite sit right with me. On the other side, you really can't go wrong with the v3, especially in this colorway.
Alek: I'm with Ahmed & Rhi here, it's hard to beat that classic v3 silhouette.
Round 3 — Made in USA 990v5 Core vs. Made in UK 1500
Made in USA 990v5 Core
New Balance
Made in UK 1500
New Balance
Yulia: The mini logo makes the 1500s look even bigger which is quite funny to me, but I still prefer them over 990s.
Ahmed: 990v5. Why? Because I can still see myself wearing them in 40 years.
Rhianna: The 990v5 is literally my favorite pair of New Balance and also my first ever pair. It holds a special place in my heart and the comfort level is nap-worthy. 1500s are definitely not for me.
Alek: Call me childish, but the glow-in-the-dark outsole of the 1500s deserves the win in my books.
Final verdict
Round 1 — USA wins 3-1.
Round 2 — USA wins 3-1.
Round 3 — Draw 2-2.
It's a big win for New Balance Made in USA here, with an overall score of 8 to the Made in UK's 4.
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