We previously described the New Balance 480 as the older brother of the 550. The hype around the 550 was unprecedented, but this classic model also deserves the shine. The silhouette is simpler but that actually gives the shoe a certain charm.

The New Balance Numeric 480 and the Nike Dunk are both popular skate shoes, originally designed for basketball in the 1980s and later adapted for skateboarding. But why exactly is there all the hype about these and who was first?

Both share similar features, such as a double layer of leather at the toecap, perforated uppers and a round surface on the sole for flexibility. The Dunk is generally thicker with a padded tongue and thicker laces, while the 480 is the opposite with a thin tongue and flatter laces. The branding also varies, with the Nike Swoosh stretched to the back on the Dunk and a more centered logo on the 480. Still, the New Balance 480 did come earlier in '83 and nike followed that up with the dunk in '85.

The previous to these 480 colorways were summer '23 one of our best-selling sneakers. The new price is also very reasonable which makes the sneaker extra attractive.