SNIPES Rolls out Grey Days with New Balance featuring the 2000 and the 2010

You might associate the color grey with something dull or drab, but the neutral hue is New Balance’s flagship color palette. For decades, the Boston-based footwear label has drenched its lineup of performance runners and lifestyle classics in greyscale hues, and it’s become such a signature of the brand that every May, they celebrate the shade. With retailers like SNIPES getting in on the Grey Days celebration, the cultural moment has turned into a month-long event showcasing the best NB staples and new silhouettes.

The 2026 Grey Days lineup will include two modern classics, the New Balance ABZORB 2000 and 2010, with SNIPES presenting your best opportunity to cop either release. While the 2010 was part of Grey Days last year, the 2000 joining the party is cause for celebration. Yeah, we’ve seen greyscale palettes applied across the foundational models in the 99X series, but the newly created ABZORB family is becoming a pillar of the NB brand.

New Balance first introduced the ABZORB 2000 last year, aiming to bring retro ABZORB cushioning technology into the future. Designer Charlotte Lee spoke to Sole Retriever ahead of the launch and told us the model is what she imagined New Balance would have put out if they had never abandoned the technology.

But what is ABZORB? New Balance introduced the cushioning technology in 1993 on the 998 Made in USA. It’s an engineered non-cellular elastomer (in plain English, a durable rubber compound) that was designed for shock absorption, which pairs with traditional foam to create a more durable cushioning system. The brand explored the tech throughout the ‘90s and into the early 2010s, but largely abandoned it as a primary selling point until last year.

As for the New Balance ABZORB 2010, the model was designed to emulate the look and feel of traditional New Balance silhouettes. Rodrigo Milreu, Global Business Unit Manager at New Balance, told Sole Retriever how the brand views the ABZORB family.

“We said, ‘Hey, let’s launch a classic first, set up the stage, and then we push the boundaries with the 2000.'"

With New Balance putting so much energy and drive behind the ABZORB line, it’s a monumental moment for the 2000 and 2010, both silhouettes that are technically in their infancy, to be placed among the greats in NB’s lineup. The brand’s recent surge in popularity amongst the fashion-conscious, sneakerheads, and the general population has the 120-year-old label reinventing its own image. And acting as a foundation for this change are models like the 2000 and 2010.

As we mentioned before, we’ve all seen 99X models in greyscale hues, or staples like the 574 and 1500 join the parade, all models that have a deep history connected to the brand’s image. But for the first time, you’ll be able to buy Grey Days colorways of what will likely go down as future classics in the New Balance ABZORB 2000 and ABZORB 2010.

If you’re looking to tap into Grey Days, SNIPES is the go-to destination for this year’s standout drops. The ABZORB 2000 arrives May 15, 2026, while the ABZORB 2010 and newly released P400 basketball shoes are available now. Discover the SNIPES Grey Days lineup below, and reserve your pair through SNIPES Reserve. You can also check out your local SNIPES if you have a location nearby.

Where to Buy New Balance Grey Day Shoes

New Balance ABZORB 2010 Grey Days

New Balance P400 Grey Days

New Balance ABZORB 2000 Grey Days - 05/15/2026

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com