New Balance 860v2 Northern Lights: Eyes to the Ether



The sun’s solar wind is a flowing continuum of plasma that rarely enmeshes with the forces of the Earth’s magnetic field. But when one’s protons and electrons collide with the particles in the other’s airspace, the night sky appears galvanised with a string of electric projections, parading spectrums of magenta, sapphire, and cerulean. Whereby such celestial events cause a stir amongst those hoping to ogle at the Aurora Borealis – more commonly termed “The Northern Lights” – the conditions for its visibility rely partly on the onlooker’s northernmost positioning, but foremost, a twist of fate.

Hence, in meddling with the forces of nature and the metaphysical, granting access to the magic of the sky-born spectacle through the mastery of on-foot progression, remaining a dreamer with its silvery upholstering, New Balance forges innovation and whimsy upon a retrospective running outline this season.

First introduced in 2011, the Boston pacemaker’s 860v2 silhouette remains homogenous with high-calibre arch support, an attribute garnering the brand’s stature since 1906. Blessed with the same ACTEVA LITE cushioning and shock-absorbent, N-ergy technology as its 1906R and 2002R siblings, the model’s open-knit mesh upper and pearly detailing offers a versatile canvas for florid decoration, whilst grounding the amble wanderer – with their eyes to the ether.





Given an updated treatment through synthetic overlays and mesh underlays, the New Balance 860v2 Northern Lights Pack spans colourations of “Rosewood”, “Arctic Grey”, and “Mallard Green”, informed by the chemical reactions of the spontaneous lightshow. Thus, whilst supportive on the sole, the collection’s reiterations look to the palettes of possibility.

Evidently more than a boon to hopeful pilgrims, meeting near the earth’s polar regions in search of the Aurora’s sky-writings, the sneaker instead holds commonality with the phenomena itself. Honing the qualities of preparation and chance; science and whimsy, the outline pleases both fantasiser and pragmatist. So, whilst one might never quite prepare for a touch of serendipity, even with the utmost practicalities, with the help of New Balance it can be boxed up and taken home for the keeping.