The New Balance 1300 is by far my favorite New Balance model. It is one of very few shoes that have influenced me in my work with trainers. In the mid 90′s it was the first pair of New Balances that i bought and it quickly became my favorite. I have always been a sucker for materials but seeing it executed on this shoe in these colors set the bar higher for future designs. The 1300 was originally released in 1985 and has always been made in the US. The colorway and materials already put this shoe above and beyond a classic runner but the fact that the 1300 is made in the US brings all three elements together; superior materials, great color combination and amazing craftsmanship. Now lets talk about the difference in the two styles, the 1300JP is the retro version that came out this year and is made of very high grade nubuck, fine mesh (same as CL) and soft leather. Available in very select retailers (mostly in Japan) and priced at $320, these can very well be the most expensive New Balance runners. The 1300CL is the original and is made of high grade suede, fine mesh and soft leather. Rumored to be available every 5 years, the CL is priced at a reasonable $120. The biggest difference between the two other than different leather, different shades of grey and contrast stitching is the unit (sole). The JP version is a one piece midsole and uses the “Encap” technology, a newer version of the “Encap” used on the CL which in split into 2 layers. I was blessed with both pairs but if i had to I would buy both, would you?
