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New Balance is putting its Made in USA program through its toughest test yet with the 2040v5, a pair built entirely inside the brand’s own New England factories. This latest model is “one of the most ambitious products we’ve ever created,” says Brian Lynn, Global Vice President of Lifestyle Product at New Balance.
The 2040 name isn’t new, it’s been the brand’s Made in USA halo model since 2012 and every version that’s come out has showcased what its New England factories can really do, introducing advanced manufacturing techniques and new technologies each time.
Materials-wise, this is Horween nubuck territory. The foxing, toe, and mudguard are all wrapped in leather you’d expect to find on a boot, not a runner. The v5 also features debossed detailing, stacked panel work, and custom TPU branding. The oval “New Balance / Made in USA” still sits on the heel tab where it always has, and the lateral heel gets its own red “2040”. But the real story is underfoot. A full-length carbon fiber plate, a secondary medial carbon plate, and a three-part cushioning setup — FuelCell, ABZORB SBS, and ENCAP — all work together in one midsole. Two carbon plates and three cushioning systems in a single shoe make for the kind of spec list you’d expect from a race day super shoe, not a lifestyle pair dressed in nubuck and debossed leather.
“Every detail was evaluated through the lens of craft, performance, and material integrity. Free from trend-driven thinking or unnecessary compromise, the team focused on a singular objective: creating the ultimate expression of Made in USA footwear,” says Lynn.
The colorway on deck leans into that mission, too. A muted charcoal and steel grey upper, grey mesh peeking through the underlays, a deep blue FuelCell unit anchoring the midsole, and just enough red — the stitching, the “2040” tab — to keep it from disappearing into itself. The tooled black-and-grey outsole finishes it off, looking built for miles.
The New Balance Made in USA 2040v5 drops exclusively in North America on August 20 through newbalance.com and select retailers, with a global release to follow come May 2027. Check out the pair below.
New Balance Made in USA 2040v5
Color: Castlerock/Mood Indigo/Blacktop
Style Code: U2040509
Release Date: August 20, 2026 (North America)
Release Date: May 2027 (Global)
Price: $400 USD
