Everything You Need To Know About The New Balance 480 Trainer

The New Balance 480 trainer was one of the Boston sportswear brands very first basketball trainers of the 1980s.

If there was one sport in the 1980s that every sportswear brand from Boston to Bolton wanted a piece of it was basketball. Just like running trainer technology in the 1980s had advanced to all new highs, the same went for basketball trainers. The success of OG court silhouettes like the PUMA Suede had captured the hearts of the original B-Boys as well as becoming the original basketball shoe of the 1970s. Endorsement deals with Walt 'Clyde' Frazier in 1971 saw PUMA take over the courts but their dominance wouldn't last forever. The 1980s was all about sole technology. Sportswear brands ditched the traditional suede styles of the 1970s for pumped up (literally for Reebok) high top versions with state of the art trainer tech and more bounce on your feet than you thought was physically possible. Nike gave us the Air Force 1 in 1982 and then the Air Jordan 1 in 1985. adidas gave us the Rivalry Hi in 1986. Reebok gave us the Pump in 1989, which even featured an internal inflation mechanism. Obviously the pump button on the tongue was shaped like a basketball. When it came to New Balance it wasn't just all about running trainers. The Boston brand also introduced their first basketball trainer in 1983 with the New Balance 480 trainer. Above: The New Balance 480 trainer in white/green now available from 80s Casual Classics. Following on from their success on the tracks with the likes of the 420 & the 620, the early 1980s also saw New Balance branching out onto the high speed courts of the NBA. The 480 trainer was NB's very first B-ball shoe. Originally made in Maine, the 480 first came on the scene in 1983. Worn by the likes of the seven time NBA All Star, James Worthy, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers at the time, the 480 featured a chunky EVA sole with perforations to the toe box for added breathability. Built for traction on the super speedy courts of the NBA, the 480 was originally available in Hi & Lo versions. The 480 would also lay the foundations for other classic NB basketball silhouettes from the 1980s such as the 550 from 1989 which was also recently revived courtesy of Teddy Santis & Aim_ Leon Dore. Above: The New Balance 480 trainer in white/blue/red now available from 80s Casual Classics. Following on from the success of the 480's younger sibling the 550, the New Balance 480 trainer was revived from the NB archives back in 2021. The classic basketball trainer now arrives at 80s Casual Classics for the latest season in a duo of OG inspired colourways. The classic 80s B-ball trainer features crisp white leather uppers with perforations to the toe box & the Boston brands world renowned 'N' logo to the sidewalls. Available in the original Lo version, the 480 is just about as good as it gets when it comes to classic court shoes from the 1980s. Shop the very latest New Balance trainer arrivals now at 80s Casual Classics via the links above.