So we had seen the teaser images and the samples last year, but after much waiting, we finally see full images of the highly anticipated New Balance 997.5 x Sneaker Freaker “Tassie Devil”.

After the success of the New Balance 998 “Tassie Devils” three years ago, New Balance aficionados have been calling out for the Aussie giants Sneaker Freaker to collaborate again, and they now have their wish!

Sneaker Freaker state that the Tassie Tiger is proudly named after the native Australian marsupial. Tragically, this unique antipodean canine-esque creature has been considered extinct since the 1930s, when the last known Tiger died at Hobart Zoo. Unconfirmed sightings have persisted over the years and there are many amateur cryptozoologists who claim the Tassie Tiger is still alive in remote bushland areas.

This tough sneaker beast is carved from a unique shade of ‘terracotta’ suede, which has been boldly embellished with salt and pepper speckle, apricot pops, 3M charcoal stripes and the blackest suede in the animal kingdom. Triangular forefoot fangs add carnivorous bite, while padded tongues are an elegant enhancement to the new model. 

The 997 and 998 silhouettes have stole the show in recent years, and Sneaker Freaker have got the best of both worlds with the lesser known 997.5 silhouette which fuses the 998 midsole with the 997 upper, two absolute favourites from the 99x series. The 997.5 also embraces the latest in NB performance innovation, switching out the traditional Abzorb midsole foam in favour of lightweight REVlite impact cushioning.

The New Balance 997.5 “Tassie Tiger” will see the global release pairs coming in a two-piece black box with heavy-duty UV gloss, while the technicolour ‘Friends & Family’ version of the packaging will be available exclusively from Sneaker Freaker.

The Friends & Family edition will see a launch in Melbourne with a special event held at 15 McKillop Street from 6PM on July 15, with an online release following on July 16 at 9am from Sneaker Freaker’s online store. 

There will also be a limited edition cover of the new Sneaker Freaker Magazine with every sale, and the wider release will go on sale from July 23 at select New Balance accounts as an Asia exclusive.