Quick Facts
- The Rukus x New Balance Numeric 480 Mallard Duck is a shoutout to Louisiana and the culture that built Rukus
- Starting with brown suede on the tongue, side panels, and heel tab, yellow leather is added on the toebox, with yellow mesh peeking out from the side panels.
- The pair is expected to drop on December 6 via Rukus' website
- A release via New Balance will take place on December 15
This content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission.
Louisiana is hunting country. The land of guns, camo, and duck calls serves as the setting for the TV show Duck Dynasty, and as far as we can tell, that’s what it’s really like down there. For Baton Rouge and Lafayette-based skate shop and sneaker boutique Rukus, the local hunting culture influenced its latest collab.
The Rukus x New Balance Numeric 480 Mallard Duck is a shoutout to the hunting culture of Louisiana. Starting with brown suede on the tongue, side panels, and heel tab, yellow leather is added on the toebox, with yellow mesh peeking out from the side panels. The feathery flow continues with green suede on the heel counter and more green accents on the “N” side logo and tongue. They might not be camo, but if you’re a ‘90s kid, this is what duck hunting really looks like.
The Bayou isn’t known as a sneaker mecca, but with Rukus, Sneaker Politics, and Humidity holding it down, Louisiana is a sleeper sneaker destination. Through the years, Rukus has added local iconography to every collab, including a Dunk SB Crawfish from 2014 and a Voodoo 440 in the brand’s first New Balance Numeric collab last year.
After a tease in Vegas, the Rukus x New Balance Numeric 480 Mallard Duck will release on December 6, 2025 via Rukus online and in-store. A release via New Balance's website will take place on December 15. Check below for official images of the sneaker. Make sure to tap in with the Sole Retriever mobile app for real-time release updates on this pair and more in the sneaker world.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
