India, Aug. 18 -- I was invited to the New Balance store to try the Abzorb 2000 and the newer Abzorb 2010, and honestly, the 2010 barely got a chance. The Abzorb 2000 sitting on the shelf had already caught my eye. I tried every colour before settling on the black and silver, which felt like the obvious choice. The deep black mesh, silver detailing and those very visible cushioning pods give it a distinctly early 2000s tech runner look, but without making it feel like a costume from the past.

It is also not a lightweight little sneaker. The build feels substantial from the moment you pick it up, which makes sense given the full-length Abzorb sole unit and segmented cushioning system. New Balance lists the shoe at 419.2 grams. I took my p...