Boston-based footwear label New Balance has earned a high position on the list of best sneaker brands today, joining the likes of Nike and adidas. What started as a brand rooted in running culture in the 1900s is now a company booming with success in several other industries— more precisely, the streetwear and sneaker scene.
Throughout the years, New Balance has offered a range of lifestyle trainers that deliver outstanding comfort and the timeless appeal we love them for today. Collaborations with high-profile brands such as Aimé Leon Dore and Bodega, the success of staple silhouettes such as the New Balance 550 and 990 , and much more has contributed massively to the brands ever-growing status in the community.
If you're looking to pick up a pair of New Balance trainers today, you need to know how they fit. Does New Balance run true to size? How comfortable are New Balance shoes? Do all New Balance shoes fit the same? All the New Balance sizing information you are looking for is in this definitive New Balance size guide we curated.
New Balance Trainer Size Guide: Fit: Generally, most New Balance shoes fit true to size. Although there are a few that have unique sizing aspects, so we recommend that you check first. Comfort: New Balance is renowned for the insane comfort they offer across all their footwear products. Sole cushioning technologies like ENCAP, ABZORB, Fresh Foam, and N-Ergy, make them reliable to use all day. Cleaning: We suggest that you clean your New Balance shoes gently with a soft bristle brush and warm soapy water or special sneaker cleaning kits from Crep Protect or Jason Mark. Styling: New Balance is a label that has bridged various subcultures in fashion. New Balance trainers look good with lifestyle, athletic, and fashion-forward outfits. With many of its trainers, New Balance has a number of options for people with wider feet and even provides extra options to choose your preferred width for many of its silhouettes. They offer Narrow, Normal, Wide and Extra Wide options for a few of its best-selling silhouettes.
If you're looking to pick up a pair of New Balance, you will usually be safe going for your true size in most of their sneakers. However, some have a unique sizing or fit, so to maximise your comfort while wearing these check out our definitive New Balance size guide for sizing advice on all your favourite silhouettes.
New Balance 550 Size Guide: The New Balance 550 is a basketball sneaker from 1989 which was originally released under the name "P550". It never made it to the New Balance's front line until Teddy Santis revived it in 2020 under his fashion and lifestyle label Aimé Leon Dore . The low-top silhouette features a minimal construction: perforated leather panels, breathable mesh interiors, and a rubber sole unit underfoot.
Does the New Balance 550 Fit True to Size? You'll find that the New Balance 550 fits quite snug, especially around the toe box area. You should go a half size up from your original size, and continue to wear them for the leather to break in to maximise the comfort you get.
Are New Balance 550s Comfortable? New Balance 550s are comfortable shoes, but nothing special. They're reliable for all-day use but do not expect ground-breaking comfort as they do not come built with a specific cushioning system, unlike the 99X series.
What Are the Best New Balance 550 Colourways?
New Balance 990 Size Guide: Who would have thought that a running shoe from the early 1980s would pave the way for New Balance's streetwear fame? The New Balance 990 debuted in 1982 with a triple-figure price point that was considered quite expensive at that time for a runner. However, the Made in US construction and outstanding cushioning made it justifiable. At this time, the NB990's third, fifth and sixth versions, the 990v3, 990v5 and 990v6 are at the forefront.
The New Balance 990 is one of the hottest silhouettes on the market right now, so if you're looking to cop a pair be sure to keep reading our New Balance size guide!
Does the New Balance 990 Fit True to Size? When purchasing a pair of New Balance 990, choose your regular size. If you're in between sizes, you can also opt for a size 0.5 bigger if you have wide feet or would like some extra room in the toe box.
Are New Balance 990s Comfortable? In 1998, the New Balance 990v2 came with an ABZORB sole tooling which enhanced the shoe's ABZORB shock absorption underfoot. Then, in 2012, the 990v3 stepped foot into the industry with an ENCAP-cushioned midsole still present on the 990v5 today. All pairs in the 990 series offer comfort that will blow your mind.
What Are the Best New Balance 990 Colourways? New Balance is best-loved for its traditional greyscale palette, commonly seen across the 99X range. The New Balance 990v5 "Grey Castlerock" colourway is a staple pair to every sneakerhead's collection.
New Balance 991 Size Guide: The New Balance 990 lineage achieved New Balance's goals towards performance and lifestyle footwear; thus, leading to the creation of the M991 in 2001, better known today as the New Balance 991 . This silhouette is part of the brand's 'Made' range, with the majority of 991 releases being handcrafted in the brand's Flimby factory.
Does the New Balance 991 Fit True to Size? The New Balance 991 is a TTS sneaker. It has a slimmer profile than its forerunner which may feel constricting, though the lace-up system makes them convenient.
Are New Balance 991s Comfortable? The 991 is the first New Balance shoe to feature ABZORB in the forefoot area and not just in the heel. In addition to that, the pair also introduced an NDurance rubber outsole that increased its durability.
What Are the Best New Balance 991 Colourways?
New Balance 992 Size Guide: New Balance celebrated its 100 years in business by focusing more on the 99X series, thus; debuting the second member to its family—the New Balance 992 . In modern times, the NB992 is a blank canvas for countless artists besides maintaining the company's core grey colour. A few of its previous colourways currently possessing grail status are the JJJJound x New Balance 992 and the Paperboy Paris x New Balance 992 .
Does the New Balance 992 Fit True to Size? The New Balance 992 fits true to size! Although for wide-footed sneakerheads, going half a size bigger than your regular size is also optional to provide more room for your feet to breathe.
Are New Balance 992s Comfortable? Unlike other New Balances, the 992 possesses both ENCAP and ABZORB cushioning technologies within its sole, meaning that comfort levels are incredible. ENCAP involves a soft, flexible plastic called EVA that provides more support and durability. The ABZORB then targets the impacts from your strides and cushions them at an extremely high level. Late Apple CEO Steve Jobs was a big fan of the trainers and wore them for many years—that should say enough about its comfort.
What Are the Best New Balance 992 Colourways? For complete sizing information on New Balance's 99X series, check out our guides below:
New Balance 2002R Size Guide: The New Balance 2002R is undeniably one of the most well-known shoes from New Balance today. The retro-runners premiered in 2010 with a "Made in USA" construction, although its popularity never reached their potential due to an expensive price tag. In 2020 however, New Balance Japan's product line manager Tetsuya Shono revisited the silhouette and revamped it with a sole unit borrowed from the New Balance 860v2. The New Balance 2002R is now a go-to silhouette for famed footwear designers like Salehe Bembury and comes with an incredibly affordable price tag. But how do they fit?
Does the New Balance 2002R Fit True to Size? New Balance 2002Rs easily fit true to size. They slightly have a snug fit, but there's no need to go half a size up. Once you put them on foot and wear them for a day, they'll be perfect!
Are New Balance 2002Rs Comfortable? The New Balance 2002R is known as one of the top New Balance shoes for daily use. The soft leather panels and mesh materials deliver a lightweight experience and the N-ergy midsole underfoot provides comfort that you won't easily find from other lifestyle shoes on the market.
What Are the Best New Balance 2002R Colourways?
New Balance 327 Size Guide: The New Balance 327 is a brand new silhouette made in 2020 through a collaborative effort with the Parisian label Casablanca . The casual and sporty design of the 327, designed by UK footwear designer Charlotte Lee, mixes in the DNA of archived New Balance trainers in the '70s. The noteworthy feature of the NB327 is its asymmetric midsole and the extended rubber studded outsole that runs all the way to top the of the heels.
Does the New Balance 327 Fit True to Size? New Balance shoes generally fit true to size, and the 327 is no exception. The New Balance 327s are lace-up shoes meaning that you can loosen or tighten the fit to your liking so, although some may say they fit narrow, you can simply loosen the laces to allow some space across your foot.
Are New Balance 327s Comfortable? The New Balance 327 offers optimal comfort—thanks to the chunky midsole underfoot providing extreme shock absorption and the lightweight panels ensuring breathability.
Check out our complete sizing and styling guides for some of New Balance's retro runners below:
New Balance 57/40 Size Guide: The New Balance 57/40 is a lifestyle shoe born from the brand's famous technical running trainers in 1988, the iconic New Balance 574. While it does feature a much larger structure than its predecessor, it still offers comfort that does not disappoint. You may think that the chunky look makes them less appealing, but its collaborations with COMME des GARÇONS , Concepts , Joshua Vides , and plenty more on the way proves that they won't be going out of style any time soon.
Does the New Balance 57/40 Fit True to Size? Buy the New Balance 57/40 in your original size, and you shouldn't have any problems. They're a very well fitting pair of shoes which provide a great fit. However, if you have wide feet, you can also opt for a size 0.5 bigger just to minimise on the breaking in period.
Are New Balance 57/40s Comfortable? The New Balance 574 is super comfortable, meaning that the 57/40 is the same, possibly even better due to its exaggerated features like the chunky midsole underfoot. They're made usually with suede and mesh materials that not only give a premium touch but ensure your feet are comforted all around.
New Balance 574 Size Guide: Before the New Balance 57/40, there was the New Balance 574 —the original design from 1988. During this period, the track-turned-street introduced the NB574 with different colourways at a pocket-friendly price—this enabled New Balance to maintain both their US and UK factory while also venturing into other projects. The 574 is one of New Balance's best selling silhouettes, so it's only fair to include it in our definitive New Balance size guide!
Does the New Balance 57/40 Fit True to Size? The New Balance 574s fit true to size easily. They fit perfectly, which means there's no need to break them in and no need to size up or down. These are one of the best NB sneakers on the market and their timeless design has kept them relevant for good reason.
Are New Balance 57/40s Comfortable? If you're planning to wear them casually, they provide you with the level of comfort that you need—thanks to the foam-padded interiors. However, using them for anything else such as gym training is not ideal.
You can find everything you need to know about the New Balance 574 sizing in this complete size guide we have here.
New Balance 530 Size Guide: While like many of New Balance's arsenal, the 530 may have got its start as a running shoe, this model is easily of one the most unstoppable styles in the lifestyle market today. Originally designed in 1992, the chunky-looking sneaker is everything you’d want from a Y2K-style icon, which is likely why it's been as successful as it has.
Does the New Balance 530 Fit True to Size? Like many of the silhouettes on this list, the New Balance 530 fits true to size. Don't stray from your usual size when purchasing a pair. If you find the mesh to be tight at first, don't stress because it will stretch over time to provide sublime comfort.
Are New Balance 530s Comfortable? Thanks to the ENCAP and ABZORB cushioning underfoot, the 530 is as comfortable as it is stylish. Perfect for everything from a walk in the park to a run in the gym, this pair are as versatile as they come!
For a full rundown on the New Balance 530, check out our full size guide here .
NEW BALANCE SHOES - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW New Balance shoes have become insanely popular over the past years, thanks to the stream of collaborations, retro revivals, versatile colourways, and of course, maximum comfort and durability. If you're looking to purchase a pair of New Balance today, this complete New Balance size guide is exactly what you need.
If you don't want to miss out on the latest New Balance releases, we recommend you keep it locked right here at The Sole Supplier for updates on new releases and the hottest collaborations!
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