20 Best New Balance Walking Shoes (2023 Updated)

I have been wearing 928 V3s now for a few years when not at work. I find the shoes fit well, are comfortable, functional and reasonably attractive in any setting. They feel great no matter what I am doing.

(Walking around town, working on my boat or car, going for nature hike, or just hanging out at home. ) I like the padding because it makes it easy to stand for long periods of time. (I have a standing desk at home, and there are times when I am standing at the desk for 8-12 hours a day, which is less appealing in a less comfortable pair of shoes.

) I don’t really use them anymore for anything “athletic,” but I used to wear them at the gym. All the 928s that I have bought over the years last a long time, even if they begin to look a little ratty.

(When they start getting really dirty, I use them for dirtier activities. ) I keep an extra pair in my car so that if I want to change out of more “formal” shoes after work, I can do that easily. The soles also have the right balance between soft and durable.

I started buying 928s after the New Balance/Sperry boat shoe was discontinued. (To this day, I think the New Balance/Sperry model boat shoe is my favorite, though the soles wore down quickly because the rubber was so soft.

) Because of what I presume were supply chain problems couldn’t find 928s in the blueish/gray color in my size for 2 months. I checked the New Balance website daily, sometimes twice a day. When they were finally available in my size and color, I pounced.

(I was going to buy 2 pairs anyway, but as I was making the purchase the website said there were only two pairs left, so I didn’t buy some other items I was thinking of buying out of fear that someone else might beat me to the last two pair in my size.

).

Previous to these shoes, I have been wearing the MW813 walking shoe for several years and was disappointed by the poor life and performance of PU-Leather (plastic leather substitute) used for the entire upper of the 813.

I was pleased to find that the MW928 v3 had leather uppers and foot bed style of the well fitting 813 while improving comfort and durability. The 928 v3 is a comfortable shoe and supports well while walking on streets and other paved surfaces.

It felt “broken in” from first use. Seems true to size. Due to the flat sole design I would not recommend it for trail use. It is a nicely styled lace-up, and will work with “business casual” in most cases as an all-day shoe.

Since the uppers are leather they can be kept smart-looking with a little shoe polish, something that doesn’t work with PU-Leather shoes. Soles have reasonable wet grip on moderately smooth surfaces.

Not sure of sole wear since they are new to me. One issue I had with them were the extra long shoe laces they came with. Although many modern synthetic laces stretch with time, these were so long I had to cut 10″ off them to keep the ends from dragging on the ground and tripping myself be stepping on them after my first walk.

It appears that a 44″ lace would be much better. Cost is considerably higher than the MW813, but if they wear better, the higher price will be worth it.

I am an old guy and I wanted a pair of good quality, solid footware that would give me good support and slip resistance for simply walking and doing light chores. I had a pair of shoes that met most of these goals but I was getting sick and tired of having to constantly worry about loose shoe laces not only because of the inconvenience they presented but, more importantly, because of the tripping threat.

When you are my age you don’t want to add to your chances of falling. I found what I was looking for on line. I had already looked for similar shoes in several stores but couldn’t find them. These New Balance shoes fit great and had everything I was looking for.

And, I especially liked the set up with the Velcro straps that can be trimmed to avoid catching on things. I put a little polish on them and they buffed up nice. They may not be the flashiest shoes I ever owned but they are solid footware for guys like me.

Thanks New Balance!.

This shoe has been my go-to shoe for everyday use for several years. I wear them every day and get about a year out of a pair. This shoe provides not only the width but also the height that my messed-up feet need to avoid pain while walking.

Not to get personal, but my feet have been bent out of shape by past gout and arthritis problems, resulting in bunions, hammer toes and subsequent outward turning toes. This particular New Balance shoe has given me the great gift of painless walking because of its large toe box.

My only regret is that I need a new pair now and there are none available due to supply chain problems. I purchased a similar pair of New Balance but my feet hurt when wearing them.

I have worn this particular shoe for 2 years solely as a walking shoe. It really needed to be replaced so I was excited to see this shoe is still made. I was able to order the size I have been wearing and it fits perfectly.

But. sadly, New Balance chose to put a cheap padding in the shoe compared to what came in the shoes I have been wearing for 2 years. Fortunately, the padding is removable from the shoes I already have, so I took it out and slipped it into the new shoes.

It’s not a real thick padding but enough to make a difference compared to the new pair. I feel that New Balance went a little cheap on this shoe only with the padding. Other than that, great supportive lightweight shoe.

I tend to wear a narrower size but the medium shoe fits me fine with socks.

I received these the other day, I was so looking forward to them I’ve been wearing new balance sneakers for decades. When I ordered these I expected them to be the same as they’ve always been made. When I was in expecting them, I noticed they’re not made as well as they have been in the past, shoe is extremely narrow in length and width.

The tongue is extremely narrow and sits underneath the lease holes and causes added pressure, the shoe laces are so thin if you pull them too hard they going to break. I’m very disappointed on the amount of material they have cut back on, so I find new balance is skimping on the product regardless of what the description says.

They run extremely small I wear a size 8 wide and they were so tight in length and width.

I taped this show just for the heck of it, and was I surprised to see this shoe in the show. I have MS and it has been hard to find this shoe. Shoes with memory foam don’t work well for some. I have been using this shoe for along time.

So when I saw this shoe I purchased 2 pairs. I also notified my walking group and they also purchased. I hope New balance never gets rid of this shoe. The support is great. I purchase a size larger and a wide.

Try this shoe I think you would like it.

Wearing this shoe has been night and day for me. I’ve gone through two hip replacements and knee surgeries. Im on my feet all day on concrete then I coach highschool football and track. They stand up to the punishment.

Without them my feet ache and my legs and groin begin to throb. I walk in to work feeling great and leaving feeling much better than without them after a long day. Other shoes were to soft while these have a solid sole that keep my body in align and provide the support a big guy like myself needs.

If I could afford it I’d go around giving these shoes to the people that need them. I would become the Santa Claus of new balance 928v3.

I’ve been wearing NB shoes for years in 11. 5 narrow. I ordered these in that size and though the ones that arrived are marked 11. 5 narrow they are visibly longer than all of my other NB 11. 5’s by a significant amount and feel too large.

They have be at least 12’s or perhaps even 12. 5’s. Maybe they are just mislabeled. If they are not, NB needs better quality control. One 11. 5 should be the same as every other. I am returning them and ordering an 11.

Hopefully they will fit.

I have been wearing the New Balance 928 shoes for many years now, and have purchased at least 6 pair. I have wide feet, weigh 250 pounds, and need extra width and cushioning for my daily walks. Very few manufacturers offer 4E widths.

These shoes are traditional in style, with your choice of smooth leather or suede in several colors. The cushioning effect lasts for longer than running or trail shoes; especially for heavy people like myself.

They are comfortable right out of the box, and the conservative styling goes well with both sport and casual clothing. A good solid walking shoe for everyday use and a good value.

The appearance of the shoe suggested good quality to me. I wear a 10. 5 4E shoe. I currently wear the 990 v5 in this size. However, I wanted a brown shoe and made an online purchase of the 669 v2. I found the 669 v2 to feel a bit narrower than the 990.

The outside measurement of the 990 v5 sole is slightly wider than the 669 v2, which may add to the overall comfort of the 990. Before returning the shoes, I checked with our factory store to see if they had the 993, assuming that staying in the 990 line I might find the same comfort.

I called the factory store and they said they had those shoes, in my size. About a week later I drove the 60 miles to the store to find that the 990’s and the 993’s were taken off the shelf for some reason and were not available.

So at this moment, I wear an old pair of 990’s that need replacing and my go to store doesn’t have the shoe line or sizes I need. I also haven’t been able to find my size and color of the 669 v2 online.

I plan to wear these shoes on a sightseeing trip to Europe. They will be appropriate for touring towns with uneven pavement and cobblestone sidewalks and for light hiking on uneven terrain. I like that they are a darker color, have a protected toe area and some leather.

They will be able to stand up to wet weather and muddy trails and messy roads. I have worn them for a couple of days in a row and my legs did not feel fatigued. I have yet to take that trip but expect that I will still be pleased with these shoes.

I had ordered several pairs of day-hikers from multiple companies and have sent them all back except these. I ordered on a whim and was surprised how they fit perfectly right out of the box, are supportive, and are comfortable with no break-in required.

Fan of NB products for years. Running shoes, both street and trail, have been wonderful, esp since they come in a wider width that my foot needs. When it came time to replace my worn NB trail shoe, I gave this a look.

Stylish appearance, so relying on the NB reputation and past experience, I gave them a try. The second star is based on two things: the appearance, and the helpful loop on the back to pull the shoe on.

Otherwise, these shoes are disastrous. The fit was fine out of the box, but the smooth nylon laces, coupled with the nylon loops into which they lace (rather than holes) give the appearance of a custom fit, but do nothing to keep the shoe actually tied properly to the foot.

So, if you buy these, be prepared to purchase a set of laces that will stay tied. Worse than this is how the shoe completely changed my gait. I don’t walk extremely difficult trails, but these shoes altered how my feet and legs moved over even relatively smooth trails.

Evidence of this is the arch pain that extends up through my hamstrings to the muscles in my buttocks. You will not know these things by test-wearing them around the house so as not to dirty them in case you need to return.

You will only notice them after you’ve worn them in enough real-world situations to make them non-returnable. I would steer clear of these shoes, and it (literally) pains me to say this, bc NB has been the last refuge for me when it comes to properly-fitting shoes.

You’ve been warned.

These shoes are “OK” so far. They are not perfect for me, but hopefully will break-in and be comfortable. I do have to use my own orthotics and that seemed to make them less comfortable than I am used to when I first put on a New Balance shoe.

I have very wide feet and problem feet, so I need the widest woman’s size and lately there is almost NOTHING to chose from. I was desperate so I did purchase the only one that had a width I need, but it is far from what I wanted.

My local store even has nothing to chose from, and I guess they cannot order like we used to. I have only purchased NB for a long time, but it looks like I will need to do some research for some other brand.

Not sure why they limit the wide widths so much in color and style even normally, and now. nothing to pick from. I am disappointed.

I Have personally worn New Balance shoes for decades. I used to wear Nike and Adidas, but I had such bad foot and low back pain at the end of my nursing shift that I started paying attention to what some of my coworkers were wearing and I noticed a lot of New Balance, so I decided to try them, and I have never gone back, I recommend them to everyone who complains about foot pain or asks me about how I like mine.

I have had such a wonderful experience with every pair I’ve bought, never got a bum pair, but there are styles I like better than others. This pair that I’m reviewing for this particular purchase, I actually bought for my mom who is 85yrs old and diabetic.

For some time she’s been complaining about her expensive, doctor prescribed diabetic shoes that she could only get in person from the Hanger company. They were so heavy, she wasn’t picking up her feet high enough when she walked and was having a lot of falls, one that resulted with a broken hip.

So I decided to take a chance, with utmost faith and confidence, and I purchased these shoes for my mom. They were true to size, she has a narrow heal and wide toe bed and she says they feel like a dream, the heal hugs hers, they’re light weight and have a nice wide sole, and she said she felt so much more stable when she walked.

This is the 2nd pair I bought for her, the 1st pair were a neutral khaki color, but she likes to wear black a lot, so I bought her a black pair when they came on sale, and she just loves them, couldn’t thank me enough, and by the way, this woman is sooooo hard to please!.

I always buy 7 2W shoes from New Balance. Over the years, they have always served me well. but this pair of 577 v1 hook and loop was so tight that I had pain every time I wore it around the house (did that so I could it back if it did not fit).

Finally, I measured it against some of the other pairs I have, it it was more than a half inch shorter. I sent it back. 7 2W NB shoes with a white sole (so it won’t scratch hardwood floors in our house) are rare, so I may try to go to a NB stare where I can try on another pair to see if this is a one off issue.

Another more minor complaint. The VELCRO is quite short, so if you want to wear the shoe loose, of want to adjust for a high foot, you can’t do it. That is a really bad way to cut production costs.

I normally love NB sneakers and I got these because they’re solid black and I can wear them into the office. However, I’m really disappointed with these. They are very stiff and the tongue is huge and gets in the way.

The laces are also extraordinarily long. I also take a narrow width and these do not feel like the usual NB narrow, especially in the heel. The heel also feels lower than the rest of the shoe, almost like my heel is sitting in a hole.

They also seem a bit short. Unfortunately, I’ve worn them so I can’t return them. I selected Runs Large because they are too wide, but they are also a bit short.

First off I recommend buying these a half size smaller than your usual size and wider(2e) if you are a D width to offset the shorter length. If you do that these will fit you like a glove and you will perform better.

Socks are almost a must with these as the ribbed tongue and heel will chafe your skin. However, with a sock(crew preferably)they will actually grip the fabric a bit giving you an almost connective sensation from calf to foot.

These are a unique looking pair of shoes with a rippled mesh upper and straps for the laces instead of eyelets. I replaced the flat laces with oval ones and got less pinching strain on the straps. They’re a lower drop cushion shoe but I still think the Minimus is more ideal for squats and deadlifts.

That being said the fresh foam on these were not overly spongey and I did the leg press without issue. Other exercises were executed without issue but I found drastic lateral movements required more concentration to prevent rolling.

Good shock absorption when landing from pullups and the toe box bends easily, which I like. All in all I must say these are good trainers with a very unique look. I only hope New Balance expands this category.

I have used them all and multiple shoes per 1080 iteration. Still think V2 was best for comfort, build quality and wear but all are the best shoe available on the market I have found for my VERY narrow feet, heavy weight (6/4″ 175) and high mile runs (60+ miles/week).

That stated, this is the most comfortable, best cushioning and fitting version to date – wanna read on???? Read to the end because there is a significant downside if it applies to your needs. First the upsides: 1.

This is without a doubt the most comfortable 1080 shoe in terms of fit ever. They have managed to make the body of the shoe even more snug (in a positive manner) than before so fits like a sock more than a shoe yet dispensed with the accompanying narrow toe box (which I liked for reasons of psychological feel) that resulted in many a black ugly toe.

2. For those with extremely narrow feet, there is no more potato chipping over the instep! Perhaps due to more flexible material or better eyelet design but welcome!! 3. They have joined the tongue to the body so it is no longer required to have the laces interact with the tongue over the most sensitive part of the instep – had only seen this in trail shoes previously and wondered why nobody did for road guys.

Who wants a tongue floating and bunching over long runs??? 4. FINALLY! New Balance has laces that don’t require retying minimum once during runs (even if double knotted)! My God I love these laces, thin, comfortable not too stretchy and STAY tied! 5.

The Fresh Foam will disappoint you with its cushioning the first run, only that it will feel about same as previous 1080 iterations. HOWEVER, from the second run on, the cushioning is demonstrably superior in every way.

No more sore knees the day after a long 20 miler!! 6. While it may seem petty, the tread pattern of the Fresh Foam 1080 is vastly less susceptible to holding stones and as a result much quieter and more confidence.

The Zante Pursuits are the direction New Balance should have jumped after the Zante V2s. I loved the V2s. They were super fun and fast and carried me through everything fmor 5ks to marathons and Ironmans.

Then came the V3s and V4s. awful stuff for my narrow feet. The Persuits are wonderful so far. They suit narrow feet much better than the Zante V3s and 4s with a mesh upper that forms to your foot. They are have a much stiffer sole than previous Zantes which combined with the fresh foam gives them a cushiony but responsive feel, somewhat similar to RevLite cushioning.

I’ve hit 100 kms in these and no issues thus far. I’m on the lighter side for males and typically run through shoes in 400-500kms, so we’ll see how these hold up in the long run. For reference, even my previous Zantes and 1400s wouldn’t get to 500kms for me.

Bottom line, these shoes are fast, secure and fun. Only downside is MEC’s continual boring colour choices. I wish I had grabbed the red ones before they were sold out.

Bought these because I needed a bigger toe box. Shoes are comfy enough. Not a lot of support around the ankle but sole able to withstand the amount of force I put walking/light running on treadmill. Two complaints.

inner cushion under heel a bit too high for me so it pokes into my heel (hoping it will squish down with use) and 2nd complaint is that the shoelaces are as thin as thread! Why put such a tiny lace on a hefty shoe??? Had to change them out because they kept knotting up when unlacing after use.

I have purchased the 411 shoe before and like it. However, NB has changed it. I ordered on-line with store pick-up. Got home, tried on the shoe and found the toe box is smaller (not as high) as my old pair.

My toes are touching the top of the shoe. There is no arch support in the new shoes. My old pair has a little arch support, just enough. I am returning these shoes and will try another style. Very disappointed in NP for changing this shoe.

I bought these shoes a few weeks ago to wear as I recover from breaking my ankle in three places. I haven’t been able to walk or put weight on it in 3 months so as I am starting to walk again it’s really important for my shoe to be comfortable and not pinch as my foot swells.

This shoe checks off all the boxes. I have tremendous support. I have a lot of comfort with this shoe. I would recommend this walking shoes to anyone. It’s probably the best pair of shoes I have ever owned.

I purchase these walking shoes to replace my old ones that were worn out. The first thing I noticed is that the quality is nowhere near as good. The leather straps are much thinner I feel like they would break at any given moment.

Because they are thinner it feels like the velcro won’t hold as good as the old style. The shoes themselves fit comfortably. There seems to be something under the foot bedding that kind of pokes into the ball of your foot.

Not real bad but as the shoes get worn more I don’t know if that will be a problem or not. All in all I feel that new balance has had some very good shoes but unfortunately they seem to be skipping on materials nowadays.

The same high price but with lower quality. Please don’t get me wrong I would buy from them again because they carry sizes that most places don’t and they are generally good shoes. I just think that they have went to skipping on quality to make a greater profit.

I hope this trend does not continue because very few companies offer what they do. Would I purchase them again? Maybe, but I would check out the competition also. In my mind they aren’t the solid company I had grown to trust.