Our verdict

The New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK is a fresh take on the eternal 574 silhouette but with a more chunky and heavily layered appeal as opposed to the ruler-straight lines of the OG. We were delighted to see how NB's craftsmanship is woven into every aspect of the 57/40. The shoe is comfortably practical yet doesn't skimp on style and character. With its moderate retail price, we believe that it's hard to pass up on a budget-friendly kick that flaunts high-grade materials and wear resistance. We couldn't agree more with the inscription on the shoe's insole ("The Intelligent Choice").

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Pros

  • Cushioned and supportive for all-day wear
  • Very wide and stable platform
  • Awesome suede quality for the price
  • Will outlast most sneakers (highly durable)
  • Not heavy considering the chunky look
  • Breathable for summer
  • Wide-foot friendly

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Cons

  • Kith New Balance RC_1300 Mauve
  • Not reflective as advertised

Audience verdict

85
Decent!

Who should buy

We were amazed at how much value the New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK offers for the price. In our opinion, it is a solid pick for people who:

  • want a practical kick that will support them all day, match any outfit, and last a good while
  • prefer real suede and expect high-quality craftsmanship in their sneakers
  • TOP 10 Zapatillas New Balance 2022 
  • love chunky silhouettes minus the heaviness

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK review

Uomo New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v5 Black Moonbeam

If the shoe's stiff profile gives you doubts, have a look at the more forgiving New Balance kicks like the 2002R and the 1906R.

Both sneakers offer excellent comfort and stability with the added benefit of a more flexible and even better-cushioned midsole.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK lab test

Breathability

If you think that a sneaker can't be chunky and breathable at the same time, the New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK is here to bust that myth.

We discovered that the mesh panels on its upper have an excellent ventilation capacity. It is clearly seen in our smoke-pumping test above. Look how steadily the vapor is being expelled through the toebox area!

Hovering the shoe's half-cut upper over a source of light, we were amazed at how actually thin and transparent the mesh is!

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Breathability microscope check

A closeup view through our microscope also releaved the spaced-out chainlinking of the upper fabric.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Breathability under microscope

These gaps channeled a nice and steady airflow into the 57/40 during our weartest.

Feeling that light breeze on our toes was convincing enough to rate the breathability of this New Balance sneaker with a high score of 4!

Test results
57/40 4
Average 2.9
Compared to 51 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

Time to bust yet another myth! The NB 57/40 proves that an affordable sneaker can still be made with real suede!

Smooth and velvety to the touch, the material makes the shoe look more expensive than it actually is.

To make sure the suede is indeed real, we exposed it to fire using our butane torch. As you can see, it did not squirm, melt, or catch fire. Its topmost layer crumbled as we scratched the burnt area with a leather awl, just like real suede would. No more doubts about it - the suede is real!

Which can't be said about the shoe's N logo.

The fake nature of this detail was quickly revealed in our fire test. The logo screamed synthetics as it burned and melted.

Test results
57/40 Real suede

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK | Toebox durability

The New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK inherits a toebox overlay (a.k.a. mrl) from the 574 to keep the thin mesh protected from the wear and tear of daily use.

This nice and thick layer of suede fabulously fought off the 12-second sandpaper attack of our Dremel. The 5K RPM speed was no joke!

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Toebox durability test

Because the damage can hardly even be considered cosmetic, we rated the shoe's toebox durability with the maximum score - 5 out of 5!

Test results
57/40 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 51 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Another delicate part of every sneaker is the inner lining in the rearfoot. It sustains a great deal of friction from the bony parts of the heels and ankles.

Does the terry-like lining of the New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK live up to the challenge?

In fact, it does! After a 4-second drilling session, the textile showed almost no signs of abrasion!

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Heel padding durability test

The 57/40 gets yet another high durability score - this time, for the heel lining.

Test results
57/40 4
Average 3.5
Compared to 51 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Visually, the rubber outsole on the New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK seems like a very sturdy compound.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Outsole hardness

Measuring its hardness with a Shore C durometer proved our first impression. The tool showed a high reading of 83.0 HC which is sufficiently hard for day-to-day use in the city.

Test results
57/40 83.0 HC
Average 85.2 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 51 sneakers
Number of shoes
72.9 HC
Outsole hardness
90.5 HC

Outsole durability

To check how well the shoe's outsole stands up to abuse, we turned our Dremel to a higher speed of 10K RPM. We also held its sandpaper tip against the rubber for a longer time period of 22 seconds.

New Balance sneakers never disappointed us in the durability department and the 57/40 continued that trend. Can you even see the damage caused by the Dremel in the photo below?

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Outsole durability test

With a dent depth of only 0.7 mm, the shoe got even less damaged than the average! Very promising result for a casual sneaker.

Test results
57/40 0.7 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 51 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

On top of it all, New Balance also chose a thick layer of rubber to protect the bottom of the 57/40.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Outsole thickness

According to our caliper, the shoe's outsole is just as thick as the average at 5.8 mm. That's a great deal of rubber!

Considering all our findings above, we expect the New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK to last just as much or even longer than your standard pair of kicks. It should serve you well over one season for sure. Great investment considering the shoe's reasonable price!

Test results
57/40 5.8 mm
Average 5.5 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.4 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Weight

Just because it looks heavy-set doesn't mean that the 57/40 has to be heavy on foot!

Checking its weight in a men's US size 9, we got nothing more but an average reading of 14.0 oz (397g).

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Weight

We loved how this New Balance shoe felt chunky without weighing us down.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK style

Test results
57/40 14.00 oz (397g)
Average 14.07 oz (399g)
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
8.54 oz (242g)
Weight
22.61 oz (641g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

If you like platformy sneakers but don't want to go too crazy, the NB 57/40 will help you meet that sweet spot in between. Its slightly taller-than-average heel stack of 33.5 mm offers a sense of substance underfoot without feeling like a drag.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Heel stack
Test results
57/40 33.5 mm
Average 29.6 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
18.2 mm
Heel stack
41.8 mm

Forefoot stack

Measuring the shoe's forefoot stack, we found that it's also a bit taller than average at 22.7 mm. That amount of rubber and foam is sufficient to mute out the poking of small rocks underfoot.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Forefoot stack
Test results
57/40 22.7 mm
Average 18.8 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
10.6 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

The difference in stack heights gives us an offset of 10.8 mm in the NB 57/40. It means that the wearer's heel sits about a centimeter higher than the toes inside the shoe.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Drop

We believe that this setup is going to feel at home for most people because it is typical for most sporty sneakers.

When the heel is moderately elevated above the forefoot, the Achilles and calves feel less pressure and makes you feel more supported as well. 

Test results
57/40 10.8 mm
Average 10.9 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
6.7 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The cushioning of the NB 57/40 felt very nicely balanced during our wear tests. There was enough plushness to enjoy as well as firmness to provide stability.

We used a Shore A durometer to stack up the shoe's foam softness against other sneakers. With a reading of 22.3 HA, it turned out to be 30% softer than the average! It is not in the plush range but still softer than most other New Balance kicks including the 574 (97% softer!).

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Midsole softness

But keep in mind that the shoe's carrier foam and firm rubber outsole dampen some of that primary foam plushness.

Test results
57/40 22.3 HA
Average 29.5 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 42 sneakers
Number of shoes
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
60.0 HA

Insole thickness

The shoe's insole is not very thickly padded with only 4.2 mm of material in the heel. But we didn't find it to be a problem given the abundance of the primary cushioning.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Insole thickness
Test results
57/40 4.2 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
13.9 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

new balance 327 heat up collection!

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK arch support

New Balance takes arch support seriously, even in its casual sneakers. The 57/40 gave us a super solid footing with plenty of side-to-side support.

Testing the shoe's lateral stability with a shifty ankle movement, we could not imagine our feet buckling in this setup at all!

Torsional rigidity

The shoe's extended midsole sidewalls, sturdy upper overlays, and other less obvious details add a lot of stiffness to the 57/40.

The sneaker was so reluctant to be twisted in our manual test that we readily gave it the highest rigidity score of 5.

We are convinced that folks with excessive inward ankle rolling (overpronation) can benefit from this New Balance sneaker in their day-to-day wear.

Test results
57/40 5
Average 3.5
Compared to 51 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK features a heel clip that's very similar to that on the 574. But as you can see, the 57/40 has it sandwiched in between two tall sidewalls for even better stability.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK vs 574 heel clip

The rearfoot of the 57/40 is even more stable and substantial compared to the 574.

Checking the shoe's heel counter stiffness in our manual test, we discovered that even though the collar is somewhat pliable, the bottom of the heel counter (where the clip is located) is immovable.

Thus, we rated the shoe's heel counter stiffness with a high score of 4. It did an amazing job holding the back of our foot very firmly in place.

Test results
57/40 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 51 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

The landing area of the New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK is VERY broad. As in top-five-widest-we've-seen broad.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Midsole width in the forefoot

Our caliper shows 117.2 mm in the widest area of the forefoot which is about 8.5 mm wider than average!

Test results
57/40 117.2 mm
Average 108.8 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
100.0 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width in the heel

You already saw how much bigger the 57/40's heel is compared to the 574 in the comparison photo above. And our caliper measurements only confirmed that.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Midsole width in the heel

The widest part of the shoe's heel showed 99.5 mm on the caliper, whereas the same area reached only 80.2 mm in the 574.

Test results
57/40 99.5 mm
Average 83.3 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
69.4 mm
Midsole width in the heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

The shoe's less flexible profile is the price to pay for its amazing stability. 

Measuring precisely how much force it takes to bend this kick to a 90-degree angle, we got 32.1N on the force gauge. That's 40% more than it takes an average sneaker.

But even though it doesn't flex as easily as most other shoes, we never felt as if its stiffer design affected the overall comfort.

Test results
57/40 32.1N
Average 23.4N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Stiffness
51.8N

New Balance XC-72 "Black"

Did you know that the OG 574 was once an off-road running shoe? The 57/40 pays tribute to its sibling's trail heritage by adding some ruggedness to the outsole.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK outsole

We loved the enlarged tread pattern on the 57/40. Wear-testing the sneaker, we discovered that the lugs aren't prone to scuffing, making it ready for some serious daily grinding. Not to mention that we had no issues with its grip in the urban conditions.

Size and fit

new balance 580 pink

New Balance MSX90RCC.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK fit

But we also believe that people with wide feet will enjoy this roominess unless they have 4E width feet or large bunions.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK new balance 580 pink

Our caliper measured 100.2 mm in the widest part of the shoe's forefoot. Even though it is on par with the average width, the frontmost part of this NB sneaker is much more spacious... 

Test results
57/40 100.2 mm
Average 99.1 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
91.6 mm
new balance 580 pink
107.7 mm

new balance womens wmns fresh foam 860v11 light cyclone logwood light cyclone logwood

Applying our caliper to the big toe area of the 57/40, we recorded an impressive width of 83.0 mm! Nearly identical to the 574's toebox (82.7 mm), it is the widest reading among our lab-tested sneakers!

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK new balance womens wmns fresh foam 860v11 light cyclone logwood light cyclone logwood
Test results
57/40 83.0 mm
Average 74.9 mm
Compared to 51 sneakers
Number of shoes
63.7 mm
new balance womens wmns fresh foam 860v11 light cyclone logwood light cyclone logwood
83.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

Singles Day en New Balance.

Even though this might cause tongue sliding for some people, we didn't experience any issues.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Tongue: gusset type
Test results
57/40 None

Laces

The shoe's laces are flat and wide. Our wear tests showed that they stay tied nicely and don't require a double knot.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK laces

Comfort

Tongue padding

Our feet were free from lace bites thanks to the shoe's well-padded tongue. With a foam padding of 9.4 mm, it is just as thick as the average sneaker tongue.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Tongue padding
Test results
57/40 9.4 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 52 sneakers
Number of shoes
1.0 mm
Tongue padding
38.4 mm

Heel tab

The NB 57/40 doesn't feature any pull tabs or finger loops but the on-and-off is pretty easy thanks to the shoe's structured collar and easy-to-work-with laces.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Heel tab
Test results
57/40 None

Removable insole

The stock insole of the 57/40 can be removed or replaced with ease. But we are always happy with the insoles provided by New Balance because the brand knows exactly what it's doing! It's what the company began with in the first place.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Removable insole

P.S. Considering all the benefits offered by the 57/40, we can only agree with the writing on its insole.

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK writing on the insole

Test results
57/40 Yes

Misc

Reflective elements

The New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK is advertised as a reflective sneaker but we didn't find any in our grey colorway...Maybe other color options are more lucky?

New Balance 1700 Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers CM1700JK Reflective elements
Test results
57/40 No