Our verdict
- Our top pick in Tecnologias New balance T-shirt Sans Manches Impact Run
Pros
- New balance 1101 v2 nb black grey men unisex slip on sandals slippers d1101iib2m
- Amazingly durable
- New Balance 990v5 "Grey Castlerock"
- Retro vibes
- True to size
- Todd Snyder New Balance 5740 Stony Beach
- Easy to style
Cons
- new balance nonnative
- So-so stability
Audience verdict
- Top 30% in New Balance uniwersalne Czerwone
Comparison
The most similar sneakers compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 90 Great! | 89 Good! | 94 Superb! | 91 Great! | |
Price | $90 | $145 | $100 | $120 | |
Style | DadRetroSporty | ClassicDadRetroSporty | DadRetroSporty | RetroSportyFuturistic | |
Breathability | Warm | Warm | Warm | Moderate | |
Weight lab | 12.8 oz / 364g | 13.5 new balance 1500 made in uk desert scape mens sand | 12.9 oz / 366g | 14.5 oz / 410g | |
Midsole softness | Firm | Firm | Soft | Firm | |
Material | MeshSuede | MeshSuede | LeatherMesh | KnitSuede | |
Season | SpringWinterFall | SpringWinterFall | SpringWinterFall | SpringWinterFall | |
Inspired from | Running | Running | Running | Running | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Wide | Wide | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Wide | Medium | Wide | Medium | |
Leather/suede quality | Real suede | Real suede | Real leather | Real suede | |
Toebox durability | Good | Decent | Decent | Decent | |
Heel padding durability | Good | Decent | Decent | Decent | |
Outsole durability | Good | Good | Good | Good | |
Heel stack lab | 27.7 mm | 35.4 mm | 32.3 mm | 34.8 mm | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Moderate | Stiff | Moderate | |
Tongue padding | Average | Average | Average | Thin | |
Drop lab | 9.9 mm | 11.1 mm | 10.0 mm | 11.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 17.8 mm | 24.3 mm | 22.3 mm | 23.8 mm | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel tab | None | None | None | Pull tab | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Stiff | Moderate | Moderate | Stiff | |
Reflective elements | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Closure | Laces | Laces | Laces | Laces | |
Top | Low top | Low top | Low top | Low top | |
Ranking | #39 Top 50% | #48 Bottom 39% | #5 Top 7% | #31 Top 40% | |
Popularity | #39 Top 50% | #12 Top 16% | #7 Top 9% | #58 Bottom 26% |
Who should buy
Days of wear-testing and lab assessments led us to conclude that the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier is greatly suitable for the following:
- sneakerheads who are OK wearing leather since this shoe is made of real suede
- buyers who are on the lookout for sneakers that are durable from the upper down to the outsole
- new balance liverpool roav trainer release date info
- wearers with normal-sized feet
New Balance Ärmlös T-shirt Graphic Accelerate | Who should NOT buy
We've established through our experience and lab assessments that the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier is not breathable. Wearers with sweaty feet should stay away from this shoe. They are better off with the New Balance 237, which is also cheaper than the 997H. If they are willing to try other brands, the ASICS Gel Lyte III is also a good alternative.
New Balance Mulher Fresh Foam Tempo New Balance 480 New Balance Ärmlös T-shirt Graphic Accelerate.
Breathability
The 997H had that distinct New Balance look, and we were all there for it... if only it wasn't too toasty. This sneaker is really NOT a living thing because it really doesn't know how to breathe! Properly, that is.
We effected the usual smoke test on this shoe, and it was too regrettable to watch that the smoke was only able to escape (and slowly, at that!) through the tongue. It would be a crime to give this sneaker a rating better than 2 out of 5 for ventilation!
The 997H had almost the same look and structure as the New Balance 57/40 (rating is 4 out of 5), but the latter allowed smoke to escape even through the toebox. The video above clearly shows what we mean.
When placed over a light source, it's quite shocking to see that light was only able to pass through the lace holes.
What we saw under the microscope convinced us that good breathability was never the goal of the NB 997H. The material used for the toebox appeared to be multilayered, with every possible vent tightly covered as if a pretty dangerous criminal was jailed inside.
997H | 2 |
Average | 2.9 |
Durability
Leather/Suede quality
The tightly closed-off material only covered the top of the toebox. The rest of the shoe was made of a velvety material which we found to be genuine suede back in the lab.
We torched a portion of the sidewall, and it immediately smelt like burning hair. We probed the burnt area with our awl and we saw that the material remained relatively intact except of course for the ugly discoloration. Only real suede has this kind of effect when burned.
997H | Real suede |
Toebox durability
Being made of real suede, we never doubted the shoe's durability. And we were not disappointed. Not even in the slightest bit.
Our aggressive Dremel drilling on the toebox barely scratched its surface. No wonder no signs of wear and tear were seen even if we carelessly bumped the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier on various surfaces during our wear tests.
It was a perfect 5 for us as far as toebox durability was concerned. Compare the 997H with the New Balance 530, which got a 1 out of 5, in the photo below and the sturdiness of the former becomes even more apparent.
997H | 5 |
Average | 3.8 |
Heel padding durability
We were glad that the suede outer layer was not the only sturdy thing. The heel padding was quite resistant as well, and it never faltered as our skin or socks rubbed against it during aggressive movements.
In the lab, even our high-pressure Dremel became a laughingstock when it barely left a mark on the heel padding. The Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier remained immaculate. Under similar circumstances, NB 237 end x new balance art of nothing xc72 uxc!
997H | 5 |
Average | 3.4 |
New Balance Ärmlös T-shirt Graphic Accelerate | Outsole hardness
Our HC durometer gave the outsole a hardness rating of 86.8, making it just as hard as the average outsole. Experience-wise, we did not notice anything unusual, either.
997H | 86.8 HC |
Average | 85.2 HC |
Outsole durability
The Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier is another proof that hardness is not always equal to durability. While the outsole had average hardness, its durability was off the charts!
Our Dremel drilling on the outsole resulted only in 0.5 mm damage. This is only half of what we normally see in a typical sneaker's outsole after going through the same amount of abuse.
997H | 0.5 mm |
Average | 1.0 mm |
Outsole thickness
At 4.9 mm thick, the outsole was of average thickness.
997H | 4.9 mm |
Average | 5.6 mm |
Weight
We have to say; the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier truly felt light on the feet. Our steps were effortless and smooth because of its lightness.
We were surprised to learn this NB sneaker was only slightly lighter than average at 12.8 ounces or 364 grams.
997H | 12.84 oz (364g) |
Average | 14.22 oz (403g) |
Cushioning
Heel stack
We did not have any bad experience with the midsole. It wasn't too thick that we were already worrying about stability. And it wasn't too thin that it lacked impact protection either.
True enough, our caliper measured the heel height to be only 27.7 mm, a number quite close to the average.
997H | 27.7 mm |
Average | 30.0 mm |
Forefoot stack
Just like the heel, the forefoot part of the midsole is also as thick as the average at 17.8 mm.
997H | 17.8 mm |
Average | 18.9 mm |
Drop
Transitioning from heel to toe was not a problem because the difference in height between the forefoot and the rearfoot wasn't so pronounced.
Based on our calculations in the lab, the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier had a heel-to-toe drop of 9.9 mm.
997H | 9.9 mm |
Average | 11.1 mm |
Midsole softness
Based on our experience, the midsole delivered what was necessary. It was firm enough to ensure lasting stability. It was also soft enough to ensure we were comfortable even after walking long distances.
Our HA durometer measured its softness to be 32.5 which is more or less equal to the average.
997H | 32.5 HA |
Average | 29.5 HA |
Insole thickness
The insole was of average thickness. Our caliper measured it to be 4.7 mm thick.
997H | 4.7 mm |
Average | 5.5 mm |
Stability
New Balance 850 Spring Pack
Though it was not the best, the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier still delivered enough lateral stability to keep us on the footbed. From its moderately responsive sidewalls and typically wide platform, many features worked in synergy to stabilize our steps.
Of course, better picks exist as far as lateral stability is concerned, and the Adidas Alphaboost V1 is easily one of them.
Torsional rigidity
Tampa Bay Rays star Evan Longoria has hooked up with New Balance.
Back in the lab, the whole structure of the sneaker showed only moderate resistance to our twisting. We gladly gave it a score of 3 over 5 for torsional rigidity.
997H | 3 |
Average | 3.5 |
Heel counter stiffness
This sneaker, we feel, owed much of its stability to the secure clasp of its heel counter. The rearfoot surely couldn't go anywhere because of how arrested it felt while we were wearing the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier.
We gave the heel counter a good squeeze in the lab, and its resistance to it was quite intense. We had to sweat a lot before it started to yield to the pressure that we applied. A perfect 5; no other score befitted such a performance.
997H | 5 |
Average | 3.2 |
Midsole width in the forefoot
The footprints left by the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier were not overly wide or painfully narrow. Our caliper measured the forefoot to be 111.4 mm wide.
997H | 111.4 mm |
Average | 108.9 mm |
meet the new balance
Just like the forefoot, the heel area was just as wide as the average at 81.3 mm.
Now, did the averageness of the platform widths cause any problems? Not at all! They were enough to contain our feet and ensure that our steps felt stable. The NB 997H was one of those shoes that convinced us that stability was not all about size, how the parts were implemented or configured matters as well.
997H | 81.3 mm |
Average | 83.3 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
It was such a pleasure to wear the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier because it felt more flexible than usual. We never had problems bending our feet when we had to tiptoe, for example, because the shoe went so well with our movements.
After performing the usual flexibility test on this New Balance sneaker, we learned that it needed only 16.5N of force to bend at a 90-degree angle. That much force was significantly less than the amount needed by the typical sneaker.
997H | 16.5N |
Average | 24.1N |
Grip / Traction
The outsole definitely didn't look aggressive enough, but it sure did cover us well during our wear tests. Its bite never faltered no matter which direction we went. Perhaps we really shouldn't judge the book by its cover from now on.
Size and fit
Internal length
Our caliper in the lab measured the footbed to be 273.8 mm long. This number is just around the average.
997H | 273.8 mm |
Toebox width at the widest part
Our experience tells us that the Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier couldn't accommodate people with wide feet. The widest part of its toebox was only 100.9 mm wide and surely did not deviate much from the average figure.
997H | 100.9 mm |
Average | 99.1 mm |
Toebox width at the big toe
The big toe part was just as wide as the average, as well. Our caliper in the lab gave a reading of 79.2 mm.
997H | 79.2 mm |
Average | 74.9 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
This sneaker from New Balance is not at all gusseted. Well, it's a blessing that it's not. Had it been fully gusseted, it would have hampered so much with ventilation.
997H | None |
Comfort
Tongue padding
The tongue felt nice even when we were not wearing socks. Its surface material was soft, and the padding felt like a gentle duvet on top of our feet.
Our caliper measured it to be 9.6 mm thick.
997H | 9.6 mm |
Average | 9.1 mm |
Heel tab
The Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier did not have any heel tab. We have no complaints about this because (1) the shoe did not really need one and (2) the absence of the heel tab allowed for a more streamlined look.
997H | None |
Removable insole
The Tecnologias New balance Shoes Mthier came with a removable insole. It was easy to get it out when we needed to use inserts of just wanted to have more space inside the sneaker.
997H | Yes |
Misc
Reflective elements
The 997H did not have any reflective overlays on it. Usage should only be in well-lit conditions.
997H | No |