Our verdict

A symbol of ingenuity, we found that the new balance rubix running shoes has undergone countless spin-offs that can make a sneaker collection on their own. The shoe provided us with excellent support and comfort for day-long use. Not to mention its adaptable style that can go with almost any of our outfits. We are convinced, NB 574 is another street-savvy NB kick that will remain classic and in style for years to come.

Mala de viagem New Balance Pros

  • Classic NB silhouette
  • Budget-friendly
  • Suitable for all-day wear
  • Real suede
  • Highly durable
  • Stable and supportive
  • Great for wide feet
  • New Balance 576 15
  • Trampki New Balance 990 mają zamszową cholewkę z wyszytym logo marki z boku i gumową podeszwę

Mala de viagem New Balance Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Stiff and firm platform
  • new balance fresh foam zante v3 breathe marathon running shoessneakers wzanthb3 wzanthb

Audience verdict

89
Good!

Mala de viagem New Balance | Who should buy

In our opinion, it's hard to go wrong with the new balance rubix running shoes if you are after the following:

  • an affordable classic sneaker
  • New Balance Hombre Fresh Foam X 1080v12 in Azul Verde
  • a highly versatile kick that's available in numerous colour combinations

new balance rubix running shoes review

Functies New balance NBST Tas

The NB 574 comes with a thick wedge EVA midsole that feels rigid and inflexible. Thus, this kick might feel unforgiving for those who prefer soft and flexible trainers. As an alternative, you may want to consider the 997H Cette New Balance 1300 fabriquée aux Etats Unis appartient au pack Moby Dick 2002R.

The 574 may also be a disappointment if you are looking for a summer kick. We recommend going for a more breathable option like the PUMA RS-X.

new balance rubix running shoes lab test

Breathability

new balance 992 made in usa black purple.

Trying out the 574 in warm temperatures, we couldn't wait to get it off, to be honest. Back in the lab, our experience was confirmed in a breathability test where we pumped smoke through the shoe's upper to see how much of it passed through.

As you can see from the video, ZERO smoke is passing through the shoe's seemingly mesh toebox. Only a little is able to escape through the gaps between the tongue and the shoe quarters.

For that reason, we ended up giving the 574 a lower breathability score of 3 out of 5.

Oh, and never mind the "mesh" panels. These boys are so densely woven that they don't even let the light shine through!

Lookig at the toebox through our microscope...

new balance rubix running shoes microscope

... there are no see-through perforations in sight.

new balance rubix running shoes microscope mesh

Test results
574 3
Average 2.9
Compared to 52 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

When we take a closer look at the quality of materials on the NB 574, it actually becomes easier to forgive the lack of breathability. For a £90 shoe, we were impressed!

Equipped with a butane torch and a leather scratch awl, we tested the genuineness of materials in various parts of the upper. Our main point of interest was of course the suede. And it turned out to be real! Unlike the synthetic heel panel and the "N" logo, the suede didn't catch fire and stood up to the awl too.

Test results
574 Real suede

Mala de viagem New Balance | Toebox durability

The 574 did its wearers a huge favour by adding a very wide suede overlay on the toebox. It does a fantastic job of protecting the mesh layer underneath.

We can easily prove it in our durability test that involves a Dremel. Holding the tool against the suede at a consistent speed (10K RPM) and force (3.2N), we only got a small dimple!

Such amazing wear resistance earned the 574 a high score for toebox durability. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most durable, we gave it a 4.

new balance rubix running shoes Toebox durability result

Test results
574 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 52 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Inside, the 574 is lined with a plush and comfy fabric lining. That one should be easy to tear, right? Right?

Well, apparently, our Dremel struggled with that! After 4 seconds of drilling the fabric, the damage was really minor compared to what we usually see in trainers.

New Balance 327 OG Pack.

new balance rubix running shoes Heel padding durability test

Great news for those of us who often develop holes in this part of a shoe!

Test results
574 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 52 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

A rugged, massive outsole is 574's signature. But is it just as sturdy as it looks? Hell, yeah!

To begin with, we measured the hardness of that rubber at 83.1 HC. This is not much harder than the average of trainers but it's a good start.

new balance rubix running shoes Outsole hardness
Test results
574 83.1 HC
Average 85.2 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 52 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
72.9 HC
Outsole hardness
90.5 HC

Outsole durability

The shoe's outsole revealed its true nature in our demanding Dremel test. And it's a BEAST!

Drilling through the rubber for a good 22 seconds at a high speed of 10K RPM, it just couldn't be bothered!

According to our tread gauge, the depth of the dent is a mere 0.5 mm! For reference, most trainers end up with 1 to 1.5 mm of damage (like the Adidas Gazelle below).

new balance rubix running shoes Outsole durability test

new balance rubix running shoes

Adidas Gazelle Outsole durability

Adidas Gazelle

Test results
574 0.5 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 52 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

But New Balance didn't stop there. The brand decided that a few millimetres of rubber was not convincing enough and packed as much as 8.2 mm into the 574!

This is one of the thickest rubber outsoles we've ever seen on a sneaker! It is also pretty aggressively lugged and is ready to outlast many other trainers on the market. Especially, in its price range!

new balance rubix running shoes Outsole thickness
Test results
574 8.2 mm
Average 5.6 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
3.4 mm
Outsole thickness
12.5 mm

Weight

New Balance was founded by an arch support specialist for a good reason. Stability or support is never an issue in trainers from this brand.

As you can see in the video, our heel remains firmly planted on the ground as we attempt to shift the foot side-to-side. Let's have a look at the factors contributing to this in the sections below.

Weight

From the look of it, it is only reasonable to think that the new balance rubix running shoes is a chunky boy. And yet, and yet...

The sneaker surprises us once again, this time on a scale. We measured the shoe in a men's US size 9 and found that it functional 13.9 oz (393g) which is within the average of low-top trainers.

It exudes a bulky vibe on foot but never drags it down.

new balance rubix running shoes Weight
Test results
574 13.86 oz (393g)
Average 14.22 oz (403g)
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
8.54 oz (242g)
Weight
22.61 oz (641g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

Aside from platform trainers, the new balance rubix running shoes makes for one of the tallest stacks in our catalogue.

new balance rubix running shoes Heel stack

Using a calliper, we measured the shoe's heel height at an impressive 38.2 mm. This is taller than other popular kicks like the Reebok Classic Leather (35.7 mm) or the Adidas Superstar (26.8 mm).

Test results
574 38.2 mm
Average 30.0 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
18.2 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

In the forefoot, the 574 also proved to be taller than average. We measured the stack height here at 25.2 mm.

The funny thing is that this NB shoe is thicker in the forefoot than some trainers are in the heel (like the Adidas Samba at 19.3 mm).

new balance rubix running shoes Forefoot stack
Test results
574 25.2 mm
Average 18.9 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
10.6 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

Given the stack difference, we get a 13.0 mm drop in the 574. That's neither good nor bad as it is totally up to the wearer's preference. Some people like to feel their heels elevated while others prefer a more grounded, parallel-to-the-ground experience.

new balance rubix running shoes Drop

new balance rubix running shoes

New Balance 530 D Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers M530MB.

adidas samba drop 20885431 720

Adidas Samba

Test results
574 13.0 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
6.7 mm
Drop
22.6 mm

Midsole softness

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

Mala de viagem New Balance.

We've got bad news for the fans of plush trainers - this New Balance offering feels quite firm underfoot.

New Balance WL574SM2 shoes.

new balance rubix running shoes Midsole softness

This is among the firmest we've seen in our lab so far. For comparison, the PUMA RS-X buy Aimé Leon Dore New Balance 650R!

Test results
574 44.0 HA
Average 29.5 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 43 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
60.0 HA

Secondary foam softness

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

You probably noticed that the midsole of the 574 consists of two layers of foam. Thus, we also measured the softness of the top layer (the one closer to the foot).

This foam turned out to be slightly softer than the lower layer. At 29.5 HA, it is actually 49% softer! Although still firm, this top foam at least helps to make landings more pleasurable.

new balance rubix running shoes Secondary foam softness
Test results
574 29.5 HA
Average 36.8 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.

Insole thickness

Completing the shoe's cushioning ensemble is a fairly padded insole. Being 4.7 mm thick, it is within the normal range for trainers.

new balance rubix running shoes Insole thickness
Test results
574 4.7 mm
Average 5.5 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
14.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

New Balance was founded by an arch support specialist for a good reason. Stability or support is never an issue in trainers from this brand.

As you can see in the video, our heel remains firmly planted on the ground as we attempt to shift the foot side-to-side. Let's have a look at the factors contributing to this in the sections below.

Torsional rigidity

First and foremost, there is a lot of stiffness in the shoe's platform. Twisting it sideways in our manual test, we could feel a great deal of resistance from the firm sole.

This led us to give this NB shoe a solid 4 out of 5 for torsional rigidity.

Stiffer shoes like this have a much smaller chance of letting your ankle roll over to the side. An extreme opposite case would be the New Balance Herren 442 V2 TEAM FG in Schwarz Weiß.

Test results
574 4
Average 3.5
Compared to 52 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
1
Torsional rigidity
5

new balance syntact trainers ladies

The NB 574 takes really good care of your ankles. With double overlays and a plastic ENCAP at the bottom of the heel, we felt very securely held at the rearfoot.

Between 1 and 5, we rated the 574's heel counter stiffness as 3. It is not the stiffest but structured enough for sure.

Test results
574 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 52 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
1
new balance syntact trainers ladies
5

Bæredygtig New balance Løbe Skoe Hanzo

A stable platform wouldn't be complete without a nice and wide base. And the 574 scores high here too!

At the widest part of the forefoot, our calliper measured 114.3 mm, which is a whole centimetre wider than other classic trainers like the Reebok Classic Leather (103.3 mm).

new balance rubix running shoes Bæredygtig New balance Løbe Skoe Hanzo
Test results
574 114.3 mm
Average 108.9 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
100.0 mm
Bæredygtig New balance Løbe Skoe Hanzo
121.0 mm

Midsole width in the heel

This NB shoe also proves to be fairly wide in the heel. We got 80.2 mm in the widest part of the sole, which is also on the wide side of the sneaker spectrum.

new balance rubix running shoes Midsole width in the heel
Test results
574 80.2 mm
Average 83.3 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
69.4 mm
Midsole width in the heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

The new balance rubix running shoes is not the kind of sneaker that bends to your will so easily. The shoe feels notably stiffer than minimalist trainers like the Adidas Gazelle.

To figure out exactly how much stiffer the 574 is, we used a force gauge to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle. The tool showed that it took as much as 28.8N. This is almost 50% more than it takes an average sneaker!

Test results
574 28.8N
Average 24.1N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
5.8N
Stiffness
60.5N

Grip / Traction

As long as you don't try to conquer ice and slush in the NB 574, it should provide just enough grip for most occasions.

new balance rubix running shoes Lug depth

Its lugs may seem aggressive but they are definitely not deep or sharp enough for slippery conditions.

Size and fit

Toebox width at the widest part

If your toes could dream, they would certainly have a little dream of the 574. Especially if you have wider feet.

Measuring the toebox at its widest part, near the ball of the foot, we got 97.7 mm. And while that's just an average width, the difference lies in the tip of the forefoot. 

new balance rubix running shoes Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
574 97.7 mm
Average 99.1 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
91.6 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
107.7 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

Applying our calliper to the area around the big toe, we got a pretty impressive 82.7 mm of width! This is significantly wider than most trainers.

This offers a significantly roomier fit, allowing toes to splay and preventing them from going numb by the end of the day.

Oh, and did we mention that the 574 is also available in wide and extra wide?

new balance rubix running shoes Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
574 82.7 mm
Average 74.9 mm
Compared to 52 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
63.7 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
83.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue doesn't have any gussets (attachments) on the sides. Unfortunately, this resulted in slight shifting of the tongue sideways in our case.

new balance rubix running shoes Tongue: gusset type
Test results
574 None

Comfort

Tongue padding

Measuring the tongue padding, our calliper returned 4.6 mm.

new balance rubix running shoes Tongue padding

Even though it is exactly the same as average, we felt a little bit of lace pressure through it, especially when cinched tightly.

new balance rubix running shoes flex

Test results
574 4.6 mm
Average 9.1 mm
Compared to 53 trainers
New Balance 527 Sneakers rosse
1.0 mm
Tongue padding
38.4 mm

Heel tab

No heel tab at the back but we didn't find it a necessity in the 574.

new balance rubix running shoes Heel tab
Test results
574 None

Removable insole

Because New Balance started out as an insole company, they know how to make these inserts right. We enjoyed the 574's stock insole but if you need your own orthotic, it can be swapped easily.

new balance rubix running shoes Removable insole
Test results
574 Yes

Misc

Reflective elements

No shining in the dark.

new balance rubix running shoes Reflective elements
Test results
574 No

Style

In 1988, New Balance released the 574 as an advanced running shoe with a notable design. This iteration was a hybrid that blended the best details of New Balance's well-known running kicks, namely the New Balance 575 and 576 models.

The shoe also carried the famous ENCAP cushioning system, responsible for comfort and protection.

new balance rubix running shoes laces

Ever since then, the 574 has undoubtedly become one of the brand's most iconic pairs in sneaker history. And even though it can be lost in the shadow of much more hyped releases like NB 550, the 9060, and the 2002R, it still holds its place as a timeless silhouette on the shelves of New Balance.

Especially for its unbelievably affordable price tag!