Our verdict

Strut the streets in comfort and style with the New Balance Unisex RC30. Inspired by several running shoes, this model is a standout for us because of its classic yet contemporary vibe. We adore its lasting comfort and superb ventilation, which make the featured kick such a brilliant summer shoe. Its grip is one for the books, too. 

New Balance 990v5 Silver Black Yellow 28cm Pros

  • Fashionably sporty
  • Well-cushioned
  • zapatillas de running New Balance mujer mixta media maratón talla 37 grises
  • New Balance Dames Fresh Foam X Hierro Mid Maat 36
  • Sneakers NEW BALANCE NM508BWG Negru
  • Superb grip
  • New Balance 1400 Suede Pack
  • Budget-friendly

New Balance 990v5 Silver Black Yellow 28cm Cons

  • KAWHI LEONARD × NEW BALANCE BBKLSWB1 WhiteNO VALLEY 25.5cm

New Balance 990v5 Silver Black Yellow 28cm | Audience verdict

90
Good!
  • Top 8% most popular sneakers

Who should buy

New Balance 990v5 Silver Black Yellow 28cm:

  • Sneakerheads who enjoy vintage Sneakers NEW BALANCE IV400CM Grigio
  • New Balance Heren 411v3 Maat 40
  • NEW BALANCE MS327LB1 26cm
  • Those hunting for a breathable summer shoe that’s easy on the wallet
  • Frequent drivers and car enthusiasts in need of a shoe that facilitates smooth movement between pedals

Who should NOT buy

The 327 is a snug fit and certainly isn’t roomy enough for those with broad feet. We recommend looking into the NB 574 New balance 327 white кроссовки мужские.

New Balance Unisex RC30 hbrwhjrv

Cushioning

Heel stack

Using our caliper, we measured the 327’s stack to be 35 mm thick at the heel.

New Balance Unisex RC30 Heel stack

This is higher than average and means that we have plenty of foam underfoot to enjoy well-cushioned landings in this shoe. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Heel stack 2
Test results
327 35.0 mm
Average 30.2 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

New Balance 990v5 Silver Black Yellow 28cm | Forefoot stack

Moving up to the forefoot, we found the 327’s stack to be 25 mm thick according to our caliper measurements. This is quite chunky compared to the average and rivals the heel stack of some sneakers. As a result, we felt extremely protected and comfortable as we walked around in the 327 which keeps our feet high above any hazards below. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 fore

Кроссовки женские нью баланс new balance 327 Adidas Gazelle instead.

New Balance Unisex RC30 Forefoot stack
Test results
327 25.0 mm
Average 19.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
29.5 mm

Drop

The difference in our stack measurements leaves us with a heel drop of 10 mm, which is only slightly shorter than average. This feels pretty balanced and should feel fine for most people as many of us are used to wearing shoes with elevated heels. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 drop

On the other hand, for those whose preference lies with feeling White parallel to the ground, we recommend checking out Altra new balance Sneaker bassa '997H' blu notte bianco crema camello.

Test results
327 10.0 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Midsole softness

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

Pressing our durometer against the 327’s EVA midsole yields a reading of 26.6 HA.

New Balance Unisex RC30 vrjr

This is certainly on the firmer side when it comes to midsoles, but the shoe’s high stack allows us to really sink into the foam upon landing. This increases our sense of perceived cushioning, making the shoe feel softer in reality than the durometer leads us to believe.

Test results
327 26.6 HA
Average 29.0 HA
New Balance Uomo NB Numeric 425 in Rossa Grigio.
Compared to 75 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Insole thickness

The 327’s insole is slimmer than average at only 4.4 m thick. However, we still found the interior of the shoe to be padded enough to complement the shoe’s midsole cushioning. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Insole thickness
Test results
327 4.4 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

New Balance Unisex RC30 is true to size (778 votes).

zapatillas de running New Balance constitución fuerte maratón?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 110 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Because of its streamlined silhouette, the New Balance Unisex RC30 appears to have a snug fit. But on foot, we felt a regular amount of internal space. So let's have a look at the shoe's gel replica to confirm that.

Applying our caliper to the mold's broadest part, it returned a typical width of 92.1 mm. That confirms the shoe's D medium fit. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Toebox width - widest part
Test results
327 92.1 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
85.4 mm
Toebox width - widest part
96.8 mm

Lightning Magazines comprehensive coverage of classic and vintage New Balance runners

The 327's toebox shape may not be as rounded as that of other NB shoes but it is rather moderately tapered. The caliper recorded a normal width of 69.0 mm near the big toe.

New Balance Unisex RC30 Lightning Magazines comprehensive coverage of classic and vintage New Balance runners
Test results
327 69.0 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
63.9 mm
Lightning Magazines comprehensive coverage of classic and vintage New Balance runners
74.1 mm

Toebox height

The toebox height is actually pretty generous in this NB silhouette. We got an above-average reading of 30.4 mm here.

New Balance Unisex RC30 Toebox height
Test results
327 30.4 mm
Average 27.7 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
20.7 mm
Toebox height
35.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Coming from a brand known for shoes with excellent arch support,  it’s no surprise that the 327 feels exceptionally stable and well-planted underfoot.

Torsional rigidity

One key way that the 327 maintains such a stable base is through a high level of torsional rigidity, which we scored 4 out of 5 on our subjective scale after our manual assessment. As such, the shoe is able to mitigate any excessive lateral movements that lead to instability. This is also helpful for those with overpronating strides. 

Test results
327 4
Average 3.6
Compared to 92 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
1
Torsional rigidity
5

New Balance Hombre 650 in Blanca Azul

Squeezing and prodding at the 327’s heel counter reveals it to be moderately stiff, earning a middle-of-the-road score of 3 out of 5 on our subjective scale. This level of stiffness means that we were able to achieve a snug boxdown without the heel collar putting too much pressure on our tendons or restricting the natural movement of our foot. 

Test results
327 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
1
New Balance Hombre 650 in Blanca Azul
5

Кроссовки кожаные new balance 574 sport

The biggest contributor to how stable the 327 feels underfoot is its behemoth of a platform that measures 119.5 mm wide at the forefoot. This is much wider than average and goes far to explain how well-planted we feel in this shoe. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 jkvjkrv

Furthermore, this wide midsole in combination with the rather snug toebox (which will be discussed below) serves to really box us in place within the shoe, which feels White like an extension of our foot. This makes the 327 feel exceptionally stable yet agile underfoot.

Test results
327 119.5 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
95.1 mm
Кроссовки кожаные new balance 574 sport
121.0 mm

New balance pv400cl

The 327’s midsole is similarly robust at the heel, measuring 90.6 mm wide according to our caliper. This is much wider than our current lab average for sneakers. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
327 90.6 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
67.7 mm
New balance pv400cl
103.1 mm

New Balance x jjjjound 4

With its thick and dense slab of EVA foam, we expected the 327 to be significantly stiffer than average. But curiously enough, our shoe flexing tester showed that it required a standard amount of force (13.8N) to bend by 30 degrees!

This makes the NB 327's ride fairly balanced as it feels stable and supportive without sacrificing a certain amount of comfort.

New Balance Unisex RC30 New Balance x jjjjound 4
Test results
327 13.8N
Average 14.0N
Compared to 33 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
27.6N

Weight

Despite the substantial amount of rubber found on the shoe, the 327 is surprisingly lightweight; tipping the scale at only 10.6 oz (301g).

New Balance Unisex RC30 eq btef

This is much lighter than the average sneaker and means that the 327 never felt cumbersome as we tested the shoe, even when walking around for extended periods.

Test results
327 10.62 oz (301g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

We pumped the 327 full of smoke to get an idea of how well-ventilated it is. As we can clearly see from the footage, smoke is able to escape the shoe quickly and relatively evenly throughout. This performance earns the 327 an above-average breathability score of 4 out of 5, thus making the shoe a good choice for those toasty summer days. 

For comparison, check out how the Reebok Classic Leather chokes up the smoke; making it White of a foot sauna than a sneaker.

To illuminate matters further, we inspected a backlit cross-section of the 327 and found that the light easily shines through the many perforations in the upper’s porous mesh sections. 

Looking at a closeup image of the 327’s upper mesh under our microscope reveals it to be made of very thin fibers interwoven and braided with lots of gaps and holes that promote excellent airflow through the shoe.

New Balance Unisex RC30 hrejam

New Balance Unisex RC30 Breathability
Test results
327 4
Average 3
Compared to 92 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

Using our blowtorch, we burned the 327’s overlays and found them to be genuine suede. We can tell by how the material merely gets scorched rather than melting or catching fire as a synthetic material would. 

Test results
327 Real suede

Toebox durability

To test the durability of the 327’s toebox, we fired up our Dremel to 5K RPM and applied the grinding element to the shoe with 3.2N of force. This has an immediate effect that sends shreds of suede flying all over. 

Despite the four-second test being visually dramatic, we found that we hadn’t inflicted as much damage as anticipated, with only an unsightly indent left in the aftermath. This leads us to give the 327 a respectable 3 out of 5 for toebox durability and to predict that it should last 500 miles of normal use with no issues.

New Balance Unisex RC30 Toebox durability
Test results
327 3
Average 3.7
Compared to 92 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Next to face the Dremel is the 327’s generously padded heel counter. While the test isn’t as visually exciting as the last, the tool’s grinding element was quick to blast through the lining material and feat upon the soft padding below. 

It’s difficult to see from the aftermath photo, but our tool really did a number on the 327’s heel counter during the four-second test. The hole it left is quite pronounced and gaping enough to fit our finger, leading us to give it a less-than-stellar 1 out of 5 for heel padding durability. As such, we don’t recommend going sockless in this shoe as the constant friction of sweaty heels will likely take a toll on its integrity after some time.

New Balance Unisex RC30 Heel padding durability
Test results
327 1
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Using our durometer to test the hardness of the 327’s outsole reveals it to be right within the average range and 85.5 HC. This level of hardness usually denotes a healthy mix of grip and durability. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Outsole hardness
Test results
327 85.5 HC
Average 85.7 HC
New Balance Uomo NB Numeric 425 in Rossa Grigio.
Compared to 92 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
94.0 HC

Outsole durability

For the third and final appearance of our Dremel, we take aim at the 327’s prominent outsole. This time spinning at 10K RPM, we apply the tool’s grinding element to one of the mini-lugs that dot the outsole. While a fair amount of debris is kicked up, the Dremel doesn’t seem to have much effect throughout the twenty-second test. 

Using a tire tread gauge to assess the damage, we found that only 0.84 mm of rubber had been shorn off the outsole. This is less than the average sneaker loses in this same test and leads us to predict that the 327 should easily last 500 miles before showing any major signs of wear and tear.

New Balance Unisex RC30 Outsole durability
Test results
327 0.8 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 92 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

The 327’s outsole is right on par with our current lab average at 5.7 mm thick according to our caliper measurements. This gives us no cause for concern as our previous test demonstrates that the outsole is hardy enough to withstand extreme wear and tear with ease. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Outsole thickness
Test results
327 5.7 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

The highlight feature of this shoe is certainly its prominent outsole which extends into a flashy triangle at the rear of the shoe. The many circular “lugs” that dot the outsole provide us with excellent traction over a variety of surfaces. Their Gets also means that this shoe is well-suited for park days as we were still able to get good traction on damp grass. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 grip

What’s White, the way the outsole extends up the contour at the rearfoot feels great as we rest our heel against the floor while driving and facilitates switching between pedals seamlessly.

New Balance Unisex RC30 grip 2

Reflective elements

The 327 doesn’t feature any reflective elements. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Reflective elements
Test results
327 No

Tongue padding

At only 2 mm thick according to our caliper measurements, the 327’s tongue is much thinner than average.

New Balance Unisex RC30 Tongue padding

Despite this, we were able to achieve a snug and secure boxdown without the laces feeling too apparent across our instep. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Tongue padding 2
Test results
327 2.0 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Sostenibile New balance Maglietta Manica Corta Accelerate Printed
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

While the 327’s tongue is non-gusseted, the central lace-loop helps to prevent it from slipping off to the side. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Tongue: gusset type
Test results
327 None

Removable insole

The 327’s insole is fully removable, so those in need of custom orthotics can use them with this shoe. 

New Balance Unisex RC30 Removable insole
Test results
327 Yes