Our verdict
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Pros
- end clothing new balance 997 persian rug
- Budget-friendly
- Suitable for all-day wear
- Real suede
- Highly durable
- Stable and supportive
- Great for wide feet
- Easy to style
- Numerous color options
Cons
- Lacks breathability
- Stiff and firm platform
- Tongue shifts a little
Audience verdict
- DTLR VILLA Unveil Philly-Inspired New Balance 998
Comparison
The most similar sneakers compared
+ + camisola de alcas new balance printed velocity crop azul turquesa mulher | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 90 Good! | 93 Great! | 92 Great! | 90 Good! | |
Price | $90 | $150 | $120 | $75 | |
Style | ClassicDadSporty | ClassicDadRetroSporty | RetroSportyFuturistic | RetroSporty | |
Breathability | Moderate | Breathable | Moderate | Breathable | |
Weight lab | 13.9 oz / 393g | 14.1 oz / 401g | 14.5 el producto Zapatillas gruesas en blanco 452 de New Balance | 11.3 oz / 319g | |
Size | True to size | True to size | Half size large | True to size | |
Midsole softness | Firm | Firm | Firm | Firm | |
Material | Suede | Mesh | Suede | MeshSuede | |
Season | SpringFall | SpringFall | SpringFall | SpringFall | |
Inspired from | Running | Running | Running | Running | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Wide | Medium | |
New balance ml574hmj | Wide | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Leather/suede quality | Real suede | Real suede | Real suede | Real suede | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Decent | Decent | Decent | |
and the other with New Balance | Decent | Bad | Decent | Bad | |
Outsole durability | Good | Good | Good | Good | |
new balance 581 2012 spring to summer | 38.2 mm | 37.1 mm | 34.8 mm | 35.2 mm | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Stiff | |
Tongue padding | Thin | Average | Thin | Thin | |
Drop lab | 13.0 mm | 11.5 mm | 11.0 mm | 10.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 25.2 mm | 25.6 mm | 23.8 mm | 25.2 mm | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel tab | None | New Balance 5740 3 | Pull tab | None | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Flexible | Stiff | Moderate | |
Reflective elements | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Closure | Laces | Laces | Laces | Laces | |
Top | Low top | Low top | Low top | Low top | |
Ranking | #64 Bottom 42% | #23 Top 21% | #40 Top 36% | #68 Bottom 39% | |
Popularity | #6 Top 6% | #19 Top 17% | #90 Bottom 19% | #49 Top 44% |
Who should buy
In our opinion, it's hard to go wrong with the New Balance 574 if you are after the following:
- new balance enfants 574 varsity sport navygreen navygreen
- New Balance 570v2 Παπούτσια για τρέξιμο Junior Wide
- a highly versatile kick that's available in numerous color combinations
Who should NOT buy
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 sneakers. As an alternative, you may want to consider the 997H or the more expensive 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 990we2 made in usa | Cushioning
Heel stack
Aside from platform sneakers, the New Balance 574 makes for one of the tallest stacks in our catalog.
Using a caliper, 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).
574 | 38.2 mm |
Average | 30.2 mm |
new balance 990we2 made in usa | 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 sneakers are in the heel (like the Adidas Samba at 19.3 mm).

574 | 25.2 mm |
Average | 19.1 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 mid prefer a more grounded, parallel-to-the-ground experience.

New Balance Athletics All Terrain 7P Шапка.

574 | 13.0 mm |
Average | 11.1 mm |
Midsole softness
New Balance Numeric 1010 Tiago Lemos Men S Grey Hi Lite Low.
We've got bad news for the fans of plush sneakers - this New Balance offering feels quite firm underfoot.
Hanon x New Balance 520 'Fisherman's Blues'.
This is among the firmest we've seen in our lab so far. For comparison, the PUMA RS-X is a whopping 182% softer!
574 | 44.0 HA |
Average | 29.0 HA |
Ténis New Balance WL574 vermelho cinzento mulher
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.

574 | 29.5 HA |
Average | 34.0 HA |
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 sneakers.

574 | 4.7 mm |
Average | 5.1 mm |
Size and fit
Size
New Balance 574 is true to size (262 votes).
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A classic NB sneaker with a classic NB fit, the 574 offers a super comfortabe and accommodating experience as well as alternative widths to treat all foot shapes.
Having made a replica of the shoe's interiors, we were able to measure its dimensions precisely and compare them to other lifestyle sneakers.
In the widest part, between the big toe and the pinkie, our caliper returned a standard reading of 90.9 mm. And while that's just an average width, the difference lies in the tip of the shoe's toebox.

574 | 90.9 mm |
Average | 92.3 mm |
Toebox width - big toe
The 574 offers plenty of wiggle room with its rounded (almost square) toebox shape. At 74.1 mm near the big toe, it is so wide that it exceed the average by more than 5 mm!

574 | 74.1 mm |
Average | 68.8 mm |
Toebox height
On the downside, some people may find the shoe's vertical space restricting. That's because its toebox height is only 25.4 mm.

574 | 25.4 mm |
Average | 27.7 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 sneakers 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.
New Balance Fresh Foam 680 v7.
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 Holographic Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers GW500HGW.
574 | 4 |
Average | 3.6 |
Heel counter stiffness
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.
574 | 3 |
Average | 3.2 |
Midsole width - forefoot
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 caliper measured 114.3 mm, which is a whole centimeter wider than other classic sneakers like the Reebok Classic Leather (103.3 mm).

574 | 114.3 mm |
Average | 108.5 mm |
Midsole width - 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.

574 | 80.2 mm |
Average | 83.6 mm |
New Balance 93
The New Balance 574 is not the kind of sneaker that bends to your will so easily. The shoe feels notably stiffer than minimalist sneakers like the Adidas Gazelle.
To figure out exactly how much stiffer the 574 is, we used a shoe flexing tester to measure the amount of force it takes to bend the shoe by 30 degrees. With an above-average reading of 15.6N, this NB turned out to be a bit more rigid than a typical casual sneaker, but not by much. It still offered a fairly comfortable ride for longer walks.

574 | 15.6N |
Average | 14.0N |
Weight
From the look of it, it is only reasonable to think that the New Balance 574 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 weighs 13.9 oz (393g) which is within the average of low-top sneakers.
It exudes a bulky vibe on foot but never drags it down.

574 | 13.86 oz (393g) |
Average | 13.79 oz (391g) |
Breathability
Donning the New Balance 574 on a hot summer day is a bad-bad idea.
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!
New Balance 997H sneakers in blue...
... New Balance Baskets grises M1700GRA.
574 | 3 |
Average | 3 |
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.
574 | Real suede |
Toebox durability
The 574 did its wearers a huge favor 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.
574 | 4 |
Average | 3.7 |
and the other with New Balance
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 sneakers.
On a 1-5 scale, we rated the heel padding durability with a high score of 4.
The New Balance 997H launches on February 9!
574 | 4 |
Average | 3.2 |
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 sneakers but it's a good start.

574 | 83.1 HC |
Average | 85.7 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 sneakers end up with 1 to 1.5 mm of damage (like the Adidas Gazelle below).


574 | 0.5 mm |
Average | 1.1 mm |
Outsole thickness
But New Balance didn't stop there. The brand decided that a few millimeters 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 sneakers on the market. Especially, in its price range!

574 | 8.2 mm |
Average | 5.3 mm |
Misc
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.
Its lugs may seem aggressive but they are definitely not deep or sharp enough for slippery conditions.
Reflective elements
zapatillas de running New Balance talla 32.

574 | No |
Tongue padding
Measuring the tongue padding, our caliper returned 4.6 mm.
Even though it is about the same as average, we felt a little bit of lace pressure through it, especially when cinched tightly.
574 | 4.6 mm |
Average | 9.3 mm |
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The tongue doesn't have any gussets (attachments) on the sides. Unfortunately, this resulted in slight shifting of the tongue sideways in our case.

574 | None |
Heel tab
No heel tab at the back but we didn't find it a necessity in the 574.

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.

574 | Yes |
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.
Tecnologias New balance Löparskor 68.
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, Womens New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi v3 None.
Especially for its unbelievably affordable price tag!