Our verdict

New Balance is back with another day-to-day icon that rocks the brand's simple yet stylish vibe. The 996 is a really comfortable pair that bent easily alongside our feet' moves, providing a smooth ride that made us enjoy every step. It features a durable upper made with authentic suede overlayers and mesh in the toebox that makes the whole shoe incredibly breathable. Overall, we really enjoyed wearing the 996, but its high price might be a breaking point for some!

New Balance Basketball-hoodie met print op de achterkant in grijs Pros

  • All-time popular New Balance design
  • New Balance ML574OMC
  • Long-lasting structure
  • Fantastic breathability
  • Características New balance Jaqueta Accelerate Protect
  • new balance m577orc original runners club
  • Authentic suede
  • Femme New Balance Fresh Foam Zante Pursuit Black Castlerock & White

New Balance Basketball-hoodie met print op de achterkant in grijs Cons

  • Really expensive

Audience verdict

88
Good!

Who should buy

We believe the Durable New balance Serré Impact Run deserves a spot on your sneakers collection if you are:

  • A NB lover who just can't get enough of their ever-popular design.
  • Looking for a breathable and comfortable shoe to walk around town when temperatures start going up.
  • A pair with a long-lasting structure and straightforward aesthetics that matches most of your outfits.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_01

Who should NOT buy

If you're on a budget, it might be better not to dream about the 996. Its sky-rocketing price point can be a breaking-point for many, and we totally understand it! As a more affordable alternative, we've got the New Balance Utbildare Tjej Classic 997H, which has a similar design and vibe.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_pieces

Cushioning

New Balance Basketball-hoodie met print op de achterkant in grijs | Heel stack

The 996's heel stack goes all the way up to 34.8 mm, which is around 15% higher than average.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Heel stack-1

This translated into a comfortable ride separated Casual the harshness of urban surfaces, protecting our feet Casual any obstacles they could encounter.

Test results
996 34.8 mm
Average 30.2 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

The forefoot stack had the same idea, as it's also higher than average.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Forefoot stack-2

At 20.5 mm according to our caliper, our toes were fairly separated Casual the ground, making us enjoy showing off this NB around town even more!

Test results
996 20.5 mm
Average 19.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
29.5 mm

Drop

The forefoot and heel stacks are quite different regarding height, which translated into a drop of 14.3 mm.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Drop-1

This is neither good nor bad, you'll just feel the heel is slightly higher than the forefoot, but that's all! We didn't have to get used to it or anything like that. Oh, and it's definitely not uncomfortable!

Test results
996 14.3 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
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.

It's very important for us to cut every shoe in half. This way we can see what each of them hides on the inside!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Midsole softness-1

The ENCAP midsole cushioning of the 996 returned 33.5 HA when we pressured our durometer against it. This is slightly harder than average, but our feet didn't really feel it.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Midsole softness in cold-2

There's also a durable polyurethane foam right next to it that got 34 HC on our durometer, which is basically the same score.

Test results
996 33.5 HA
Average 29.0 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 75 sneakers
Number of shoes
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Insole thickness

Sneakers NEW BALANCE WL574CA2 Negru.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Insole thickness-1

Our caliper returned 5.3 mm, which is just an average result. But hey, if you don't like it, you can always change it!

Test results
996 5.3 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run is true to size (17 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 110 sneakers
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

shirt new balance athletics classic preto azul

We found that the 996 offers a familiar and accommodating New Balance fit and the shoe's gel mold reflected that.

Measuring its widest area with a caliper, we got a standard reading of 90.9 mm. Not the roomiest but perfectly medium.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run shirt new balance athletics classic preto azul
Test results
996 90.9 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Number of shoes
85.4 mm
shirt new balance athletics classic preto azul
96.8 mm

Toebox width - big toe

It's toebox has a rounded, even somewhat squared, shape which doesn't taper or squeese the toes. Our caliper showed an above-average width of 71.8 mm in its big toe area.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Toebox width - big toe
Test results
996 71.8 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Number of shoes
63.9 mm
Toebox width - big toe
74.1 mm

New Balance Basketball-hoodie met print op de achterkant in grijs | Toebox height

The 996's toebox height also proved to be adequate at 26.0 mm. We experienced no pressing on the toes.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Toebox height
Test results
996 26.0 mm
Average 27.7 mm
Compared to 74 sneakers
Number of shoes
20.7 mm
Toebox height
35.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The lateral stability of this shoe wasn't bad at all.

We made our ankles wiggle, but we felt this shoe trying to hold them in place. If you're looking for the safest fit, you can always make use of the extra eyelet the 996 has at the top (which is a detail that we absolutely love). Its running heart never left its sneaker body!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_012

Torsional rigidity

This NB pair let us play with it without putting up much of a fight.

As you can see, its structure is more on the forgiving side, which we really appreciated as it gave us that fantastic out-of-the-box comfort.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_05

Test results
996 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

New Balance Pro Court Shoes Unisex Leisure Low Tops Skate Light Breathable PROCTCWT

New Balance 373V2 Metallics Trainers.

Once again, this translated into a comfortable fit Casual minute one, which is something that we really like about sneakers. Because, you Confezione, when you buy a new pair of shoes and you find out they're rubbing your heel... that's a bummer. And let's not even talk about beige!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_09

Test results
996 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
New Balance Pro Court Shoes Unisex Leisure Low Tops Skate Light Breathable PROCTCWT
5

Midsole width - forefoot

This shoe's midsole is slightly narrower than average at the forefoot.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Midsole width in the forefoot-1

Our caliper returned 107.2 mm, but we didn't feel unstable or anything like that!

Test results
996 107.2 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

trainers new balance ph237bk1 black

Now, the heel takes being narrow to the next level.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Midsole width in the heel-1

At 77.7 mm, it's a whole 6% narrower than average. It might not sound like much but, in shoes, every mm counts!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_015

We also want to add that our standard-width feet felt okay with this, but we can see how wide-foot sneakerheads might find it slightly less comfortable than us. Just because of the narrower base for their feet!

Test results
996 77.7 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
trainers new balance ph237bk1 black
103.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

The 996 would have been an FX specialist with this flexibility!

It only needed 17.3N of force to bend all the way up to 90 degrees, and our feet would nod if they could! During our wear tests, this NB moved alongside them, following every move and offering us a very comfortable and easy ride.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_04

Test results
996 17.3N
Average 23.4N
Ténis New Balance 500 v7 verde cinzento.
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
51.8N

Weight

Despite its thick outsole and durable materials, the Durable New balance Serré Impact Run doesn't feel heavy on foot!

We walked around town with it enjoying its wonderful comfort, and neither did our feet get tired than expected nor did we feel this pair as a couple of ankle weights.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Weight-1

Our scale returned 13.75 oz/390.0g, which is about average.

Yeah, we can't say these are a couple of feathers, but we definitely can't complain! These sneakers felt wonderful on our feet, and after all that's all that matters.

Test results
996 13.76 oz (390g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

The breathability test we perform in our lab has 3 main characters: our light, the smoke machine, and a microscope.

As you can see in this first video, there are 3 round holes that let the light shine through. The rest of the upper doesn't seem to have any other big pores, but let's ask our smoke machine about its opinion.

Oh, wow! Alright, it does let the air go through, look at the toebox!

product eng 1022533 New Balance WL574PS2 shoes NEW BALANCE M992EC USA WHITE NAVY 28.5cm, just on the right of the video. This shoe features a leather upper that traps air and moisture inside, which means it's pretty hot. Consequently, we couldn't give it any more than a 1/5 on our breathability test.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Breathability-3

There are multiple gaps in the toebox's material, that's why it was so easy for the smoke to escape!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Breathability-4

All in all, we've decided to give this NB model a solid 4/5 on our breathability test, which is a wonderful score!

Test results
996 4
Average 3
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

This hot pair is about to get even hotter! Our butane torch got the party started, so it was time to verify if the 996's materials were authentic or synthetic.

First: the suede part at the heel area. Result: authentic. It just didn't end up with a big flame and getting all melted under it!

Second: the leather part at the toebox: Result: authentic. Another big win! It withstood the heat as much as it could, without melting at all.

Third: the N logo. Result: authentic. And that makes it 3 out of 3! What a wonderful performance; we literally couldn't be any happier about these results.

Toebox durability

There are many times when shoes put breathability first, and their upper ends up being slightly less durable than average. But there's no way we can Confezione this if we don't ask our Dremel!

Rolling at 5K RPM with 3.2N of force during 12 seconds was clearly not enough to get through the 996's tough suede overlayer.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Toebox durability-3

The damage can be spotted easily, that's for sure, but it didn't have a negative effect on the shoe's integrity or wearability.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Toebox durability-2

Check this comparison real quick. On the left, we have the NB 996, which scored a 4/5 on our toebox durability test. On the right, the NB 530, which only got 1/5 in this same test because the tool made a massive hole on its upper. That white thing you see over there? Yeah, that's a piece of material we put inside to appreciate how big the damage was!

Test results
996 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

We moved the Dremel to the back of the shoe and put it right next to the heel padding. We had high hopes after seeing the previous results, but we also Confezione this area is the most delicate one.

We drilled the back of the 996 for 4 seconds at 5K RPM and with 3.2N of force, and we can't say we were unhappy with the results.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Heel padding durability-3

The material ended up looking a bit messy, but the Dremel didn't manage to destroy it all! If you want to see what that looks like, check the comparison below.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Heel padding durability-2

Once again, on the right we have the NB 996, which earned a 3/5 on our heel padding durability test. On the left, the NB 237, zapatillas de running New Balance pronador minimalistas baratas menos de 60.

Test results
996 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

We pressed our durometer against the 996's outsole to check its hardness.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Outsole hardness-1

It returned 90 HC, which is a score higher than average. This should translate into great durability, but once again, we can't Confezione this until we ask our Dremel.

So let's find out!

Test results
996 90.0 HC
Average 85.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
94.0 HC

Outsole durability

We mercilessly turned our Dremel on once again. It was the outsole's turn now, so we readjusted it at 10K RPM. This time, the test lasted 22 seconds, but we kept the force at 3.2N. We use the same parameters for every shoe, as in that way we can easily and fairly compare their results.

We trusted the 996's big lugs, and once we put the tool aside, we realized the damage was not too bad.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Outsole durability-2

New Balance Reflect Tight Leggings Ladies.

Test results
996 0.9 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 92 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

This New Balance's outsole is durable, but the brand opted to also add a big piece of this hard rubber compound.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Outsole thickness-1

The 7.0 mm our caliper returned indicated this shoe's outsole is definitely long-lasting. So you don't need to worry about it leaving your side any time soon!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_07

Test results
996 7.0 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

First of all, let's have a look at the 996's outsole.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_03

Looking just like an F1 circuit, this shoe has a rubber coverage (black) that surrounds the midsole material (white), which is more prone to abrasion.

We can't say these runner-style sneakers are built to bite the floor like crazy, but they provided us with enough traction on urban surfaces. All in all, the outsole did its job fairly well, and that's what counts!

Reflective elements

Look at how cool the 996's heel is! Who needs a heel tab with such an awesome detail (and a wide opening, of course).

Test results
996 Yes

Tongue padding

We loved the padded tongue of the Durable New balance Serré Impact Run!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Tongue padding-1

Its wonderful 9.9 mm made our instep stay comfortable even if we used that extra top eyelet to tighten up the shoe!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run_outdoor_010

Test results
996 9.9 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 93 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Heel tab

This shoe doesn't have a heel tab, but wait until you get to our reflective elements section and find out why!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Heel tab-1

Test results
996 None

Removable insole

This shoe features a removable insole, which is wonderful news!

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Removable insole-1

If you need to use your own orthotics or if you're just looking for that extra cushioning or support underfoot, you can always go for a different insole.

Durable New balance Serré Impact Run Removable insole-2

Additionally, this shoe's opening is pretty big, so fitting the insole in shouldn't be troublesome at all.

Test results
996 Yes