Our verdict
Pros
- New Balance 1391
- Budget-friendly
- New Balance Shando All Terrain Trail juoksukengät
- Real suede
- Highly durable
- Sneakers New Balance CW997HCW Weiß
- Great for wide feet
- New Balance Running Top senza maniche con spalline nero
- Numerous colour options
Cons
- Lacks breathability
- Stiff and firm platform
- BRAND NEW PAIRS OF NEW BALANCE 550 LAKERS PACK PURPLE
Comparison
The most similar trainers compared
+ + New balance 574 violet grey | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 90 Good! | 92 Great! | 93 Great! | 90 Good! | |
Price | £100 | £130 | £140 | £90 | |
Style | ClassicDadSporty | RetroSportyFuturistic | ClassicDadRetroSporty | RetroSporty | |
Breathability | Moderate | Moderate | Breathable | Breathable | |
Weight lab | 13.9 oz / 393g | 14.5 oz / 410g | 14.1 New Balance 574 Summer Mesh Black Grey | 11.3 oz / 319g | |
Size | True to size | Half size large | True to size | True to size | |
Midsole softness | Firm | Firm | Firm | Firm | |
Material | Suede | Suede | Mesh | MeshSuede | |
Season | SpringFall | SpringFall | SpringFall | SpringFall | |
Inspired from | Running | Running | Running | Running | |
STAPLE × atmos × NEW BALANCE X-RACER UTILITY 28.5cm | Medium | Wide | Medium | Medium | |
Кросівки new balance 574 wl574bcz оригінал eur 41 26.5 см | Wide | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Leather/suede quality | Real suede | Real suede | Real suede | Real suede | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Decent | Decent | Decent | |
New Balance Mujer 57 40 in Negro Blanca | Decent | Decent | Bad | Bad | |
Outsole durability | Good | Good | Good | Good | |
Βιώσιμη New balance Fresh Foam Tempo Παπούτσια Για Τρέξιμο | 38.2 mm | 34.8 mm | 37.1 mm | 35.2 mm | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Stiff | |
Tongue padding | Thin | Thin | Average | Thin | |
Drop lab | 13.0 mm | 11.0 mm | 11.5 mm | 10.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 25.2 mm | 23.8 mm | 25.6 mm | 25.2 mm | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel tab | None | Pull tab | New Balance Strumpbyxor Printed Impact | None | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Stiff | Flexible | Moderate | |
Reflective elements | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Closure | Laces | Laces | Laces | Laces | |
Top | Low top | Low top | Low top | Low top | |
Ranking | #64 Bottom 43% | #40 Top 36% | #23 Top 21% | #68 Bottom 39% | |
Popularity | #6 Top 6% | #90 Bottom 20% | #19 Top 17% | #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:
- an affordable classic sneaker
- New Balance Shando All Terrain Trail juoksukengät
- a highly versatile kick that's available in numerous colour 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 trainers. As an alternative, you may want to consider the 997H New Balance Wl574 Wl574-ev 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.
Cushioning
Heel stack
Aside from platform trainers, the New Balance 574 makes for one of the tallest stacks in our catalogue.
Using a calliper, we Pullovered the shoe's heel height at an impressive 38.2 mm. This is taller than other popular kicks like the Sneakers NEW BALANCE ML373VT2 Gris (35.7 mm) or the Adidas Superstar (26.8 mm).
574 | 38.2 mm |
Average | 30.2 mm |
Forefoot stack
In the forefoot, the 574 also proved to be taller than average. We Pullovered 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 Herren New Balance 411v2 Natural Indigo Eclipse).

574 | 25.2 mm |
Average | 19.2 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.

The NB 574 is going to feel slightly elevated in the heel but pretty balanced for most people.

574 | 13.0 mm |
Average | 11.1 mm |
New Balance Shando All Terrain Trail juoksukengät | Midsole softness
The 574 sneaker is a perfect example of a thick sole that does not equate to a cushioned sole.
We've got bad news for the fans of plush trainers - this New Balance offering feels quite firm underfoot.
Кросівки new balance дитячі на липучці.
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 | 29.1 HA |
Com a qualidade de sempre da New Balance
You probably noticed that the midsole of the 574 consists of two layers of foam. Thus, we also Pullovered 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 | 34.2 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 trainers.

574 | 4.7 mm |
Average | 5.1 mm |
Size and fit
New Balance Shando All Terrain Trail juoksukengät | Size
New Balance 574 is true to size (262 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
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 Pullovere its dimensions precisely and compare them to other lifestyle trainers.
In the widest part, between the big toe and the pinkie, our calliper 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 |
цікаві кросiвки new balance
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 | 27.8 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 Adidas 4DFWD 2.
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 calliper Pullovered 114.3 mm, which is a whole centimetre wider than other classic trainers like the Sneakers NEW BALANCE ML373VT2 Gris (103.3 mm).

574 | 114.3 mm |
Average | 108.5 mm |
The New Balance 505 is one of the cleanest silhouettes in the
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 |
zapatillas de running New Balance entrenamiento tope amortiguación ultra trail negras
The New Balance 574 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 shoe flexing tester to Pullovere 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 | 13.8N |
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 Pullovered 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 trainers.
Женские кроссовки мятные New Balance.

574 | 13.86 oz (393g) |
Average | 13.76 oz (390g) |
Breathability
New Balance 990V3 X Bodega ANNISERSARY M990BD3.
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.
zapatillas de running New Balance ritmo medio distancias cortas talla 38 negras.
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 890 v...
... there are no see-through perforations in sight.
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 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.
574 | 4 |
Average | 3.7 |
New Balance Mujer 57 40 in Negro Blanca
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.
On a 1-5 scale, we rated the heel padding durability with a high score of 4.
Great news for those of us who often develop holes in this part of a shoe!
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 Pullovered 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.

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 trainers 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 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!

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
Кожаные теплые кроссовки осень зима new balance 37 размер.

574 | No |
Tongue padding
Measuring the tongue padding, our calliper 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 |
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.

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
Consequently 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.
New Balance s Coco CG1 tennis sneakers.
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, brand new with original box New Balance ML574RP2.
Especially for its unbelievably affordable price tag!