Our verdict

kith x new balance r c1300 10th anniversary pack New Balance. We love it because the New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza maintains the visual aesthetic of the OG's. Besides making it look pretty, we have discovered in the lab that this sneaker's use of a mix of materials also gives it amazing durability and function.
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  • new balance 247 classic navy white mrl
  • Amazingly durable
  • Features New balance ImpacRun Hybrid Printed Sleeveless T-Shirt
  • Retro vibes
  • True to size
  • Feels light to the foot
  • Tecnologias New balance Trenere 574 V2 Classic

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  • Sneakers NEW BALANCE ML373GRE Black
  • So-so stability

Audience verdict

90
Good!

Who should buy

Days of wear-testing and lab assessments led us to conclude that the New Balance LAB11111NGO greatly suitable for the following:

  • sneakerheads who are OK wearing leather since this shoe is made of real suede
  • new balance mp 91507 try tm royal
  • der New Balance 550
  • wearers with normal-sized feet

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza buy

Who should NOT buy

We've established through our experience and lab assessments that the New Balance LAB11111NGO not breathable. Wearers with sweaty feet should stay away from this shoe. They are better off with the Four More New Balance 550s To Add To Your Must-Cop List, product eng 1031070 New Balance Kestävä New balance Takki Fast Flight is also a good alternative.

When it comes to stability, we think that the 997H is so-so at best. The New Balance 480 Kestävä New balance Hihaton T-paita Printed Fast Flight.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza spreadout

Cushioning

Heel stack

We did not have any bad experience with the midsole. It wasn't too thick that we were already worrying about stability. And it wasn't too thin that it lacked impact protection either.

True enough, our calliper measured the heel height to be only 27.7 mm, a number quite close to the average.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Heel stack
Test results
997H 27.7 mm
Average 30.2 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

Just like the heel, the forefoot part of the midsole is also as thick as the average at 17.8 mm.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Forefoot stack
Test results
997H 17.8 mm
Average 19.2 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
29.5 mm

Drop

Transitioning from heel to toe was not a problem because the difference in height between the forefoot and the rearfoot wasn't so pronounced. 

New Balance Men's XC-72 in Gris.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Drop
Test results
997H 9.9 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
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.

Based on our experience, the midsole delivered what was necessary. It was firm enough to ensure lasting stability. It was also soft enough to ensure we were comfortable even after walking long distances.

New Balance KL574ESG.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Midsole softness
Test results
997H 32.5 HA
Average 29.1 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 76 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Insole thickness

New Balance Lyhythihainen T-paita Impact Run.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Insole thickness
Test results
997H 4.7 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

New Balance LAB11111NGO true to size (80 votes).

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 110 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Medium-width feet can expect an accommodating fit in the New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza. We felt no dead space or pressure points during the wear test and our gel replica of the shoe's interirs confirmed that.

Using a digital calliper and a custom shoe holder, we measured the widest part of the mould (between the pinkie and the big toe) at 93.1 mm. It is a solid width for a D medium width but wide footers can also opt for the 2E wide version of the kick.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Toebox width - widest part
Test results
997H 93.1 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
85.4 mm
Toebox width - widest part
96.8 mm

Zapatillas de deporte gris pastel 520 de New Balance

The taper angle is also very moderate in this NB sneaker showing a standard width of 69.5 mm near the big toe. This wiggle room can comfortably accommodate some toe splaying and swelling during long hours of walking.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Zapatillas de deporte gris pastel 520 de New Balance
Test results
997H 69.5 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
63.9 mm
Zapatillas de deporte gris pastel 520 de New Balance
74.1 mm

Toebox height

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New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Toebox height
Test results
997H 25.8 mm
Average 27.8 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
20.7 mm
Toebox height
35.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Though it was not the best, the New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza still delivered enough lateral stability to keep us on the footbed. From its moderately responsive sidewalls and typically wide platform, many features worked in synergy to stabilise our steps.

Of course, better picks exist as far as lateral stability is concerned, and the las New Balance 1400 v4 tienen un is easily one of them.

Torsional rigidity

We could say that twist protection was satisfactory with the NB 997H. 

Back in the lab, the whole structure of the sneaker showed only moderate resistance to our twisting. We gladly gave it a score of 3 over 5 for torsional rigidity.

Test results
997H 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 93 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
1
Torsional rigidity
5

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This sneaker, we feel, owed much of its stability to the secure clasp of its heel counter. The rearfoot surely couldn't go anywhere because of how arrested it felt while we were wearing the New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza.

We gave the heel counter a good squeeze in the lab, and its resistance to it was quite intense. We had to sweat a lot before it started to yield to the pressure that we applied. A perfect 5; no other score befitted such a performance.

Test results
997H 5
Average 3.2
Compared to 93 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
1
Tecnologias New balance Sabates Running 520 V6
5

New Balance 580 Suede Denim Ultra

The footprints left by the New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza were not overly wide or painfully narrow. Our calliper measured the forefoot to be 111.4 mm wide.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
997H 111.4 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
95.1 mm
New Balance 580 Suede Denim Ultra
121.0 mm

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Just like the forefoot, the heel area was just as wide as the average at 81.3 mm. 

Now, did the averageness of the platform widths cause any problems? Not at all! They were enough to contain our feet and ensure that our steps felt stable. The NB 997H was one of those shoes that convinced us that stability was not all about size, how the parts were implemented or configured matters as well.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Midsole width in the heel
Test results
997H 81.3 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
67.7 mm
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103.1 mm

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It was such a pleasure to wear the New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza because it felt more flexible than usual. We never had problems bending our feet when we had to tiptoe, for example, because the shoe went so well with our movements.

After performing the usual flexibility test on this New Balance sneaker, we learned that it needed only 16.5N of force to bend at a 90-degree angle. That much force was significantly less than the amount needed by the typical sneaker.

Test results
997H 16.5N
Average 23.4N
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Compared to 93 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
5.8N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
51.8N

topanky new balance warisch3 biela | Weight

We have to say; the New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza truly felt light on the feet. Our steps were effortless and smooth because of its lightness. 

We were surprised to learn this NB sneaker was only slightly lighter than average at 12.8 ounces or 364 grammes.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Weight
Test results
997H 12.84 oz (364g)
Average 13.76 oz (390g)
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

The 997H had that distinct New Balance look, and we were all there for it... if only it wasn't too toasty. This sneaker is really NOT a living thing because it really doesn't know how to breathe! Properly, that is.

We performed the usual smoke test on this shoe, and it was too regrettable to watch that the smoke was only able to escape (and slowly, at that!) through the tongue. It would be a crime to give this sneaker a rating better than 2 out of 5 for ventilation!

The 997H had almost the same look and structure as the New Balance 57/40 (rating is 4 out of 5), but the latter allowed smoke to escape even through the toebox. The video above clearly shows what we mean.

When placed over a light source, it's quite shocking to see that light was only able to pass through the lace holes. 

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza upper microscope

What we saw under the microscope convinced us that good breathability was never the goal of the NB 997H. The material used for the toebox appeared to be multilayered, with every possible vent tightly covered as if a pretty dangerous criminal was jailed inside. 

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Breathability
Test results
997H 2
Average 3
Compared to 93 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

The tightly closed-off material only covered the top of the toebox. The rest of the shoe was made of a velvety material which we found to be genuine suede back in the lab. 

We torched a portion of the sidewall, and it immediately smelt like burning hair. We probed the burnt area with our awl and we saw that the material remained relatively intact except of course for the ugly discoloration. Only real suede has this kind of effect when burned.

Test results
997H Real suede

Toebox durability

Being made of real suede, we never doubted the shoe's durability. And we were not disappointed. Not even in the slightest bit.

Our aggressive Dremel drilling on the toebox barely scratched its surface. No wonder no signs of wear and tear were seen even if we carelessly bumped the New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza on various surfaces during our wear tests.

It was a perfect 5 for us as far as toebox durability was concerned. Compare the 997H with the x New Balance RC Elite V2 Rain Cloud, which got a 1 out of 5, in the photo below and the sturdiness of the former becomes even more apparent.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Toebox durability
Test results
997H 5
Average 3.7
Compared to 93 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

We were glad that the suede outer layer was not the only sturdy thing. The heel padding was quite resistant as well, and it never faltered as our skin or socks rubbed against it during aggressive movements.

In the lab, even our high-pressure Dremel became a laughingstock when it barely left a mark on the heel padding. The New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza remained immaculate. Under similar circumstances, NB 237 com esta mochila New Balance!

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Heel padding durability
Test results
997H 5
Average 3.2
Compared to 93 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Our HC durometer gave the outsole a hardness rating of 86.8, making it just as hard as the average outsole. Experience-wise, we did not notice anything unusual, either.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Outsole hardness
Test results
997H 86.8 HC
Average 85.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 93 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
94.0 HC

Outsole durability

The New Balance LAB11111NGO another proof that hardness is not always equal to durability. While the outsole had average hardness, its durability was off the charts!

Our Dremel drilling on the outsole resulted only in 0.5 mm damage. This is only half of what we normally see in a typical sneaker's outsole after going through the same amount of abuse.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Outsole durability
Test results
997H 0.5 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 93 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

At 4.9 mm thick, the outsole was of average thickness.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Outsole thickness
Test results
997H 4.9 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

The outsole definitely didn't look aggressive enough, but it sure did cover us well during our wear tests. Its bite never faltered no matter which direction we went. Perhaps we really shouldn't judge the book by its cover from now on.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza outsole grip

Reflective elements

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New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Reflective elements
Test results
997H No

Tongue padding

The tongue felt nice even when we were not wearing socks. Its surface material was soft, and the padding felt like a gentle duvet on top of our feet.

New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro V6.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Tongue padding
Test results
997H 9.6 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
new balance numeric x samarria brevard
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Tongue: gusset type

This sneaker from New Balance is not at all gusseted. Well, it's a blessing that it's not. Had it been fully gusseted, it would have hampered so much with ventilation. 

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Tongue: gusset type
Test results
997H None

Heel tab

The New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza did not have any heel tab. We have no complaints about this because (1) the shoe did not really need one and (2) the absence of the heel tab allowed for a more streamlined look.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Heel tab
Test results
997H None

Removable insole

The New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza came with a removable insole. It was easy to get it out when we needed to use inserts of just wanted to have more space inside the sneaker.

New Balance Essentials Crew Bluza Removable insole
Test results
997H Yes