new balance deliver new season made in england | Our verdict

Having experienced the goodness of the New Balance Kawhi 2, we have high expectations for what NB releases. Fortunately, the New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack comes out satisfactory in many respects. This shoe makes us happy even when we play and practice for long hours because of its capacity to cushion impact and protect us from pain. Sure, it's not fancy, but it surely gets the job done; no cent gets wasted here.

new balance deliver new season made in england Pros

  • Ominaisuudet New balance Tiukka Core Run
  • New Balance XCS700v4
  • Feels lightweight
  • Comfortable next-to-skin feel
  • Effective foot containment
  • Dependable stability
  • Very smooth heel-to-toe transitions

new balance deliver new season made in england Cons

  • New Balance WS237DF1
  • Ventilation issues

Audience verdict

81
Decent!

Who should buy

We played ball while wearing the New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack. We also subjected it to numerous tests in our lab. Based on our experience with this shoe, we conclude that it's suitable for the following:

  • players and buyers who want basketball shoes that last long
  • athletes who have narrow feet
  • new balance 574 pastel mint lilac
  • basketball players who do not mind shoes that have slightly taller platforms

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack

Who should NOT buy

Players with sweaty feet should stay away from the new balance wmns 574 alpine pack. Unfortunately, it's not as fresh as its name promises. We would recommend the Under Armour Curry Flow 10, but if this pick's a bit too pricey, the New Balance ML373 Herren Sneaker Freizeitschuhe Sportschuhe is a good alternative, too.

We also believe that wide-footers are not the targets of this shoe from New Balance. It has a narrow toebox based on our calliper measurements. We think wide-footers are better off with shoes like the PUMA MB.02.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack spread out

Cushioning

Heel stack

The moment we put this shoe on, we already felt that the midsole had more material than usual. True enough, our calliper measured the heel to be 33.3 mm thick, making it slightly thicker than average.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Heel stack
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 33.3 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
23.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

Just like the heel, the forefoot is also thicker than the average at 25.0 mm. 

Now, what benefit did the thicker midsole bring? Aside from making us feel taller, the thick cushioning also helped us feel consistent comfort throughout our games. It diffused the impact of our landings.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Forefoot stack
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 25.0 mm
Average 21.6 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
26.8 mm

new balance deliver new season made in england | Drop

Our calculations pegged the heel-to-toe drop at 8.3 mm. This number is just around the average, and we wouldn't have it any other way. 

The current setup allowed us to enjoy smooth transitions and efficient steps. We did not feel any clunkiness whatsoever.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Drop
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 8.3 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
3.9 mm
Drop
13.7 mm

Midsole softness

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

We are happy to share that the midsole was not only thick, it was really soft as well. Our HA durometer gave it a softness rating of 22.0, a number that's significantly lower than average. 

We just loved how our feet would sink into it a little every time we put it on. The slight sinking into the midsole not only made us feel more comfort but it also enhanced the clasp of the shoe on our feet.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Midsole softness
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 22.0 HA
Average 25.1 HA
new balance deliver new season made in england.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Insole thickness

The New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack comes with an insole that's 4.5 mm thick and is removable.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Insole thickness
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 4.5 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

Size and fit

Size

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack is true to size (13 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 72 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

The narrow platform was already indicative that the footbed was also going to be on the narrow wide. We were not wrong. Our in-lab calliper measured the widest part of the toebox to be only 96.7 mm wide, making it less spacious than average. 

Hence, we do not recommend the New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack to wearers who have unusually wide feet, unless they want something with a super snug, blood-draining fit!

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack New Balance Jogginghose mit kleinem Logo in Marine
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 96.7 mm
Average 101.6 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
92.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
109.2 mm

New Balance 991 MiUK SNS Blue Yellow

Toward the big toe, the width is just around the average at 79.1 mm.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack new balance 577 made in uk d marathon running shoessneakers
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 79.1 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 59 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
71.2 mm
New Balance 991 MiUK SNS Blue Yellow
85.1 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Even if the midsole was a bit higher than usual, we never felt unstable in any way because the side walls and the heel counter did a very good job of keeping the foot in place.

As can be seen in the video above, the side walls are pretty much able to counter the force being put on it from the inside. The video below also shows the the foot being kept in place even if the wearer was motioning or sliding sharply sideways.

Torsional rigidity

We never had to worry about foot twists because the base of the NB new balance wmns 574 alpine pack was firm and pretty much resistant to force. Clearly illustrated below is the ability of the shoe to resist twisting even if the foot is already in such an awkward angle.

To assess the shoe's torsional rigidity in the lab, we gave it a pretty good manual twist and bend. We still had to exert our full effort before the shoe's structure started to give in. We had no other choice but to give this shoe a perfect 5.

Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

As mentioned, the heel counter was not something that we had to worry or even think about. It was pretty successful in clasping the foot and keeping it in place even if we were already frantically running toward the basket. 

It's clear in the video below how resistant the heel counter was to our squeezes. We gave it a solid 4 out of 5 for stiffness.

Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Sneakers NEW BALANCE ML373BL2 Orange

What we found quite fascinating was the fact that the New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack left quite narrow footprints. Indeed, our calliper measured the forefoot part of the platform to be only 110.9 mm wide, a number that is slightly lower than average.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 110.9 mm
Average 114.9 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
106.2 mm
Sneakers NEW BALANCE ML373BL2 Orange
124.5 mm

comme des garcons new balance fall winter 2019 junya watanabe show paris fashion week mens

New Balance Msxrcslh D Navy.

Had we not worn this shoe, these numbers would have led us to conclude that stability is going to be an issue. Fortunately, this was not the case. Other features such as the rigid base and stiff heel counter worked extra well to ensure stability despite the narrow platform.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Midsole width in the heel
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 85.9 mm
Average 90.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
80.0 mm
comme des garcons new balance fall winter 2019 junya watanabe show paris fashion week mens
105.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

The whole shoe felt less flexible than average, and we credit this inflexibility as the other good reason stability and lockdown were still dependable despite the high midsole and narrow platform. It was just so effective in keeping the foot well-mounted on the footbed.

The inflexibility of the New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack was confirmed when we did our flexibility test in the lab. Our digital gauge reported that this shoe needed as much as  47.9N of force so that it could bend at a 90-degree angle. 

Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 47.9N
Average 38.8N
New Balance Essentials Sweatshirt.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
17.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
62.2N

Weight

We dare say that the weight of the NB new balance wmns 574 alpine pack is pretty well distributed. While we were testing it, not one part felt heavier or lighter than others. We were also able to jump and run without any issues, making our games a lot more focused and exciting.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack jump

Because of our good experience with it, it came as a surprise to us when our scale in the lab reported the weight of this NB shoe to be just around the average at 13.9 ounces or 394 grammes. We swear; it definitely felt lighter than that!

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Weight
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 13.90 oz (394g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Breathability

We are going to be blunt here; the heat inside the New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack is not bearable. AT ALL! We were always looking forward to taking it off, especially after long games.

We did the smoke test, and we were so disappointed to see the lack of breathability in the toebox area. Smoke just couldn't get through the material there! If not for the tongue area, there wouldn't have been any air that got inside the shoe. We only gave this shoe a 2 over 5 because of the tongue, which in all fairness still somehow made the shoe work.

Needless to say, the New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack is far from the performance of the Under Armour Curry Flow 10 when it comes to ventilation. This shoe from UA got a perfect 5 because of how easy it was for smoke to pass through the upper during our tests.

During the light test, we saw that the upper of this New Balance shoe is one opaque mess. Light barely passed through, so it's clear that the upper doesn't have holes sizeable enough to allow proper ventilation.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack microscope upper

Examing the upper material under the microscope only confirmed our initial observations. The material is pretty closed off and very closely knit. There is absolutely no space for air to pass through. Again, good thing the tongue area was there to save the day. Otherwise, we would have experienced hell right here on earth!

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Breathability
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 2
Average 2.6
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

To be quite honest, the upper of the NB new balance wmns 574 alpine pack felt sturdy to the touch. We thought, "Normal toe-dragging won't make a dent on this one." We're so glad we were not wrong to make such a statement!

We subjected the toebox to high-pressure Dremel drilling and we were pleasantly surprised by the results. That much assault left almost nothing. Nothing. Nada. Zero. That's how sturdy this shoe is. It's truly deserving of the perfect 5 that we ultimately gave it.

New Balance Herren 997H Lila Grau Precision 6 from Nike, womens new balance 840 v2 walking.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Toebox durability
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 64 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Just like the toebox, the heel padding displayed impressive durability in the face of our merciless Dremel test.

As can be seen in the side-by-side comparison below, the new balance wmns 574 alpine pack did a lot better than the Answer DMX from Reebok, which only got a 1 out of 5 for heel padding durability. The New Balance show amazingly maintained the it-barely-ruffled-my-hair look, a testament to its resistance even to the most intense rubbing during games. It ultimately got a solid 4.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Heel padding durability
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 4
Average 3.6
Compared to 61 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Generally speaking, the outsole of the New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack did not feel extraordinary. But are we here to rant about it? Of course not! Even with its average appearance and feel, it worked as it should.

Our HC durometer gave it a hardness rating of 83.5, and it was fairly effective in resisting abrasion, even on rough concrete and asphalt. Using this shoe occasionally outdoors wouldn't hurt.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Outsole hardness
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 83.5 HC
Average 81.5 HC
new balance deliver new season made in england.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
61.3 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole durability

We also subjected the outsole to our merciless Dremel drilling, and it blissfully met our expectations.

The dent that our assault left was only 0.9 mm deep. This number is just around the average based on the data that our lab accumulated.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Outsole durability
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 0.9 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 52 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Using a calliper, we measured the thickness of the outsole. We found that it's just as thick as the average at 4.1 mm.

We used this outdoors, and it held up well. Occasional outdoor usage should be fine. But if you frequently take your game to the streets, you might want to get a sturdier basketball shoe. We would recommend the New Balance Uomo 327 in Bianca Giallo from New Balance.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Outsole thickness
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 4.1 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

We don't remember ever having problems with the shoe's bite on the courts. We felt its coral pattern acting like small suctions to give us the grip that we needed to stabilise our stances and runs.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack grip

We felt covered wherever direction we go. Forward. Backward. Sideways. When we say that the bite was multidirectional, we mean it.

Reflective elements

The upper has reflective elements that make this shoe such a scene-stealer in situations with less-than-ideal illumination.

Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Yes

Tongue padding

Surprisingly, the tongue had less padding than usual. Our calliper measured it to be 34% thinner than average. While it did affect the feeling of fullness that we would have wanted on top of the foot, the thinner tongue did not meddle with the shoe's fit.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Tongue padding
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack 6.1 mm
Average 9.2 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Sostenibilidad New balance Zapatillas Trail Running Fresh Foam More V1
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue is fully gusseted, and we felt that this design enhanced the shoe's can fit. It also stopped the tongue from moving unnecessarily when we were running up and down the court.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Tongue: gusset type
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Both sides (full)

Heel tab

The new balance wmns 574 alpine pack from New Balance doesn't have a heel tab.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Heel tab
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack None

Removable insole

The insole that comes with this  New Balance shoe is removable. Taking it out of the shoe was easy whenever we needed to add inserts or just wanted more wiggle room inside the shoe.

New Balance new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Removable insole
Test results
new balance wmns 574 alpine pack Yes