Our verdict

Having figured out the strengths and weaknesses of the New Balance Hesi Low, we think that it will best suit beginner players who are quick on their feet. This unassuming kick is lighter and more pliable than the average hoop shoe and is more about freedom of movement than it is about support. As long as you don't expect maximum impact protection and stability, you will enjoy this affordable New Balance offering.

New Balance 2002R-sneakers Pros

  • Lighter than average
  • Feels nimble on foot
  • New Balance 2002R Protection Pack Arctic Grey Purple M2002RDI Größen 41 bis 44
  • Responsive cushioning
  • Surprisingly stable
  • Женские кроссовки new balance 420 classic
  • Great durability for indoor courts

New Balance 2002R-sneakers Cons

  • Not normal at all
  • New Balance CM1600 Gray 23cm
  • Possible heel slippage (fixed by using the extra eyelet)

Audience verdict

82
Good!

Who should buy

We believe that the Кросівки new balance 237 кросовки going to click with the following players:

  • beginner athletes in search of an affordable but solid option
  • nimble players who prefer light, flexible, and minimal hoop shoes
  • zapatillas de running New Balance trail talla 31 baratas menos de 60

New Balance Hesi Low review

Who should NOT buy

If you are a heavier player who needs a lot of underfoot cushion, we highly recommend that you opt for the New Balance zapatillas de running New Balance mujer constitución media verdes instead. Another solid alternative is the Кросівки new balance 530 sulfur yellow кросівки.

Both of these options also proved to be ready for outdoor courts.

New Balance Hesi Low lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

We discovered that ground feel definitely prevails over impact protection in the New Balance Hesi Low.

New Balance Hesi Low Heel stack

Scarpe NEW BALANCE MTHIERM7 Viola.

We are convinced that a bigger player will not enjoy the ride of the Hesi Low due to the lack of shock absorption. But to be fair, it is not the target audience of this shoe either.

For more abundant cushioning, look into the brand's zapatillas de running New Balance mujer constitución media verdes (32.6 mm of stack in the heel).

Test results
Hesi Low 26.1 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
23.2 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

New Balance Fresh Foam MTGOBIWB.

New Balance Hesi Low Forefoot stack

With a forefoot stack of 21.4 mm, it offers an essential amount of cushioning but nothing to write home about.

However, this setup has its own benefits such as enhanced flexibility and freedom of movement for the foot. This is exactly what a quick-footed, shifty player would appreciate.

Test results
Hesi Low 21.4 mm
Average 21.6 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
26.8 mm

Drop

New Balance Palla Calcio Dynamite Team.

New Balance Hesi Low Drop

We found that the difference in stack heights comes in at only 4.7 mm in this basketball shoe. The lowest one we ever recorded in a hoop shoe was 4.0 mm whereas the highest reaches 14.8 mm!

Even though lower drops provide less support for the player's heels and Achilles tendons, it creates a more surefooted experience that helps you feel more in control.

Test results
Hesi Low 4.7 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
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.

New Balance Botas H754 V1.

We found it to be moderately soft but very pleasantly responsive. Measuring its softness with a durometer, we got 25.0 HA which is on par with the average midsole softness of basketball shoes.

New Balance Hesi Low Midsole softness

Test results
Hesi Low 25.0 HA
Average 25.1 HA
New Balance FuelCell Rebel V2 Womens Running Shoes Black White Mint.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Insole thickness

A well-cushioned insole adds a touch of underfoot comfort to the Hesi Low. We measured its thickness in the heel at 4.8 mm - slightly thicker than average.

New Balance Hesi Low Insole thickness
Test results
Hesi Low 4.8 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
8.6 mm

New Balance 2002R-sneakers | Size and fit

Size

Кросівки new balance 237 кросовки slightly small (13 votes).

on New Balance Drops a Stylish Rainier for the Cold Season?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 72 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

New Balance Homem NB Numeric 228 Sport

The New Balance Hesi Low felt pretty snug around the balls of our feet but opened up around the toes.

New Balance Hesi Low fit

Measuring the widest part of the shoe's forefoot, our calliper showed some of the narrowest readings among basketball shoes - 97.3 mm.

New Balance Hesi Low Toebox width at the widest part

Because it is on the verge of running narrow, we recommend that wide-footed players size up or opt for a different shoe altogether.

Test results
Hesi Low 97.3 mm
Average 101.6 mm
Compared to 65 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
92.6 mm
New Balance Homem NB Numeric 228 Sport
109.2 mm

New Balance Homme 57 40 en Bleu Blanc Noir

New balance mr530syb.

New Balance Hesi Low NEW BALANCE NBNVC3LNV

Measuring it with a calliper returned 79.2 mm - a couple of millimetres wider than average.

New Balance Hesi Low extra eyelet

Perhaps this extra space is the reason why we experienced slight heel slippage in the Hesi Low. Luckily, we managed that one with a runner's knot using the extra eyelet.

Test results
Hesi Low 79.2 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 59 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
71.2 mm
New Balance Homme 57 40 en Bleu Blanc Noir
85.1 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Even though the NB Hesi Low is not a heavily layered and super structured basketball shoe, it kept us sufficiently supported on the court.

Compared to its counterpart, the NB TWO WXY V4, the Hesi Low has a much lower midsole topline, no additional supportive elements, and a notably lower collar.

New Balance Hesi Low vs. New Balance TWO WXY V4

But the Hesi Low does pack the most essential elements to provide stability to an entry-level player whose playing style is not too forceful and aggressive.

Torsional rigidity

The shoe features a small but stiff shank on top of the FuelCell foam in the midfoot.

It adds a good deal of rigidity to the shoe's platform along with the firm carrier foam and thick rubber outsole.

When combined, these features create a sufficiently rigid platform that doesn't let the foot buckle so easily.

On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest, we rated this shoe's torsional rigidity as 4 in our manual test.

Test results
Hesi Low 4
Average 4.4
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter Impact

The New Balance Hesi Low loses a couple of stability points in the rearfoot where its heel counter proved to be more forgiving than we expected.

Don't be misled by the rubber overlay around the heel - it is actually rather pliable.

In our manual test, we assessed the shoe's heel counter Impact with a lower-than-average score - 3 out of 5. It's not the strongest heel hold to expect in a basketball shoe.

Test results
Hesi Low 3
Average 3.7
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter Impact
5

New balance 574 grey white red 2 3925см

Thanks to the shoe's forefoot outrigger, we experienced a pretty solid footing on forceful side-to-side movements.

New Balance Hesi Low Midsole width in the forefoot

New Balance 2002R-sneakers!

We were able to lean on the outer edge of the foot and spring back effortlessly thanks to the shoe's extended contact point.

Test results
Hesi Low 118.1 mm
Average 114.9 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
106.2 mm
New balance 574 grey white red 2 3925см
124.5 mm

zapatillas de running New Balance trail constitución media talla 40

We also measured the widest area of the shoe's heel but it happened to be just as wide as the average.

Still solid width though!

New Balance Hesi Low Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Hesi Low 91.1 mm
Average 90.1 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
80.0 mm
zapatillas de running New Balance trail constitución media talla 40
105.1 mm

Flexibility / Impact

The Hesi Low's nimble nature is also reflected in its rather flexible build.

We measured the shoe's level of flexibility using a force gauge - the less force it takes to bend a shoe to a 90-degree angle, the more flexible it is.

New Balance ganz kunstvoll.

New Balance Hesi Low flexibility

Кросівки new balance 574 сині.

Test results
Hesi Low 29.5N
Average 38.8N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
17.6N
Flexibility <> Impact
62.2N

Weight

One of the reasons why the Кросівки new balance 237 кросовки a fantastic option for quick players is, of course, its weight.

New Balance Hesi Low Weight

Tipping the scale at only 12.9 oz (366g), it is more than an ounce lighter than the average hoop shoe.

New Balance Hesi Low style

Test results
Hesi Low 12.91 oz (366g)
Average 13.79 oz (391g)
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Breathability

Although the NB Hesi Low uses a great deal of mesh in the upper, its ventilation capacity is close to zero.

Pumping smoke into the shoe's upper, we expected at least some of it to come out on the other side. But there was no airflow whatsoever! It's like the shoe's upper is entirely made of thick synthetics.

Even though our transparency test showed that the toebox material was rather thin and transparent, it had nothing to do with its breathability.

New Balance Hesi Low Breathability microscope test

Кроссовки new balance 998.

New Balance Hesi Low Breathability mesh under microscope

With multiple mesh layers overlapping each other, it is clear why the air has a hard time passing through the pores.

Ténis New Balance 500 Varsity verde castanho branco.

Test results
Hesi Low 1
Average 2.6
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

But there is an upside to this multi-layered mesh - it proved to be much more resistant to abrasion than most mesh uppers in our durability test!

The shoe's toebox was exposed to the sandpaper tip of our Dremel for 12 seconds at a consistent speed (5K RPM) and pressure (3.2N).

New Balance Hesi Low Toebox durability comparison

As you can see, we touched both protected and unprotected areas of the toebox and both did a good job resisting the wear and tear.

Considering the moderate nature of the damage, we rated the shoe's toebox durability with an average score - 3 out of 5. We consider it a rather good result for a shoe at this price point.

Test results
Hesi Low 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 64 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Sneakers NEW BALANCE GC515HS1 Gris

The shoe's inner lining also surprised us with a high level of resilience.

After a 4-second encounter with sandpaper, the signs of wear were very minimal. On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the most durable, we rated the shoe's heel lining with a solid 4.

New Balance Hesi Low Sneakers NEW BALANCE GC515HS1 Gris comparison
Test results
Hesi Low 4
Average 3.6
Compared to 61 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Sneakers NEW BALANCE GC515HS1 Gris
5

Outsole hardness

The Hesi Low features two types of rubber in the outsole - softer translucent rubber for the centre and lateral side and harder rubber for the medial side and the logo.

New Balance Hesi Low traction pattern

Pressing our Shore C durometer against the translucent rubber (most of the outsole) returned 75.6 HC. As expected, it is a bit softer than average.

New Balance Hesi Low Outsole hardness translucent rubber

The hard rubber, on the other hand, showed a higher reading of 82.0 HC. It indicates a firmer and tougher compound.

New Balance Hesi Low Outsole hardness Secondary rubber

Test results
Hesi Low 75.6 HC
Average 81.5 HC
New Balance FuelCell Rebel V2 Womens Running Shoes Black White Mint.
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
61.3 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole durability

We applied our Dremel to the softer rubber to check the shoe's weakest spot.

The drilling lasted 22 seconds and the speed was set to the higher 10K RPM. The pressure remained consistent at 3.2N.

New Balance Hesi Low Outsole durability test

To our surprise, the translucent rubber didn't do so badly! The damage was only 1.4 mm deep which is not much worse than the average.

Test results
Hesi Low 1.4 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 52 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

This New Balance shoe also boasts a pretty thick outsole. With a calliper measurement of 5.6 mm, it is about 1.5 mm thicker than average.

New Balance Hesi Low Outsole thickness

Does this mean that the Hesi Low can be used on outdoor courts? Well, we don't 100% recommend it because the treading made of softer rubber will wear out faster on concrete.

Trainers NEW BALANCE GM500RO1 White.

New Balance Hesi Low outsole design

For an outdoor-ready basketball shoe from New Balance, try the TWO WXY v4.

Test results
Hesi Low 5.6 mm
Average 4.0 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.9 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

The gripping capacity of the Кросівки new balance 237 кросовки not bad but it's not impressive either.

New Balance Hesi Low grip

It also takes some warming up of the rubber before the shoe's traction pattern reveals its full potential.

Overall, the grip was fine and we didn't experience any major slippage or missteps.

New Balance 2002R-sneakers | Tongue padding

The shoe's tongue is moderately padded with a foam thickness of 7.0 mm. Just enough to keep the lace pressure at bay.

New Balance Hesi Low Tongue padding
Test results
Hesi Low 7.0 mm
Average 9.2 mm
Compared to 73 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

A closer look at Kendall Jenners New Balance x Casablanca sneakers

We appreciated the fact that the shoe's tongue is integrated into the shoe's bootie design. We believe that an attached tongue is a must if you want a secure lockdown inside your basketball shoes.

New Balance Hesi Low A closer look at Kendall Jenners New Balance x Casablanca sneakers
Test results
Hesi Low Bootie

Heel tab

New Balance 574 Neo Mint.

New Balance Hesi Low Heel tab

But it's not a problem considering the shoe's low cut and pretty easy-to-handle collar.

Test results
Hesi Low None

Removable insole

You can opt for a custom orthotic in the Hesi Low. It's stock insole is easily removable.

New Balance Hesi Low Removable insole
Test results
Hesi Low Yes