Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

These shoes did not fit me and here's why... SIZES EXPLAINED: New Balance put most of their popular retro cool shoes into the hands of Asian manufacturers, so the sizing on these models is completely off: 574, 363, 501, 565, 515 That is why you will find so many reviews stating the fit is "too tight" and "too small" and several people explaining how they were too tight and too small even though they ordered a size larger and wider than usual like 2E or even 4E extra width sizes. I found a website explaining this but since links may get removed in a product review, I'm just explaining what I learned. The only people who are not going to think the sizing is off are people who have been buying these lines for the last 10 or 15 years and already are used to the weird sizing. These sizes are completely different from the New Balance models made in the USA or UK. 576, 577 and 996 are all Made in the USA or UK and will be very comfortable and regularly sized. They will also be much more expensive. New Balance models made in the USA or UK will almost always be over $100, typically about $139 and sometimes on sale for as low as $79, but never lower than that unless it's the most unpopular design ever... For example, there is one model of 996 on Amazon right now that looks nothing like a retro cool sneaker; I have no idea why they called it a '996' anything. It looks like a futuristic mini-van:New Balance Men's MC996 Lightweight Tennis Shoe, Grey/Green, 10 2E US. So, if you're looking at a shoe with price range of $39 - $79, chances are that it is Asian made and the size will be too small and too tight. I have skinny feet and if I am ordering any cheap shoes from New Balance, I have to order 1 full size larger and at least 2E width, which is still a bit tight. 4E width would be better, but they rarely have those for sale on Amazon in my size. To put that in perspective, my dress shoe size is 9.5 or 10. Since these retro-cool New Balances are supposed to be running shoes, it makes sense that you would follow the typical advice to buy one size larger, so size 11 makes sense...right? The problem is this isn't exactly right. Size 10 fits me extremely well length-wise for walking, but are way too tight. Why would I want running shoes in walking size? Because most people actually wear these retro cool shoes as casual sneakers. However, you basically have to buy one full size up and extra wide to fit even skinny feet, so that makes your casual kicks slightly longer at the toe box than feels necessary, but it's not too bad. It's nowhere near the same comfy fit as you would find on a pair of USA-made 576 New Balances, though. Having shoes that are too tight in the metatarsal area is very bad for your feet and lead to problems like plantar fasciitis. So, for the Asian-made New Balances such as 574, 363, 501, 565, 515, etc., it is much better for your feet to have "room to grow" in front of your toes (as if you're a little kid buying shoes) rather than having the arch area placed in the wrong spot and squeezing the heck out of the front part of your foot at the metatarsal area. TOO LONG, DIDN'T READ VERSION: These Asian-made models will be too small and too tight: 574, 363, 501, 565, 515 These USA/UK-made models will be correctly sized (and cost twice as much): 576, 577 and 996 Before wasting your time trying to "break in" your new kicks, head on over to New Balances' own website (do a web search for 'New Balance Size Guide' and scroll down to the bottom and read the first bullet point): • New Balance shoes are made to fit directly out of the box. They do not need to be broken in. If they are too tight, they are Asian-made, so just return them while you still can and get 1 size larger and 2E or 4E width instead of D width.