New Balance offers as good a variety of athletic footwear as you’ll find anywhere, with running shoes, walking shoes, cross trainers, tennis shoes, basketball shoes, outdoor hiking shoes, cleats, and sandals available. Their designers believe the more specifically a shoe is tailored to one specific activity or need, the better it will be able to meet the demands placed upon it.
They also recognize the importance of the way the shoe fits the individual. “Almost” isn’t good enough for New Balance. Their adult shoes are offered in sizes 5-20 (with children’s shoes available as well), and in widths from AA-6E. These shoes are backed with a guarantee that, if they fail to meet your sizing needs, you will be provided with a refund, or allowed to exchange them for another pair. To help you select the right pair, several sizing tips are provided on the Web site (nbwebexpress.com).
Some of the best sizing tips include:
- The standard Men’s width is “D.” For Women, the standard width is “B.” If most shoes you buy fit adequately, these are the widths you should select.
- The heel of the shoe should fit snugly with no slipping, the midfoot should be snug but not tight, and you should have enough room to wiggle your toes.
- Since feet usually continue to grow with age, have your feet measured before ordering shoes.
- Your left and right feet may differ in size. Try a pair of shoes on both feet before deciding they fit.
If you need more help or advice deciding what pair of shoes to get, the New Balance Web site provides a shoe recommendation feature, in which you can receive e-mail recommendations from one of their experts about what shoe to buy for your foot type. Unless you request it, you will not be contacted with further e-mails regarding special offers, sales, etc.
Pricing:
NB shoes typically run from $50-$200, but they also have a clearance section where shoes can be purchased as cheaply as $15. When searching for shoes on their Web site, you can sort by price in order to find the least expensive pair.
Other Options:
Although NB is most famous for their athletic footwear, they offer many other products, including retro footwear; casual footwear; children’s and infant’s footwear; and men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel. Their apparel is sporting apparel, and includes running clothes, spandex-wear, and weatherproof clothing.
New Balance is famous for their quality footwear. Since they offer so many sizing options, and are very accommodating when you’re trying to find the right pair, they make a great option for those who have unusual foot types, especially very narrow or wide, or for those who have problems with pronating feet. If you’re an athlete who hasn’t yet experienced the comfort fit of their shoes, next time you need a pair, bypass Nike and Reebok and try out NB. Since the company, confident in their wide variety of sizes, guarantees you a comfortable fit, you’re running no risk. If you don’t like the pair you get, you can also always return or exchange them. But chances are, you will be happy with your purchase.
By Riannon Cutler