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Review by Just Anonymous:

I still remember the first time I slipped on a pair of 991s, it felt like putting on a pair of socks - fantastic. That was a couple of decades ago and I have not purchased a different brand or style of running shoe since then.

I was a bit surprised when New Balance discontinued the foam cushining 991 and replaced it with the gel cushioned 992. It took a bit of getting used to but I made the transition to 992s. With the 992s also came the option to get several different colors of 992s: the 991s always only came in grey.

I was elated to learn though that the company had again upgraded to 993s which includes a combination of foam and gel. I think they're lighter than 992s too and the feel on first putting on a pair of 993s is very similar to putting on a pair of 991s. They did keep the multiple color options of the 992 line so you can get these in black, grey, white.

Overall, I am extremely happy with this product.

Foremost on my loyalty is the commitment that the company has to local markets. The 993s are Made in the USA and in the back of each of these shoes you can see the prominent USA in bold against an American flag. They are a patriot's shoe and they are quite popular in the military. Unlike other shoe companies that use almost slave child labor to make shoes and then sell them at horrendous profits in America, New Balance provides good jobs in the US. Yes they make less profit and they endorse fewer athletes but we buyers are loyal because:

a) its a fantastic product

b) probably the best running shoe made (don't take my word, try one)

c) they're made in the USA

d) the company is committed to local markets and to producing quality running shoes

No I don't run many marathons anymore (but I have in the past) and I do love these shoes and once every couple of years when my old pair of 993s get relegated to the home repair shoe, I will go out and buy a shiny new pair of 993. It's always just a little bit special when I put on a new pair....

Btw, my closet has a lineup from the two pairs of decade old beaten up old 991s that still come out when I do gardening to the 992s that have been recently demoted with the purchase of my 993s: Yes I still own my 991s, the go through the washer now and again and they still work even after 10 to 15 years (amazing quality)....but they can't be seen in public anymore.

Anyhow, I hope this helps you make a decision on these shoes. It's hard to find a running shoe that has history and character like this line and I'll admit I'm a bit selfish here, the more popular 993s remain - the less likelihood that they'll be discontinued before I die.

Review by Jeditanker:

These shoes are extremly comfortable and the size was right on target. This is the third pair of running shoes I have purchased from New Balance and plan on continued purchasing of thier products. Overall these shoes are very comfortable and do not rub and part of my feet.

Review by Tiffany:

These shoes are amazingly comfortable. From the moment you put them on your feet you really don't want to take them off. I can't say that I've ever had a pair of tennis shoes that I preferred to socked feet. Most importantly, they are the perfect running shoe. Extremely light, cushioned and plenty of support. I never write reviews but I am so happy with these that I decided I should write one. By far the best pair of running shoes I've ever had, and I've had a lot.

Review by Koko:

The 993, an updated version of 992 is a good running shoes for those whose feet are pronated/flat. For the most part, it's comfortable and the mesh allows solid ventilation from the stinkiness of sweat inside shoes. However, when I first wore the shoes, the inner right side where I tend to pronate cut into the side of my foot. In a word, it hurt! But then I readjusted the inner lining which is thank God, removable, so it's much more comfy now.

Review by Snoupi:

These shoes are great! Plenty of support, excellent sole protection, plenty of room in the toebox, extremely comfortable, and very rugged. The only downside is that the soles are not very grippy on ice.

Overall, I think these make outstanding walking or light hiking shoes, and are comfortable enough to wear all day for any activity.

Review by Ralph Ware:

Really good shoes. I have to wear thick custom insoles and require a shoe with a big toe box so that my feet aren't crowded. You can't tell from the picture but this shoe (in EEE)) has got plenty of room.

In my work, I am on my feet more than eight hours a day with only a few minutes to sit down. I've owned other New Balance shoes that were as comfortable but none that were more so. I highly recommend them.

Review by James Cho:

These are the shoes of the everyman. The starving college student, the father on a jog, the sleeping invalid: any one wearing these exemplifies proletariat chic. To thwart identification by footwear, cloak your feet in these sneakers. Grey suede fades into the sidewalk, and stains wear upon them like a canvas for urban art.

They lack arch support though and I highly recommend insoles. The tread is very shallow and loses traction easily on any wet or smooth surface. Feet breathe easily thanks to ample vents. Classic styling, lightweight, durable and good shock absorption though, and a bold statement on urban pedestria.

Review by OCNW:

I got these sneakers for my husband after months of searching in stores. New Balance must not make them too much anymore. Anyway, our entire family owned a pair at one point and we must say it is by far the most comfortable, lightweight sneakers we have ever worn. Considering the price and comfort it is an excellent deal.

Review by Donald Leighty:

I've worn New Balance shoes for walking since the late '80s or early '90s. They lasted years. Last fall I bought a new pair that started to fall apart within a few months (since I haven't been taking daily walks for almost a year now, this was brought about merely by walking the dog and pushing a lawnmower around the yard). Another pair did the same thing, so I started hassling NB a couple of weeks ago. Told them the shoes looked like they had a bad sunburn, with a thin, rubbery white coating peeling and shedding from the synthetic foam underneath. It's completely gone from the toe and much of the sides. Where's the leather???

After getting several conflicting stories from the girls who answer the phones (and sending one pair of MX608s back to their laboratory for an 'examination'), I finally received the following explanation from someone higher up:

"Thank you for contacting New Balance Consumer Support!

The tip, vamp, entire heel area and the quarters of the MX608 are all leather. It is called split leather because it is "split away" from the top layer, which is called full grain. The 2-3 layers you can split away from that are called split leathers. The surface of the split is treated with a pu coating and painted. Splits are real leather.

The mudguard area of the shoe is a synthetic material. This is the area along the sides directly above the midsole. If this area of the shoe is abrading, then what you are seeing could be the backing of the synthetic material which is made of compressed fibers.

Additionally, very few athletic shoes are made of top grain or full grain leather anymore. It is just too expensive. All of the 608s are made this way, so there should not be a difference among different pairs."

This gave me enough information to start digging into the realities of "split leather" (or "bicast leather" as it is more commonly known). This is from Wikipedia:

"Bicast leather (also known as bycast leather, split leather or PU leather) is a split leather with a layer of polyurethane applied to the surface and then embossed. Bycast was originally made for the shoe industry and recently was adopted by the furniture industry. The resulting product is cheaper than top grain leather and has an artificially consistent texture and is easier to clean and maintain.

The use of the term 'leather' in relation to this bicast treatment is considered a misrepresentation and therefore not permitted in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Furniture made with bicast exhibits none of the characteristics associated with genuine leather; it will not develop a patina or suppleness nor otherwise "improve with age". With constant use the polyurethane layer will crack and split free of its backing.

Modern technology permits up to 3 or 4 horizontal layers being taken from the one hide. The leather used in the backing of bicast is a thin, otherwise worthless, layer remaining after better quality layers have been removed for traditional leather work and contributes nothing to the look and feel of the end product."

Nice.

That's Wikipedia's take, but the conclusions match those of professional leatherworkers as well. New Balance has changed from a durable real leather upper to a bicast "leather", the use of which several countries have already ruled is deliberately misleading.

Review by T. Moore:

I have bought the same mx608 shoe from amazon for 3 years.. finishing up my third pair now. I ordered these thinking I'd be getting the same thing.. I thought wrong. I guess the "v2" on the label should have tipped me off. Anyways, the shoe feels like a piece of cardboard now. There is no support on the soles anymore (feels like you are walking on concrete). Nothing like the last 3 pairs of mx608's I've had. Now I have to search around for another good supporting shoe. Why NB did you screw this up?

Review by HappyArmyWife:

My husband is in the Army, and goes through new running shoes about every 4-5 months. He's tried all different brands and levels of shoe. This time, I strongly encouraged him to get the absolute best running shoe the New Balance store offered, along with the additional super-duper insoles. It was pricier than usual, but after all, you only have one body, so you might as well take care of it, right? Well, this morning, he called me right after taking a PT test (after taking the second half of the summer off of training) to enthusastically thank me for making him get the shoes, and excitedly exclaim that, not only did he shave a minute off his run time, but felt INCREDIBLE. His hips and knees didn't hurt like usual, and the term he used to desribe his new shoes was "phenomenal."

Review by W. Garrison:

Great shoes! I've bought NB for years but recently had some physical therapy for my knees. The therapist analyzed my gait and recommended stability-plus shoes to correct a slight pronation problem. These shoes were on the list he gave me. Good stability and cushioning while running, thoroughly comfortable. I'd gladly purchase them again.