Review on 👟 New Balance Black Workwear Men's Fashion Sneakers - Optimized Shoes for Sneaker Enthusiasts by Charles Quinones

The first pair of 574 sneakers I bought as a gift for myself after grad school in 1988; avid runner and wearer of Asics, Brooks and Saucony shoes. The Nike waffle shoes just didn't give me the support I needed. New Balance promoted the new 574 and I fell in love with these shoes straight away (if you can love shoes). They were highly arched with a soft but firm insole. The stitching was perfect and the shoes were stylish and very comfortable, the shoes held up even after six months of running 60 miles a week. Since my first pair I have always worn New Balance and 574, as have my wife and children. Then last year ('18) New Balance decided to make some significant changes, although users (according to an emailed poll) didn't think the shoe needed improvement. (You can read about the changes on the company's website.) The changes were purely to "improve the style and make the appearance more elegant." We were one of those "enthusiasts" who received the survey and categorically stated that no changes were needed. Why change something good? New Balance competitors like Nike and Adidas copied them years ago, and today all running shoes copy New Balance's original tread design, but the feel of the "original" 574 is still the same. I bought a new pair of New Balance 574S in November. November 2019. When the box arrived and I opened the lid, I immediately saw the first noticeable difference, the slope from the tip of the tongue to the tip of the sock; it is now triangular instead of curved. The midsole is very thin and the arch support has been completely removed. I wear a size 15 4E and need room in the shoe to be able to move. The previous 574s were wearable and didn't need multiple wears to "break in" a new pair, they were stiff and rigid, the sole would tuck into the heel and the tongue would slide to the toe. I put on both shoes and walked around the house on the hardwood floors and it just wasn't the right pair of shoes. I did a short 5 mile run around the area (tarmac) and my feet were uncomfortable. Frustrated, I returned the pair and looked for old stock of original 574s. In the photo above: the original and the new version.