New Balance Men's 990v4

Comment

Same old New Balance 990 Ive worn for years. GREAT SHOE. I like how theyve changed the top two string eyelets. It seems to hold the tongue in place a little better although it makes it a little more difficult to lace up - a good tradeoff. I initially gave this product glowing reviews, BUT, after just a month the shoe has broken down to the point I wont use it for training. Ive used New Balance products since 1974. I used whatever early models I could get my hands until the 80s when I settled on the 99x series. Ive used them throughout my Marine Corps career - physical training, jogging, physical fitness tests and casual wear, et. cet. Ive logged 100s of miles in New Balance products. This year I ordered a pair from a source other than New Balance, but at a great price. At first I thought New Balance had upgraded their 990 series, but now, after some use, I believe I am the not-so-proud owner of a pair of NB knockoffs. Ill let the pictures mostly speak for themselves. Ill just touch on the big issues. First of all, when I opened the box I noticed the color of the shoes werent the same. They were lighter in color. I also noticed the material seemed... light weight. After wearing the shoes for a couple of weeks they started breaking down. I didnt have the same support I had when I first received them. They started wrinkling too; something New Balance doesnt do until their well used. I became concerned so I took them to our New Balance store in Huntsville, AL. and they were very helpful. All the markings seemed to be in order but the quality and color of my shoes just didnt line up alongside the real deal. It is believed by the New Balance folks and I, that these are visually comparable to the real thing but they are not. Buyer beware there are a lot of fakes out there trying to make in big on the reputation of others. If there is any doubt, go to some of the New Balance forums. Theres plenty of information and locations you go to to help you make a good decision - wish I had.

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The title of this review pretty much sums up my experience with this shoe. But to expand a bit, this is without a doubt the most comfortable and supportive running shoe Ive bought in years. Im an avid 3-4 mile a day outdoor power walker (with a few short sprints thrown in during walk) and exercise on a combination of sidewalk, street and packed gravel, and was having difficulty finding a shoe that would provide my aging feet and particularly right ankle sufficient support. Previously I used Asics Nimbus and Kayanno shoes and loved them, but the past several years I found them to be increasingly lighter weight at the expense of providing sufficient support. So I decided to shop around and after pretty extensive research bought these NB shoes. Glad I did. They are still fairly light weight - the pair weighs just 28 ounces, but they are not totally mesh like many shoes have become. But they retain enough mesh to provide great breathing and minimize heat, while providing the lighter weight. These shoes have a suade looking leather with the mesh which looks great as well. An added bonus, and in fact I bought another pair to kick around in for casual wear. Since wearing these shoes going on two weeks, I havent had a single instance of partial ankle turns on uneven surfaces and what recuring ankle pain I did have has almost totally gone away. They shoes come up slightly higher on the ankle than my Asics did - about to the lower level of the ankle joint which for me is perfect. Also they provide great heal support. Of course as normal with all shoes of this type, dumping the junk insoles that come with the shoes and replacing with a good insole is a must to maximize comfort and support. I personally wear fitted orthonics, but certainly not a must for most people. The soles are a bit stiff feeling compared to previous shoes, but I like this as well, as that is what helps provide the extra support. Overall, this a superbly designed and constructed shoe and a great buy for the price.

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As always New Balance comes through on a made in U.S.A. running shoe. Ive had New Balance for years and theyve never let me down. My one issue is with the seller MilliKix. Their price changed several times within a day of being in my cart, then after I bought them they dropped literally 10 bucks. Just seems a little sketchy. I wrote to them and they just made an excuse that "our prices can change on occasion and other sellers prices will show as well". I know for a fact it was only their price that I was watching jump up and down within hours like the stock exchange, others actually stayed the same. I wouldnt trust MilliKix and wont be buying from them again.

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Not the real shoe. Came in a cardboard box and the shoes were more cream colored than gray.(updated) So I went to my local shoe store and took some comparison pictures. The first three are the shoes I received, the last 2 are the real shoes. There are differences as far as the height of the shoe. The shoe sent to me is a lower cut than the actual shoe. The last pic also has some differences circled. I’m about to take the shoes back to amazon right now. Refund Started

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Comment

The knock offs are on the left, different color insole is thinner, box is smaller. Buyer beware.

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