As a runner, New Balance shoes come more highly recommended to me than any other athletic shoe brand. New Balance shoes are designed strictly for running and walking, with the exception of some of their newer fashion based styles. With the runner and walker in mind, they have truly met the needs of these athletes and leave little room for improvement.
My father, a long distance runner, began wearing New Balance shoes in the 70’s. His love for the brand was undying and he still wears them as casual every day shoes today. As a kid, I always thought they were dorky because, come on, they were my dad’s! He purchased me a pair of New Balances when I began cross country in high school, and I fell in love. I of course could not admit this to him at the time, but they quickly became my favorite pair of shoes.
Over the years, I have tried several different brands of running shoes for marathon running, including Nike, Adidas, and Saucony. Each time, I have regretted my purchases and went back to New Balance shoes. They may be basic, but they certainly out perform every other brand I have used when it comes to use during running long distances. Other brands try to use their marketing and new designs, but nothing can compare to a well designed shoe, which is found in New Balance.
Not only are New Balance shoes basically well designed for runners, they offer a wide variety of sizes and widths which allows for a better fit than offered from any other athletic shoe brand. With my small narrow feet, it is often difficult to find a shoe that does not allow my foot to roll while running due to being too wide. However, New Balance shoes actually fit correctly and allow me to run more comfortably for longer distances.
In addition, I have made a convert out of my husband, a die hard Nike consumer. For years, he has had a difficult time finding shoes to fit his size 14 wide feet. He always purchased Nike shoes because they fit “the closest,” but he never found a shoe that truly fit his foot. After dragging him to a store to try on New Balance shoes, he has never turned back. He spends hours on his feet while on call as a pediatric resident at the hospital, and has found that his New Balance shoes are more comfortable and last longer than any other shoe he has owned.
