Customer Reviews New Balance MX854

I was wearing the 853s for a few years and was disappointed to see they were discontinued. I need an all leather shoe for work and went with the 854s. They were not as comfortable as the 853s and I needed to add some Dr. Scholl’s cushion insoles to make them comfortable enough to wear.

Leave good enough alone - I loved the MX853 they fit great out of the box. The toe was a little more round. MX853 taper. The fit isn't the same, shame on you New Balance. When you have a winner why change every year?

A good Shoe, a bit stiff on flexibility - I found the shoe to be a nice looking. I walk about 14 miles every night on concrete so I need a shoe that will hold up and has a really good support system. This shoe left room for orthotics but was a bit larger than the size it said probably a 1/2 size. It is a bit stiff too; does not have enough flexibility. I need an all leather shoe because I work with chemicals for floor stripping.

Fit fine, but don't seem to breathe well - I got this one since the 853 was discontinued. It fits very well, but seems to be much hotter than the 853, almost like it's a waterproof shoe. It might be fine for casual wear, but it's too hot for any type of exercise.

New Balance MX854 size 13 6E - This is a fairly comfortable shoe but a little narrower than I'd expect in a 6E size. The shoe upper is leather throughout so I expect it to be hot in warm weather. The back of the shoe is lower than most athletic shoes I've owned. The sole is fairly inflexible so I don't think I'd pick this shoe for running but it seems like it would be fine for cycling or weight training.

Not Comfortable - I like New Balance. I wore 609s for many years. Loved the structure and arch support. Thought I was trading up to 854s. The 854s were immediately uncomfortable. They feel weird when you walk (they don't bend easily), don't seem to have as much arch support, and are cut weird around the ankle. I felt as if my toes were asleep.

Save your money - These are great looking shoes and the fit is very good. Bad feature is the sole and heel have a solid plastic insert and doesn't flex. It's like walking in plastic ski boots or strapping a 2 by 4 to your sole. Had to return them.

Jack’s Review - I've worn size 12-D NB shoes for years and always had a comfortable fit. This one, however, is very tight and unwearable. Unfortunately I've walked a mile or so in them as well as around the house, so I'm out of luck as far as a return is concerned.

Ugh...New Balance, what happened??? Not sure what has been going on with New Balance, but the MX854 is actually a step down from the model it replaced, the MX853. First off, NB actually reduced the number of eyelets from six on the MX853 to five on the MX854. What this means is the tongue of the shoe sticks out far too much and is rather annoying. While I liked the outside design, the comfort level decreased and the fit felt too tight as opposed to the MX853. I hate having to write negative reviews about New Balance shoes, because I only support NB shoes, but overall their quality and comfort have decreased, not only with this model but with the MX621 and recently released MX1008 which has to be the worst NB shoe I have ever tried. I highly recommend the M1122 running shoe as an every day walking shoe, but when it comes to sports and training, I would suggest the MX853 and MX1007 if you can still find them.

Too small - I usually buy the New Balance 1221 and wish I had this time. There is no way the MX854 is a 6E. Plus the right shoe is smaller than the left.