Customer Reviews New Balance M1540

What New Balance did was take one of the most comfortable and supportive sneakers of all time( the 1123) and update it(?) to one of the worst sneakers ever made. Went from high quality to no quality. Sent back same day.Wonder if the same guys that decided to change the 1123 to this were the same guys who created New Coke, avoid and try to get a pair of the discontinued 1123 somewhere.

I am 57 years old and walk approximately 30 miles per week. I am a standard, true, run of the mill 11½D. I have been wearing the New Balance 1123 for four years and have gone through four pairs alternating with other New Balance shoes. The 1123 was great for me and I should have stocked up when they went on clearance. I just ordered, received, and returned a black pair of the 1540 in 11½D. They are overpriced, ugly looking, and about half a size small. I would have had to reorder a size 12 if I had wanted to keep them. I would buy the 1123 again today if I could. If New Balance would put a thicker tread on the sole I would even pay the same price as the 1540. Zappos customer service and shipping has been absolutely top notch!

I usually have a hard time finding shoes that fit. I usually need a 4e with a wide toebox. These are one of the few that work. The only down size of these is that their sole is to big and it makes them look like shape-ups, something that made me rethink if I would keep them. Dont really agree with the previous reviewer that they feel small.

I've worn the 1123 for 2 years and was skeptical of the update. After wearing the 1540 for a week I couldn't be happier. The toe box is still nice and wide and the fit in the heel is greatly improved from the 1123. It has a little firmer arch support as well. I also like the look of the shoe much more than the 1123.

Good shoe, and better looking than the 1123 that it replaced, but after wearing the 1123 in size 12 2E for many years, I've found that I need at least a 12 1/2 and 4E in this M1540, even though it uses the same last as the 1123.

I enjoy living in a rural area: shopping options limited. I sustained a running injury (plantar fasciitis) that through research I was advised to get a specific shoe. The shoe could not found locally -- so ordered it via Zappos. Got 2 days later. Running again. Thank you Zappos.

I have worn New Balance shoes almost exclusively for the past several years and now find due to foot problems I need to use shoes with a wider toe box ( SL2-last) so am stuck with a much smaller selection. As others have said the M1540 feels a half size small. If I had truly read Zappos return policy they would have been returned already but I wore them to work one day before calling customer service to see if I could send them back. I guess the one year return policy is great if you plan to leave your shoes in the box or wear them on your carpet, but walking around the house does not give me or the shoe a chance to see if we fit or not. Be cautious when ordering this shoe as it really does seem to be a little short when compared to other New Balance models.

Well, the shoes fit great but I found them to be overpriced, ugly shoes. I had to send them back. For the price, the quality just wasn't there. As always, very satisfied with Zappos' free return shipping policy. That keeps me coming back every time!

I am now on my second pair of New Balance M1540's. I have a hard time getting a show that is wide and give good control. This shoe has met those needs. Will buy again.

These are the best shoes if you have weak ankles, like me. The roll-bar feature supports and the overall comfort is great too. A winning combination.

The New Balance M1540 was exactly what I expected! Great shoes at a great Zappos price! I particularly appreciated the Zappos staff when I made the order. They are awesome!

Great stability and comfort. Runs 1/2 size small compared to it 1123 predecessor. Of course there was no problem exchanging to another pair with Zappos.

Great style. They look fabulous on your feet. Very comfortable and light weight. I wish they came in other colors besides white.

I was first a fan of NB1122, then NB1123 I just bought two pair of NB1540's and love them. I am a large man and have had ankle problems my whole life. These soles give me stability like nothing else I've tried. I'm in my 50's. Great everyday shoe!

I have a very wide foot and haven't been able to find wide (6E) width walking shoes. Found them at Zappos! Very quick delivery and comfortable shoes.

These are great shoes! I have bought New Balance for years!

I too have been wearing the NB1123 since they came out, and had hoped for some change in color options. I had high expectations to finally own a pair of black sneakers. Been wearing the same model shoe since it came out. I bought two pair of black and one white M1540's in the same size I had been wearing, and one pair in black a half size larger due to comments about them being a tad smaller/tighter. Indeed they are, in black, white still fits exactly the same. I have found not only shoes but some socks as well fit differently in different colors. Black has been an especially difficult color fit for me (both shoes and socks are tighter) as strange as that may sound. The 12 6E I had been wearing was tight on the two M1540's. I got the 12.5 and that felt at least a full size larger and was a sloppy fit, even with an extra set of insoles. I just received the white M1540 today, and that fits exactly like the old style this shoe replaced. Better white than none in my case. Disappointed that black did not fit. I ended up buying the white pair from Zappos, where I have bought all my shoes for the past few years. I did notice there seems to be excess material designed into the toe box area on every pair of these shoes I have seen which causes some bunching up of the area around the bottom of the laces. They arrived that way, and stay that way after the laces are tightened. I did not have that on any of the previous M1123's I had owned.

Very good support for your foot. Added additional arch support to the insole for Plantar Fasciitis and after 3 weeks, has helped a lot.

I was a little hesitant with this purchase because of the wide sole in terms of how it would look on my feet. It does take a bit to get used to that, but that feeling is completely trumped by how amazingly comfortable these shoes are. I wear these at work every day and have no problems with soreness. I highly recommend them.

I loved the 1123 but the 1540 is horrible. I have 7.5 6E feet so my selection of shoes is limited to New Balance, and I have always appreciated that they actually make shoes in my size. I ordered the correct sized ones first, and they were too small, so I ordered a size up (8) and my feet fit in them, but they are the most uncomfortable shoe I have ever worn. The support is awful and not placed correctly, though I suspect this is because it is an 8 rather than a 7.5. I am going to try some of the cheaper models and see if they fit.

I am a 6' tall, 200lb. overpronator that needs footwear with good stability and support or else my feet, knees, and ankles will be sore for days. As far as support, comfort, and motion control are concerned...the 1540's are the best shoes I've ever worn. I literally forget that I have issues when I wear these shoes. Quality of construction has been top notch as I've come to expect from New Balance. The big issue though is that the rubber compound used on the sole has worn out very quickly and the internal support elements have disintegrated after 5 months of wear. I walk in the shoes at least 95% of the time and after 5 months I cannot wear them anymore. They are exceedingly good but wear out quickly. Overall I like the 1540 but am disappointed because I had a pair of New Balance 992 shoes that lasted 4 years before I needed to replace them. I've bought a pair of Brooks Beast shoes and will report my comparison when they wear out.

For me the M1540 felt a full size smaller than the M1123. Had worn many pair of the M1123 over the years as a size 12 4E. For the M1540 I require size 13 4E.

I have worn out three pairs of the predecessor M1123 in the same New Balance size and SL-2 last I've worn for fifteen years, so of course I ordered the same size in this M1540. I was surprised that the M1540 did not fit - too small. I've had to go up a half size in both size and width in the M1540 to a size and width larger than I've ever worn in any athletic shoe. In my opinion the M1540 is not as well made, not as supportive and not as comfortable as the M1123 - if I could still order the M1123, I'd buy three more pairs and pass on this successor as a bad try by New Balance. While the M1540 is still an okay shoe and I'm going to keep this pair and wear them, it's another case of New Balance lowering quality and not price. I'm a very loyal New Balance fan and I've seen New Balance do this before in the 900 series, but they always righted the ship. But, one more relative disappointment like this M1540 and I'll probably have to switch to Brooks or Adidas. For loyal New Balance fans this M1540 is an average shoe more in line with the 500 series, and so overpriced for the upscale model it's supposed to be - just an undersized vanilla that's okay, but certainly not great. The M1540 isn't bad, but suffers mostly in comparison to the excellent previous model. For New Balance newcomers, you might want to consider Adidas or Brooks for the price, as I've found both brands similar to New Balance in the cushioning, arch support and toe box room I want, more so than Nike. So, my overall review is "average shoe for the price, runs a half size small in length and width." Keeping them, wearing them, but I'm not wowed, obviously.

I used to have 1123's now they are gone and the 1540 has tried to fit the bill. I am on my 5th pair. Each pair has had sole problems. They crack midway and come apart at the sole. I have sent 4 pairs back to New Balance. Each pair has broken down in the same exact location. I really love the shoe but they do not hold up. Quality control issues plague this shoe. New Balance has replaced the shoes for free but the problem continues with each pair. Great fit and comfort. I need 14 6 E's seems only New balance make a shoe like this.

I wore 1123's for years with great pleasure, but there is something different about these shoes and they don't feel anywhere as good. I am a big guy (300lb) and used the 1123s for regular walking shoes. But the 1540s are no good for me. Today I switched to Brooks Beast at the suggestion of a running pro and so far so good.