Customer Reviews New Balance M990v3

Smell like cat urine. For the first month these were great shoes. Then they started to smell of cat urine (we don't have a cat). The smell was so strong I assumed I left them outside, and the neighbors' cat got them. So I ordered a replacement pair. One month later they smelled of cat urine. I am not a runner, just wear them out and about. They are no longer wearable. I can only recommend these for the olfactory impaired.

Same comment as another reviewer. Sneakers smell like cat urine after a few weeks. Washed them, tried Lysol - no cure. Ridiculous for such expensive sneakers!

Cat pee odor. New Balance has a quality control issue. After one month these shoes reek. I had to return them for a refund. New Balance customer service says that when their glue gets wet it degrades.

I have tried various running shoes, and this 990 is easily my favorite. They offer excellent support, and a glove-like fit. I tend to pronate, and these shoes offer ample cushioning -- but somehow they are not heavy shoes. In fact, at 12.2 ounces (size 8EE), they are quite light, and they feel even lighter. They weigh over an ounce less than the Asics Evolution 6 shoe (13.5 ounces, size 8.5EE). An added bonus is the fact that the 990 offers a nice, conservative design. So many running shoes these days look like wild kaleidoscopes of strange patterns and colors. These 990s look great, and the miles seem to glide by. Additionally, the fit around my ankle is better than that of other shoes. They feel good and snug, yet comfortable. Other shoes have felt somewhat loose around the ankle, especially in the back. In terms of overall length, I would say these shoes are slightly beyond the "true to size" measurement. I highly recommend the NB 990, and am happy to support American manufacturing.

I almost never write reviews, but after running in these shoes I felt compelled. I have ran in the New Balance 900 series for the past ten years; loved the 991, hated the 992, 993 were okay, but these Shoes are by far the best running shoes I have ever had! Are slightly more snug than the 993 width and are more cushioned. I have ran further and felt great the entire time in these shoes! My only worry is the bottom of the shoe and how long they will last; they consist of lots of small pieces of rubber that could seemly wear down fast or fall off (you can see them in the pictures) but only time will tell. Hope this review helps.

I have been wearing New Balance shoes for years. Both the 990 and 993. I love the comfort and stability. However, after about six months of moderate use - the 990's started to smell of cat urine. I washed the shoes, blamed the cat - not the case there is something wrong with the sole of the shoes - the uppers are fine and have no odor - the rubber on the soles smells like cat urine to the point of embarrassment. Same thing with my old 993's - the 993s took were about a year old when the cat urine smell started emanating from the soles. The 990s do not hold up as well as the old 993s.

Nice looking sneaker. Did NOT smell like cat urine. After all the cat urine reviews, I made of point of sniffing all 4 pairs of New Balance we ordered. None of them smelled.

Great shoe...lighter than 992, a little more traction on the sole. My only complaint is the tongue is thicker and tends to slide to the side more than previous models did.

Most comfortable shoe I have ever owned. True to size;great if you have a very narrow foot

Great shoe, in fact, the only running shoe I can find in a 15AA. I have purchased the 990 line for over 15 years. There is one design flaw however. Most people have a foot that is about a half size shorter than the other. In my case, it is the right foot. What I find that happens within the first few months is my big toe on my shorter foot comes up and hits the webbing rather than the leather on the toe. The result is a hole forming in the webbing material. NB needs to bring the leather over the top another 1/4 inch and that would solve the problem.

Warning, after 1 month, these shoes will smell like cat urine. Have worn this series of NB since the 90's and this version has some new material or glue that absolutely reeks after about a month. It has happened with 2 pairs in a row, so it isn't a fluke and we don't own cats so it is something in the shoe. I'm looking for a new brand now and would not buy these expensive shoes until they change them back to the 993 build.

These were the ones my husband kept. I ordered the M990v4 for him too but these had more cushion and comfort in the foot bed. Overall New Balance are awesome sneakers.

I have been wearing 990s or 993s for about a decade. They are by far the most comfortable shoes I have ever found. However, the Cat Pee problem is real. For me, it starts when the sole wears out and a hole is formed into the inner part of the sole. Once water gets in there, you'll get the cat pee smell pretty quickly. This usually happens after about a year of wear, which is pretty good for a shoe you wear every day. If you just think of the cat pee smell as NB's way of saying "time to get a new pair", then it's not so bad.

I tried on 5 or 6 pairs of shoes in the last few weeks because Asics discontinued the shoe I like (Gel Foundation). That was their most supportive shoe for pronators...and I needed a replacement. This was finally the one that had the right amount of support, fit my feet (13 - somewhat wide) and looked nice without so many crazy colors. I hope I don't have the "cat pee" smell. I called New Balance and they said they know about the problem, and it won't happen to everyone but it is most likely due to moisture combining with the internal fabrics (polyurethane laminate I think?). Zappos said they will take it back if this starts. Anyway, this shoe seems to be very comfortable and supportive - and I've worn it for a few days...it doesn't have to be "broken in" at all. Also, it was better than any of the Nike shoes I tried on (e.g., Air Pegasus) because they were not supportive and also Nike shoes are generally too tight. The increasing use of lycra/spandex fabrics that hold on to your foot is very annoying, and Nike seems to have embraced this. These shoes also beat out the Brooks Pureflow (not supportive enough). I couldn't find any Saucony shoes that were not neon colored. So, here's the winner! The North Face Ultra Guide GTX is also a good shoe if you want something black, though it feels a little more unstable due to the way the treads are on the base of the shoe. The Hedgehog by North Face is comparable as well (in terms of support and comfort), and it is waterproof & warmer for the winter - though it's designed for hiking.

This is the third pair of M990's I've purchased and have found no better shoe for the price. (Cheaper ones have disappointed me.) I'm 77 and jog/walk 3 miles every day, wearing out a pair every 6-8 months, depending on shoe quality. By the way, I have a wide foot and have found New Balance the only brand offering my width; EE.

After going through some other shoes, and suffering from plantar fasciitis, I decided to go ahead and buy some quality. Well worth it, these shoes really fit well, and are great for my walking and comfort. They run true to size, maybe slightly small. Well made, and made in USA, which is a selling point to me. And not the usual awful styling with colors all over them!

Have purchased and used the New Balance products for twenty years, this shoe is different, better, and just confirms my opinion that New Balance changes to meet my needs, always exceeding expectations. Remarkably light, but solid, the shoe flexes when necessary and yet stays flat to grip the running surface. Glad I bought my first pair of Blue.

The same high quality and fit I've come to expect from New Balance over the years, and being made in America makes them even better. They are light and comfortable and provide excellent support on uneven surfaces.

I have been a fan of New Balance. However, I agree with others. The tongue and laces are too short. Worst than that my shoes smell like cat urine as well. You can smell them from 10 feet away! Horrible! It is time to try another brand, unfortunately.

I liked these shoes fine until my wife told me one day they smelled like a cat had sprayed them. She threw them out. I thought she was crazy but I came on here (to buy another pair) and saw so many others saying the same thing. Needless to say I will not be buying them again. They definitely have a funky cat smell.

These are HANDS DOWN the best shoes I have ever owned for running/walking. The first Nike Pegasus were a close second but those don't exist anymore and I won't buy Nike's anymore. Expensive YES...but you will be VERY happy with them. Peace.

Liked the style of the New Balance M990v3 and fit! This is my second pair. They do have a strong odor. The odor has disappeared after a couple weeks. I have always waterproofed my shoes and this seems to help with the odor!

New Balances continue to make excellent, durable, and comfortable shoes for the active and not-so-active individual. I wore these shoes for almost every kind of activity and they last many years before they were officially retired at which time I replaced them with another pair of New Balances. They are true to size and provide great arch support. Highly suggest purchasing these shoes as they are an investment into your feet!!