Customer Reviews New Balance Classics 990v5

Purchased a brand new pair of 990's from my local New Balance store a couple of months ago. Terribly disappointed. These shoes squeak when I walk. Thought it was a matter of just breaking them in but no amount of walking has stopped them from squeaking. Have been using New Balance for the last 20+ years without a problem. I will now start considering other brands as New Balance has cheaped out and brought second rate manufacturing to what was a great brand of shoes. This is what happens when you let bean counters run the company. They make a cheap pair of shoes and sell them based on the New Balance name. New Balance just does not mean what it use to. Another American name tarnished by poor quality.

In March my go to work shoes unfortunately got torn up as I was working, so as soon as my shift ended I walked over to the New Balance outlet store to find some shoes without holes. I asked whats a good shoe for walking about 6-8 miles everyday for long periods of time and was recommended this. But after 7-8 months of wearing them at work everyday they're really not built for strenuous jobs. Two months ago my plantar fasciitis came back after a year and a half of no problems. I'm trying out different insoles to see if they will help as I'd hate to toss these expensive shoes after not even a year of wearing them. I think if you don't work 50+ hours a week running around then these might work for you!

I don't like the v5 prefer the v4. Too much room in front now and don't like the plastic ankle strap which makes the shoe hotter.

Have been purchasing NB for years. Recent pair fit well, and are constructed well but have a horrible squeek to them with each step. Really, really loud. I am not sending them back, will just put up with it.

I walk 20,000 steps a day. The more I wear these the more my feet hurt. Have to switch to old version 4 to get relief. Will not buy these again.

I wanted this shoe to wear more casually. I run a fair amount but have better shoes for that. However, these shoes are very uncomfortable to wear casually. They're awkward looking and very clunky. The heels are rock hard and just hard to wear.

I have bought and returned some shoes with NB but these ones run a little tight in the shoe box. I have owned the 1340s to the 1540s and I decided to try this series. I wear a 6E and it is very hard to find shoes wide enough so the sides do not rub against the edges of my feet. I want to avoid getting bunions and I strongly suggest these run a little smaller. This 6E felt like its missing 1/2 inch in width that being said if you do not need width its a nice comfortable shoe in the heel and its well made!

My hopes were high and I was excited to receive my shoes from an on-line order. The looks were 5 stars. The style, the outer material and the sturdiness got me really stoked. I could not wait to get this new pair broken in so I could eventually take them on my morning runs. I have purchased countless NB shoes in the past, but this was my first pair of "made in the USA" NB shoes. When I first put them on, I immediately told myself "wow, these will take a little getting used to". The position of my feet, namely my heels, seemed awkward. My heels could feel the area where the side wall of the shoes are joined to the inner sole. The wall and inner sole joined below the heels, instead of the bottom corners. Even with the Ortholite insert, it still felt as if I was standing on a toothpick that was laying flat in my shoe under the insert. I was not too concerned yet at that point and was determined to slowly get acquainted with them and break them in for short periods at a time. I am so disappointed to say that I was never able to break this pair in. The most I ever had to break a new pair of running shoes in, was about a week. So, as I was trying to break this pair in, I kept telling myself "Hey, this is your first real nice, expensive (for me) pair of running shoes. You've got to have patience and slowly get your new shoes molded to your feet". I wore the new shoes for short periods of time, alternated with old shoes to give my feet a rest after a few hours of wearing them, took alternating days off from wearing them, all to no avail. I was slowly injuring my heels with everything I was doing, by "making" it work. When it occurred to me that I was truly damaging my heels and nothing was going to work to make my feet get used to these shoes, I stopped wearing them altogether and only wore my old NB shoes to try and recover and heal my feet (namely my heels). To this day, residual discomfort is still there, but it is subsiding by wearing my old "lesser" NB shoes.

I love new balance running and casual shoes. They fit well and are well made. These shoes are well made, don't get me wrong, these are good quality shoes. I like the reflectivity and the simplicity. But, they aren't that comfortable. Any fresh foam athletic shoe is gonna be more comfortable, and cheaper. Any casual new balance shoe like the made in usa 998 or even the regular 997H is gonna be more comfortable than this shoe. For some reason, after the all the new balance shoes that I love, from high tech trail running shoes to made in usa casual shoes, this 990v5 is just not one that I like. It causes me heel pain when I walk for long periods or run in them. Running in these shoes is not advised, causes too much lower body pain. I'll stick to my fresh foams or regular new balance casual shoes. I love the idea, but this shoe just isn't comfortable for walking or running.

I think they're pretty good shoes as long as they're made in the USA

I returned these shoes because of the material. Most of the shoe right above the rubber was a felt type material and to me would not hold up well for the price. Not to mention just makes the shoe look out dated. Others have complained about the weight and while heavier than many I didn't see where it would be much of an issue for me. Especially on days where you're running 5k or less.

I was hoping to use these shoes for some light jogging, but they are just not made for that. The arch support is minimal, there is no springiness in the heel, they are 3 ounces each heavier than my old New Balances of a larger size and they are hot, not enough mesh. I do like that they are made in the USA But I am seriously considering returning them.

This product is thankfully made in America. It is more for someone who needs extra foot protection than for someone who wants to be physically active. The sole is not flexible for quick walking or jogging.

I have used this product for 25+ years wear a 114E the V5 feels slightly larger have used the 1205 insert for years no longer available had to get a different one. This shoe and insert had cured my metarsalgia, but with V5 it is back. Time will tell, but this is not the V4 or previous versions.

Negative I didn't like the color returned them but i have not Been given crefit for them. So I can purchase another color

I would never again buy shoes online despite the ability to exchange by mail. These shoes were too large and too wide amd too heavy. I figured it out too late, ie after wearing them two days. Wide apparently is EE. If I knerw there was an E size that might have been better but don't think that was on the website. Store where they have my sizing record was closed due to COVID. You need to try shoes on..

The build quality is good, but it's bulky and way too heavy. I like the look but won't buy again.

Enjoy the support for walking and general use. Worn 990 for years, new pair every year. What I didn't like was the limited supply in the colors. Placed order but received a different color. I can live with it, just disappointed.

Have AAA foot width, Shoe is too wide. 847v3 top collapses on top toes causing severe pain, terrible design Need to make 847 AAA again

I have exclusively worn New Balance since 2001 when I joined the army. I have put thousands of mile on New Balance shoes and these are the least comfortable ones I have ever worn. The padding in the ankle area is too much and rubs the wrong way. I would equate the feeling to how it feels when you wear the fabric off the heel from not loosening your shoes to put them on and off; and the plastic digs into your back ankle. This uncomfortable feeling is what I feel even though there is no exposed plastic. The inner and out ankle feel this way. I wish they would bring back the USA 991. Those were my PT shoes when I enlisted and they have been my favorite. I would pay $400 plus for USA 991 like from 2001. I have resorted to the purchasing the UK version from third party vendors. It is a shame that New Balance USA does not make them. These are my third pair of the 990 series. I had a v3 and v4. They seem to continually get less comfortable as the newer versions come out. These shoes do have a very comfortable souls and I would guess that aspect has not changed much.