Customer Reviews New Balance Made in US 990v5

I’ve bought every model of these forever...990, 991, 992, 993, 990v1, 990v2, 990v3, 990v4...this has always been my favorite shoe. The 990v5’s are terrible. It feels like a totally different shoe. Not compatible with me.

Been buying this model for decades. My toe has worn through the top mesh on 3 months. Unacceptable.

I'm a light runner, but walk briskly, about 6 miles a day around Manhattan. It's a waking city, and walk everywhere, to and from work, to Central Park, shopping and bopping. The 990 is a legendary shoe, and the V5 has made subtle improvements. The arch and footbed support is improved over the V4. The tongue has much more padding. The side support is better. It might not be the sleekest runner ever, but it's a classic. I can spend the entire day in my 990's and my feet feel fresh. Zappos and their customer service consistently blow me away. Same thing with my friends. There are a few companies that have fantastic customer service...Bose and T-Mobile come to mind, but Zappos is the standard.

These were more comfortable out of the box than the v4 which I bought last September. The fit and finish is superb and the only real difference (besides the reflective flag on the tongue) is that there is no space on the tongue pad for the top of the laces to go through, but this doesn't seem to be a problem. I wore them for a 7-mile walk last night and my feet were only slightly sore toward the end. I do wish there were more color choices than just black or light gray, but they are quite attractive.

Great as a casual knockabout shoe. Not so much a running shoe. The tongue slides down into the shoe after running a short distance, then the two sides where the tongue should have shielded, rub against the top of your feet. And just too bulky to be optimal running shoes. Need to be lighter and more breathable. The extra width option was nice but unfortunately had to return.

This is without a doubt a premium shoe that harkens back to classic sneakers from the 80's and 90's. The ultimate "dad shoe" for sure, they make me think of my father who loved wearing New Balance shoes. The build quality, materials, craftsmanship, fit--literally everything about this shoe is over the top amazing. Shoes arrived brand new as you'd expect, tags in tact, shoes unlaced, paper in the toes of the shoes. After lacing them up and sliding my feet inside, my first thought was the unbelievable comfort. Fantastic padding in the back of the heel, sole provides tremendous support without being too much, and they're not squishy like many shoes today. They really feel like the New Balance shoes I fell in love with years ago. There are just so many great things to say about this shoe and I'm thrilled these are made in the USA! Truly an all time classic that still looks and feels fantastic! For people suggesting the tongue slides around, use the patch on the tongue, that's what it's there for.

There is no cushioning unlike what is advertised. Purchasing aftermarket insoles are a must with this shoe. That being said, they are not the most comfortable to walk or run in. Seems that there is more of a heel to toe drop than most shoes I've worn or tried. I bought these due to being 6E and needing relief in the toe box, but I feel my feet being bunched in the toes due to them sloping downward towards the front. Haven't had that particular issue in other models.

50 years ago I bought a pair of AA dress shoes. The store gave me a deal because I was their only customer who could wear them. They were the only shoes I ever had that truly fit until the magic of online shopping allowed me to find such shoes again. Even so, they are few and far between. In fact, these are the first running shoes I’ve seen. I usually settle for B’s. I walk 5-7 miles a day on NYC sidewalks, so I need a good shoe. These fit the bill for that so far. I’ve only worn them for about 3 weeks. I’ll see how long they last, but my previous, cheaper pairs of New Balance have done well. I usually can get my 10.5 foot into an 11 NB B-width. These required a full size bigger. My foot fits like a glove. At first, I thought they were too narrow and then I removed the extra pair of socks that I always wear in all my other shoes. Perfect! Gave style 4 stars only because I really wanted a pair of whites and I had a choice between black and black. I admit that I get tired of the NB logo, too. But I’m grateful to the company for filling a very small market niche. There are not a lot of men’s AA feet out there. P.S. It’s a little thing. I’ve been double-tying running shoes for years because the furshligginer laces keep untying. These are hard to UNTIE when I double-tie them, but when I single-tie them, they usually stay tied. May their tribe increase.

I've purchased the 990v for years...the 990v5 is simply uncomfortable...a distinct lack of cushioning and the fit is wonky. I guess I'll try to find another running shoe, darn.

I used to wear 990’s but have been wearing ASICS for the last five years. I have flat feet and I weigh 215 pounds and the ASICS have just gotten narrower, lighter, and have less real support. This is great if you’re a smaller runner with perfect mechanics and minimal foot issues. But for me, I needed more support. So I went back to the 990’s and I’m really glad I did. They are definitely heavier and more solid underneath the foot. They also run a hair larger than I was used to, but I am fine using my normal size. Fits with my orthotic just fine. They’re just a little more hefty. Not massive or bulky, but it’s definitely a more substantial shoe than the ASICS “support” shoes like the Kayano or GT-2000. The 990’s just provide me with the right amount of support that I need for my larger frame. In a running shoe world that seems to go lighter and fluffier every year (which, again, is good for some), I’m glad the 990’s still offer support and mass for those who need it. And these never go out of style.

I've had my eye on the 990's for a long time but only recently pulled the trigger. These are one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I've ever worn, perhaps THE most comfortable. They are not cushy or soft, they are firm, supportive and unbelievably comfortable. I didn't buy them because of the "dad shoe" trend but they make of me think of my father who wore New Balance back in the day, he loved them. The design is absolutely classic if you're into that. On par with the exceptional comfort of them is the craftsmanship and quality of the materials. Literally the nicest pair of sneakers I've ever purchased, the quality, materials and stitching are unsurpassed. I've purchased a lot of shoes in my lifetime and while comfortable, I always seem to get to a point where I'm ready to take them off. The 990's provide ALL DAY comfort. They're not cheap, but they're not cheaply made either. These are super high quality materials, made in the USA by some of New Balance's very best craftsman. I have no previous experience with 990's to compare to, all I can tell you is they're a fantastic shoe, one of the best I've ever worn and won't be the last either. I'm typically somewhere between 2 and 4 E depending on the cut of the shoe (even in NB) but I went with Wide (2E) Fit is absolutely perfect.

Each pair of this series is a different fit, I use to able to order a 7 4E, not I have to order an 8 4E and compare, each size and color is different, poor sizing quality control but great shoes.

Great shoe good fit, for those that say the tongue slides down should try putting the laces thru the cut out on the tongue where it says 990, that’s what it is for.......... then your laces won’t slide down. Figured that out 10 years ago?.

The MOST comfortable shoes for standing all day!! Just wish they were more stylish.