7 Best New Balance Walking Shoes in 2024

How we test walking shoes

In selecting the shoes to test, we do not only concentrate on the popular ones but also give the little-known NB models equal priority to keep the competition fair. To give you an idea of how we keep our reviews as thorough as possible, here's what we do:

• We buy all the NB shoes, whether they're popular or not, expensive or cheap, using the money out of our own wallets. We do not depend on anyone but ourselves to obtain each pair to stay unclouded with our judgments.
• We feel the NB shoes with our feet. We bring them on daily walks, work, and other outdoor trips.
• We tear apart the NB shoes to see what's inside. We also test each pair in our lab and measure the weight of the shoe, softness of the midsole, breathability, heel counter stiffness, and other features relevant to walking. 

Choose the best cushioning in NB walking shoes

If you are looking for an ultra-plush experience that makes you feel like walking on marshmallows, look out for New Balance shoes with Fresh Foam and FuelCell foams.

Originally designed for the brand’s running shoes, these cushioning technologies offer an extraordinary level of shock absorption. We bet that someone who spends all day on their feet could use some of that impact protection as well.

Both foams also stand out with their amazing plushness. Based on our Shore A durometer measurements, the average midsole softness of a New Balance shoe with Fresh Foam is 15 HA.

Example of a New Balance walking shoe with Fresh Foam

The FuelCell foam proved to be even softer with a very low reading of 10 HA! For reference, the average midsole softness across all walking shoes in our lab is 25 HA.

Because Fresh Foam has been around for longer, it is more commonly present in NB walking shoes than the FuelCell. The latter is also considered more of a premium foam which is reflected in the price of shoes using it. Meanwhile, Fresh Foam can be found in a wide range of shoes with a price tag varying from $75 to $165.

Please keep in mind that neither Fresh Foam nor FuelCell are going to feel exactly the same in different NB shoes. Factors like stack height, other midsole components, the shoe’s overall geometry, etc. affect the way these foams feel in a given shoe.

The table below shows the varying midsole softness and stack heights in New Balance walking shoes. It is now up to you to decide how much plushness and ground feel you want to experience underfoot.

New Balance shoes for flat feet, overpronation, and plantar fasciitis

If you have a proven case of flat feet, complemented by a noticeable inward rolling of the foot (see image below), or a painful condition known as plantar fasciitis, we highly recommend that you consider more supportive walking shoes from New Balance.

If in doubt, see the illustration below to guide you. You can also learn more about pronation and arch support in our in-depth research on the topic.

New Balance shoes for flat feet and overpronation

As a footwear company that started off making arch supports, New Balance has accumulated a lot of expertise in this field. You can experience the brand’s practices by choosing shoes marked as stability or motion control. In the past, motion control was associated with a higher level of support but these days, the difference is blurred and both terms are used interchangeably.

Example of a New Balance walking shoe with arch support

The most supportive shoes from New Balance will meet the following criteria:

• Additional stability and arch support elements (i.e. a Stability Plane, a TPU shank, a dual-density midsole, or a Rollbar) that prevent the foot from collapsing inwards.
• High torsional rigidity that doesn’t let the shoe twist so easily.
• Stiff and well-padded heel counter that prevents the heel from sliding sideways.
• Wide platform that creates a large landing area to prevent the foot from spiling.

Here is an overview of stability/motion control New Balance shoes which have all of the features listed above:

For more options, take a look at our guide on walking shoes for flat feet.

New Balance walking shoes for plantar fasciitis

Supportive New Balance shoes also have the potential to relieve discomfort associated with plantar fasciitis (PF) - inflammation of the fascia that connects heels to toes.

You don’t necessarily need arch support for this condition unless you also have flat feet and overpronation but here is what you must look for in a shoe that’s suitable for plantar fasciitis:

• Well-cushioned platform: There should be at least 30 mm of platform thickness under the heel to keep the inflamed area buffered from the hard ground.
• Elevated heel: The heel-to-toe drop should be at least 8 mm high as it doesn’t activate foot muscles as much as low-drop shoes do.
• High torsional rigidity: A shoe that’s too flexible can trigger the condition so you want a stiffer and more supportive platform to minimize foot twisting and wobbling.
• Stiff and well-padded heel counter: a solid heel hold makes sure that the heel doesn’t work overtime and that the load is evenly distributed throughout the entire foot.

Example of a NB walking shoe for plantar fasciitis (demonstration of a stiff heel counter)

How to get the right size and fit in NB walking shoes

New Balance shoes in general have a very positive reputation for running true to size and fitting as expected. Here are a few tips to help you make sure that you’re getting the best possible fit in your future NB pair.

Size

New Balance has a rather straightforward sizing scheme with 5-mm intervals between half sizes and 10 mm between full sizes.

Knowing your precise foot length will help you navigate the brand’s sizes easily. Say you are a male who measured their foot length at 264 mm. Because you need about a thumbnail’s width of space between your longest toe and the shoe’s upper, New Balance’s size chart shows that a foot length of 264 mm corresponds to 270 mm of shoe length in Mondopoint (CM/JP) which in turn equates to men’s US size 9.

In our lab, we measure the internal length of all New Balance shoes in the same size (men’s US 9) to let you know if some shoes run shorter or longer than expected.

Fit

People with narrower or wider than average feet can always rely on New Balance for alternative width options. The brand’s width options for walking shoes range from Extra-Narrow (2A) to Extra-Wide (6E)!

According to the brand’s width chart, there is a 3-4 mm difference between New Balance widths.

But even in a Medium (D) width, our caliper measurements have shown that New Balance walking shoes have pretty accommodating toeboxes. Having measured the toebox width of these shoes in both the widest part and near the big toe, we found that some of the NB shoes have wider-than-average toebox dimensions.

Consider breathability and season

Going into a sweltering summer season, your future NB shoes must provide enough breathability to handle the heat. That’s why we perform several ventilation tests on every shoe in our lab.

Having pumped smoke into each shoe, examined its ventilation pores over the light, and even investigated its mesh structure under a microscope, we rated each New Balance walking shoe with a breathability score from 1 to 5.

Here is an overview of the most breathable New Balance shoes.

If, on the other hand, you need a shoe for the colder months, you can opt for a New Balance shoe with a lower breathability score or simply wear a thicker sock with a breathable one.

New Balance doesn’t offer any waterproof walking shoes but there are options with leather uppers that have some inherent water resistance.

Don’t overlook durability (New Balance shoes hardly ever disappoint)

Paying $140 or even $170 for a pair of walking shoes, you surely expect them to last you a good while. More than a season for sure.

We perform several demanding durability tests in our lab to put each New Balance shoe through its paces.

We drill various parts of the shoe with sandpaper and assess their abrasion resistance based on the amount of damage.

Some NB shoes are sturdy and durable overall while others have strong rubber outsoles but frail uppers, or vice versa. In the table below, we gathered the most hard-wearing New Balance walking shoes we’ve tested.

Curious observation: a cheaper shoe doesn’t always mean poorer durability.

*Toebox and heel padding durability are given a score from 1 to 5 where 5 is the most durable. Outsole durability shows the depth of the dent - the smaller the number, the stronger the rubber.

A few more things to consider when it comes to shoe durability:

• Look for a particularly durable heel padding/lining if you have overpronation, foot deformities, or if you tend to tear holes inside your shoes quickly.
• Choose shoes with more rubber/less exposed foam if you spend a lot of time on concrete, cobblestone, or other abrasive surfaces. A full-length rubber outsole is the most optimal in this case.

Are lifestyle New Balance sneakers good for walking?

Some of them, yes.

In general, the brand’s casual sneakers lack the same advanced cushioning technologies as its walking and running footwear. But it doesn’t mean that they aren’t comfortable enough for day-to-day use.

In most cases, these are just retro versions of NB’s running shoes of the past.

Having put dozens of New Balance sneakers through our rigorous testing process, we have filtered out the most cushioned, padded, and supportive options for walking and standing all day.