Facts
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 5.9 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what sneaker fanatics think:
16 reasons to buy
- The very popular New Balance 574 Core Plus is so durable which makes it a go-to footwear for walking, running errands, and practically general wear.
- One reviewer noted that this sneaker is comfortable straight out of the box. No need for a break-in time.
- A good number of female reviewers with narrow feet are so pleased with their half-size up purchase of this 574 Core Plus variety.
- Sturdy yet lightweight.
- Very fashionable and there are lots of color varieties.
- Reviewers said this sneaker did not give them any foot discomfort, even when used throughout the day.
- Delighted reviewers mentioned there is enough room in the toe box, and this sneaker is not too tight or too loose.
- The ankle support is right in place.
- A great buy as it is really versatile. Some reviewers bought more than a pair of this shoe.
- This low-top New Balance 574 Core Plus lasts for a long time. According to a reviewer who is mostly on her feet all day, this sneaker holds up flawlessly for more than a year of use.
- A cushiony and supportive New Balance 574 edition.
- Reviewers are delighted with the extra laces that come with this lifestyle sneaker.
- A pair of kicks that is dependable as it matches well with a wide variety of clothing.
- One who has plantar fasciitis finds this low-top 574 Core Plus by New Balance so comfortable.
- A male reviewer with Achilles tendonitis noted that the higher heel elevation of this sneaker helps alleviate his ankle pain.
- A male reviewer wore this shoe without socks, and it is still comfortable.
6 reasons not to buy
- Has lots of padding which makes it too warm during the summer months.
- More than a handful of male reviewers who really like the style of the New Balance 574 Core Plus are disappointed that it is not available in wide sizes.
- One male reviewer mentioned his shoe did not last for more than two months while another said his sneaker started to have flaws in half a year.
- It hurts the bunions of a female reviewer.
- A narrow-footed male reviewer said the D-width given to this shoe is too snug for him.
- A female wear-tester with narrow feet said the medium-size width is tight fitting.
Bottom line
Sneaker enthusiasts and the N logo devotees are drawn to the vintage allure of the New Balance 574 Core Plus. This shoe, which was initially offered to female consumers, comes in a wide range of feminine colors. The design options for the men are varied too, which is the main reason why this model is much-sought-after.
Getting the appropriate size is the key to love this narrow-fitting shoe over and over as it is highly recommended by reviewers who are pleased with the comfort it gave their feet. However, those with generally broad feet suggest that New Balance offer a more extensive width option for this shoe. Reviewers find the price tag of the 574 Core Plus very affordable that some of them could not resist copping more than one colorway to add to their sneaker rotation.
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Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are running shoe geeks, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
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New Balance 574 Core Plus History
One brand that has catapulted to popularity back in the 1980s as a dependable name in the running circuit is New Balance. Runners around the globe have developed fondness over NB’s performance-ready running shoes, specifically its advanced trainer the 574 that was built with an eye-catching design.
TheNew Balance 574 men’s shoe, which was unveiled in 1988, is built with premium materials and high standards of craftsmanship, factors that have lured strings of supporters to this shoe. The upper is layered with either suede or leather combined with a breathable nylon mesh.
The real standout feature of this shoe is the New Balance engineering integrated into the midsole, called the ENCAP. This technology helps protect the foot from impact as it can absorb shock and diffuse it to a broader area.
The 574 is one of the familiar silhouettes of New Balance that NB fanatics have been drawn to over the years, much as they loved its predecessor which is also a heritage running shoe, the 996. The popularity of the 574 continues to have a recall among consumers even after the brand has come up with other products, namely the athletic walking shoe New Balance 576 and the army-inspired New Balance 577.
Gradually, the running and jogging population was taken over by the emergence of the popular culture towards the new century. While a considerable number of runners continued to beat their personal best with reliable NB trainers, a more significant foot market clamored for casual sneakers which need not have any performance abilities to it. Footwear companies including New Balance adhered to this trend.
After 15 years from the inception of the New Balance 574, in 2003, this shoe finally migrated into the sneaker world. A re-imagined version of this much-favored vintage runner was reintroduced carrying the same old DNA but in a much-updated form. The upper of this retro-style shoe was redressed in various color patterns much to the delight of sneaker enthusiasts and New Balance aficionados.
Soon enough, this well-loved NB silhouette and formerly a men’s trainer became a favorite reference for design makeovers with offerings addressed to the women consumers as well. Its upper received a multitude of innovative color schemes and a combination of updated materials, which evolved from subdued to vibrant tones, from simple to extravagant themes.
In 2013 alone, the New Balance 574 was unveiled in a series of collection releases. During the pre-Summer season, New Balance dropped a six-pair Rainbow Pack with three designs made for the women and the rest of it for the men.
The title of this sneaker speaks for itself as the collection is a splash of flamboyant colors. The upper of each shoe is made with a metallic finish and a refraction that produces different hues. The semi-opaque soles of these summer-inspired shoes deliver an attractive gradient effect.
New Balance continued to entice its women consumers with the drop of the Rugby Pack done in four attention-grabbing feminine Pantone combinations. This time the New Balance 574 received an all-canvas upper showcasing the different collegiate-inspired colorways. One of the artistic elements in this sneaker is the labeling on the tongue which was inspired by the Rugby logo concept.
At the peak of summer the same year, New Balance unleashed another colorful pack which retained the DNA of its original 574 runner. Branded as the New Balance 574 Core Plus, this pack was initially offered to the women. The upper is made of breathable mesh combined with leather and suede overlays and designed with contrasting tones.
It did not take long before the brand released a version of the 574 Core Plus for the men. The men’s edition is also constructed with the same material as the women’s. However, the sneaker offerings for the men are covered with a solid colored upper highlighted by white branding on the side panels, heel tab, and midsole. The same single-tone rendering on its cover is reflected on the outsole which makes this shoe very masculine.
New Balance 574 Core Plus Style
The New Balance 574 Core Plus, a low-top lifestyle sneaker, is dressed in a multitude of colorways for the women and a handful of tones for the men. The 574 Core Plus for women is made with a splash of contrasting colors, which instantly add a glow to one’s casual or dressy outfit, and offers that desirable summer or spring look. The monotone options available for the men speak of simplicity, which makes the designs so versatile to dress up or dress down. The silhouettes offered to both genders look even more charming when paired with a slim-fit denim or tapered pants, khakis, shorts, and leggings.
Fit & Sizing
The low-top New Balance 574 Core Plus is offered in an array of colors for the women and men, which generally runs narrow. According to wear-testers, those with broad feet are advised to get a full size higher than their usual size as this sneaker may feel too snug when laced up. Those with narrow feet are recommended to get a half size higher than typical shoe length. Regarding width measurement, it is standard for the women, medium for men. The sizing options are from 5 to 12 US and 7.5 to 16 US for the women’s and men’s respectively. The traditional lacing design of this shoe offers a personalized, secure fit.
Notable Features
The 574s, in general, comes in a multitude number of colors. The low-top New Balance 574 Core Plus pack for men and women add to the growing selection of tones available for this vintage-inspired silhouette. The core of the old trainer which is the ENCAP technology is built into this sneaker. Although this edition does not have the exact elements that will propel runners to achieve their personal best, this re-imagined version still offers cushioning and support that sneaker enthusiasts can benefit from.
Additional Info
- The low-top New Balance 574 Core Plus is made of a long-lasting rubber outsole.
- Aside from the New Balance 574 Core Plus, Rainbow Pack, and the Rugby Pack initially released for the women consumers in 2013, the brand dropped another collection of the 574 named the Alpine Pack in Summer/Autumn. This sneaker is made of canvas and subtle leather detailing.
- Among the prominent figures who got hit by the New Balance 574 fever are American producer-rapper-entrepreneur Pharell Williams and American Actor David Boreanaz.