Verdict from +100 user reviews
10 reasons to buy
- The New Balance 574 v2 is budget-friendly.
- Most reviewers regard it as a high-quality sneaker and recommend it to everyone.
- Comfort-wise, the New Balance Classics 574v2 is a standout, according to hundreds of testers.
- A handful of users with issues—such as neuropathy, chronic pain syndrome, foot injuries—express that the NB 574 v2 feels painless to wear.
- Its arch support and cushioning are remarkable, various reviewers have mentioned.
- The majority of shoppers note that the NB 574 v2 looks so vintage, timeless, and versatile.
- Some customers share about getting several compliments on their first day of wearing the NB 574 v2.
- A good deal of buyers say they like the colorways and plan on scooping another pair in different colors.
- Several wearers mention that the NB 574 v2 is lightweight and has good side support, which makes it even better for walking.
- A few users say the NB 574 v2 is perfect for the summer season.
3 reasons not to buy
- Several customers express that the NB Classics 574 v2 needs to be broken in as it feels stiff, especially the toe area.
- Some colors look different in person, according to a couple of online shoppers.
- A small group of users observes that the outsole doesn't grip well on wet surfaces.
Bottom line
Since its release in the late '80s, the classic New Balance 574 has undergone countless reiterations and collaborations. It became the Boston-based brand's perhaps most-storied silhouette. Now, New Balance has spiced it up with the NB 574 v2.
This updated version retains its original silhouette, looking as retro and as funky as it always has. But it's constructed with improved materials. Its leather/suede/mesh upper settles atop the brand's patented ENCAP-cushioned midsole.
Tip: see the best sneakers.
Good to know
Having a low-cut, well-padded collar, the New Balance 574 lets the ankles have full mobility and necessary support. Besides that, a traditional lace-up closure fastens up the flexible mesh/suede upper, providing the feet with a lockdown, custom fit. The NB 574 v2 sneakers are available to both sexes.
New Balance has long since prioritized functionality and quality. However, that does not mean that the brand is a failure in terms of style. In fact, New Balance has an unmistakable style brought by, perhaps ironically, its sharp focus on functionality and quality. Without consciously striving for it, New Balance has achieved its signature vintage effortless look. Such is what the NB 574 v2 silhouette embodies.
With its straightforward, unpretentious look, the NB 574 v2 easily pairs up with a range of casual and sporty staple wear. It looks at home in jeans, trousers, joggers, sweatpants, chinos, shorts, and in any active daytime wear. Men can go for a tee-shirt, sweater, or a hoodie for a top. Women can be as stylish as they want. Comfy dresses, long skirts, and skimpy shorts happen to look so good with the NB 574 v2. This model comes in an assortment of colorways, which range from muted to almost flashy. For example, dark navy/marred blue, marblehead/black, vintage indigo/black, light cliff gey/mineral green and more.
The 574 silhouette is the brand's most recognizable silhouette due to the heights of success it has reached. And it's not falling down in terms of popularity. If anything, the NB 574 proves to be more relevant than ever, as retros nowadays are getting stronger in the market and culture.
Though released over thirty years ago, the NB 574's staple looks, overall quality, and superb level of comfort remains among the best. This silhouette has conquered time and became the flagship model, on which New Balance invested.
In 1988, the 574 model, one of New Balance's most-famous shoes, came out. The 574 was initially designed as a technical running shoe, a hybrid of the off-road runners 575's and 576's best components. (The New Balance 5 series was mostly dedicated to off-road runners.) Though the 574 is among the company's most successful shoes, the model wasn't promoted when it first started—no features on neither magazines nor televisions. The 574 was not even included in the company's catalog at the time but simply started turning up on the shelves.
Customers saw the 574 and loved it. The shoe's design was simple and straightforward. Its style was not subject to the loud trends at the time since the shoes looked neutral. Having an off-road running shoe DNA, the 574 was so comfortable to wear on any terrain that it became a go-to "go-anywhere shoe." The passing years made the underdog 574 into a classic that its design remain unchanged for fifteen years since its initial release. The 574 v2 is New Balance's update to this classic silhouette.
- The removable EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) footbed delivers a bouncy cushioning underfoot and doesn't pack out with minimal wear.
- A TPU heel insert, found above the ENCAP system, makes for a supportive and stable stride.
- This NB model has a padded tongue and collar for extra comfort.
