New Balance 990 v6 review

We believe that the 990 v6 would be a perfect match for someone who:

• wants a dad shoe vibe of the 990 series but with a modern twist;
• values premium quality and craftsmanship of shoes that are made in the USA;
• prefers casual kicks with the latest tech from running shoes (the v6 uses FuelCell foam for cushioning).

The New Balance 990 v6 comes exceptionally close to being flawless. We believe that for most people the biggest drawback of this sneaker would be its price point.

With an MSRP of $200, it is nearly $80 more than the average sneaker! But luckily, New Balance has much more affordable silhouettes with a similar vibe. Have a look at the preceding 990 v3, the numerous color options of the 2002R, or the chunky beauty of the 9060.

With a caliper measurement of 39.1 mm, the 990 v6 turns out to have the thickest midsole in the 990 series. The OG shoe came in at 34.4 mm.

Aside from offering even more comfort and cushioning, the shoe also adds a few millimeters to the wearer's height.

The forefoot stack in the 990 v6 also turns out to be on the thicker side at 23.8 mm. It is a bit taller than average which may feel odd and disconnected for people used to low-profile sneakers like Adidas' Sambas and Superstars.

We couldn't help but notice that the 990 v6 felt more elevated under the heel, creating a 15.3 mm slope from the heel to the toes.

While this is a matter of personal preference, we must point out this higher-than-average measurement. Some people do enjoy the added cushion under the heel while others feel as though they are slightly sliding forward in sneakers like that.

But if you've worn New Balance's 550 (15.7 mm drop), this setup is going to feel familiar.

The 6th 990 edition introduces one of the most dramatic updates in the series: the brand-new FuelCell cushioning. This foam migrated from NB's running footwear and is known by the athletes for its cloud-like characteristics. It is used in many elite, performance-oriented kicks from the brand.

We couldn't believe how much squishier and bouncier the 990 got thanks to the FuelCell! It feels nothing like the firm EVA of the first 990.

As our durometer shows, the FuelCell is notably softer with a reading of 28.3 HA. For reference, the v1 had a measurement of 35.0 HA (24% firmer).

As if a thick slab of FuelCell foam wasn't enough, New Balance also packed a generously padded insole into the 990 v6. According to our caliper, it is over a millimeter thicker than average at 6.6 mm!

Fit-wise, the 990 v6 feels like a perfect match from the strart! New Balance never skimps on toebox space.

Measuring the shoe's gel mold in the widest area, our caliper showed 94.1 mm. This is a tiny bit wider than average but is ideal for medium-width feet.

The 990 v6 has some slight tapering but it doesn't make the wiggle room feel any tighter. Moving our caliper to the big toe area of the mold, it returned 67.3 mm of width. 

We also found plenty of vertical space in the NB 990 v6. Measuring it toebox height, we got an above-average reading of 31.2 mm. No pinching or pressure on the toes to be reported here.

Stability and arch support were ingrained into the 990 shoes from the very first edition back in 1982. As technologies evolved over the years, the 990 v6 (released in 2022) embodied the best practices in this department.

Testing the shoe's lateral stability with a side-to-side ankle movement, our jaws dropped on our shoes in amazement... The 990 v6 delivers some of the best support you can find in casual sneakers! In fact, it feels just as stable as the ASICS Gel Kayano 30, a running shoe dedicated to severe overpronation!

So if you have flat feet, overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot), plantar fasciitis, or any other condition that requires a strong arch support, the New Balance 990 v6 is one of the best sneakers you can get.

The primary stabilizing component of the 990 v6 is of course the brand's proprietary ENCAP rim around the heel. Made of stiff polyurethane, it wraps around the rearfoot, clutches it firmly, and leaves no chance for awkward ankle rolls.

It added so much torsional rigidity to the sneaker that we could barely twist it in our manual test. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest, the 990 v6 clearly deserves the maximum 5.

But support doesn't end with the midsole. We found that the 990 v6 also made sure that our heels were securely held inside the heel cup.

Checking the shoe's heel counter stiffness with a squeeze-and-push test, we felt a good amount of rigidity. We rated it as 4 on a 1-5 stiffness scale.

The ensemble wouldn't be complete without a broad platform to step on. And the 990 v6 nails it again. We believe that it's almost impossible to lose balance in this aircraft carrier of a shoe.

We measured the widest area of the shoe's forefoot at 113.8 mm which is a few millimeters more than the average sneaker. Based on our lab data, very few sneakers extend past 112 mm.

Forget about spilling your foot over the edge of a shoe. The 990 v6 comes with a wider-than-average platform in the heel too!

Our caliper measurement shows that the widest area of the heel measures 88.0 mm.

Balancing stability and flexibility without compromising either is one of the eternal struggles in shoe design. The original 990 v1 release was extensively marketed as the shoe that got it right. And we found it to be true.

However, in the 990 v6, the balance shifted more toward support, causing the shoe to lose some pliability.

Using a force gauge, we found that it takes more force to bend the v6 than it takes an average sneaker. To be precise, it takes 20% more! 

With the added padding and midsole foam, the 990 v6 happens to be visually heavier than it is.

Let us reassure you of the shoe's amazing lightness by putting it on the scale. With a surprising weight of 12.9 oz (366g) in a men's US size 9, the v6 is not only an ounce lighter than average but also lighter than the preceding v5 (13.7 oz/388g)!

Even when wearing the shoe all day, we never felt dragged down by the v6.

With suede layers all over it, the 990 v6 doesn't give the impression of a breathable sneaker. But get the shoe on and you will be convinced of the opposite.

The mesh panels on this sneaker did a fabulous job of letting the heat escape and keeping our feet refreshed throughout the day.

You can see how easily the smoke passes through the shoe's fabric in our in-house breathability test. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most breathable, we confidently granted the highest score to the 990 v6. It is a summer-ready one for sure!

Just look at how thin and transparent the mesh parts of the upper are!

A closer look at them through our microscope revealed pretty large gaps in between the chain links. 

For comparison, let's take a look at the upper mesh on the original 990. That shoe had the lowest breathability score in the 990 collection.

With its above-average price tag and "Made in USA" claim, the 990 v6 calls for a thorough quality check.

To test whether the shoe's suede was real, we attempted to set it on fire with a butane torch. Luckily, the material didn't catch fire or melt away which only confirmed its genuineness.

Keeping suede overlays to a minimum, New Balance made the 990 v6 highly breathable but also highly sensitive to abrasion in the toebox area.

The mesh fabric here is so thin and delicate that it was entirely blown by the touch of our Dremel.

After applying the tool's sandpaper tip for 12 seconds at a consistent speed (5K RPM) and force (3.2N), the sneaker ended up with a large see-through hole.

It is quite common for a breathable shoe to fall short of upper durability. But it doesn't mean you can't find exceptions that have both!

The New Balance 1906R, for example, is a rear case of both great ventilation and durability.

Looking at the shoe's mesh inner lining, we didn't expect it to show better-than-average durability results.

After drilling the textile for 4 seconds at a 5K RPM speed, it showed some moderate wear and tear but nothing critical. Thus, we rated the shoe's heel padding durability with an average score of 3.

If you are annoyed by the premature outsole wear on your sneakers, the NB 990 v6 is about to turn that around.

This sneaker inherits the extra hard Ndurance rubber from its predecessors for a good reason. Measuring its precise firmness with a durometer, we got a reading of 89.0 HC. It is one of the hardest rubbers we've seen in lifestyle sneakers.

And why does that matter? Harder materials tend to have better abrasion resistance as shown in our Dremel test below.

To put the shoe's outsole through its paces, we set the Dremel speed to the unforgiving 10K RPM.

We held the tool's relentless tip against the same spot for 22 seconds and then measured the newly formed dent with a tread gauge.

Showing a barely visible 1.0 mm of damage, we can confirm that the 990 v6 was built to last.

Perhaps in an attempt to shave off some weight, New Balance went for a slightly thinner outsole in the 990 v6. But no need to worry, at 4.4 mm, it is thick enough to offer plenty of protection.

It looks like there are more reflective elements on the 990 v6 than there are on any of the previous editions. Front, side, and back - you stay visible from every angle!

Unlike the OG shoe, the more recent versions of the 990 (v6 included) come with pretty generous in-shoe padding.

Measuring the v6's tongue, our caliper showed 10.2 mm of thickness which is a bit puffier than average.

The shoe's tongue is wide and well-padded which sort of eliminates the need for the gussets in the first place.

Despite the absence of a pull tab, we found it easy to slide into the 990 v6. That is thanks to the shoe's collar shape.

Need to wear a custom orthotic? This is not a problem at all as the shoe's stock insole can be removed in a second.

On its official website, New Balance warns that the styles manufactured before summer 2023 have a flying NB logo on the heel (just like in our pair). However, shoes produced after that feature a flag emblem instead.

Don't get confused as you can might get either one.