New Balance 991 v2 review

The 991 v2 should be the next main element of your OOTD if:

• You're looking for something really comfortable and durable to run errands all day every day.
• You settle for nothing but the best quality regarding not only design but also materials.
• You adored the v1 but wanted something lighter.
• You're a retro lover and the 90s vibes of this former runner make your heart melt.

The 991 v2 isn't here to make you believe in crazy price drop fairytales: it keeps the same steep price as the previous version. We believe its premium materials are totally worth it, yet we can see some people taking a step back when they check these sneakers' price tag. If you're looking for a cheaper pair and you are a New Balance lover, you might find this selection interesting.

This is a Made in UK pair. If you want to check the Made in USA models we have reviewed so far, here is our list! They are also premium quality and incredibly trendy nowadays. Don't miss out!

Even at first sight, it's easy to say that the 991 v2 is a cushioned shoe. We felt really comfortable during our wear tests, and our caliper confirmed it in the lab when it returned 35.2 mm. This New Balance pair is taller than average, which translates into great shock absorption and impact protection.

The forefoot follows the same example, as it's also higher than average. At 19.6 mm, we enjoyed this shoe's cushioning during our walks, as it completely erased the harsh urban surfaces underneath.

Even though both the rearfoot and the forefoot stacks of this New Balance are higher than average, the heel still comes on top. After doing our maths, we saw the 991 v2's drop goes all the way up to 15.6 mm.

The 991 v2 features a full-length FuelCell midsole that returned a rather firm score when we pressed our durometer against it. At 31.0 HA, we can't say this New Balance felt like a couple of clouds, but it kept our feet comfortable at all times.

In comparison with the first iteration, this second version is not that plush, but we felt an extra touch of stability during our long walks: this update features the classic ABZORB SBS pods and ENCAP cushioning.

At 5.0 mm, our caliper indicated the thickness of this insole is just average. But we aren't complaining, though! It felt cushy and comfortable, and that's what matters.

Our standard feet didn't feel like the 991 v2 was too tight on the toe area. To verify it, we conducted our gel test, where we create a mold of the shoe and measure it with our caliper.

At 93.0 mm, we can't say wide-feet sneakerheads will find their perfect match on this New Balance.

The good news is that this shoe doesn't taper like crazy. Our caliper returned 70.0 mm, which felt just nice on our standard-width feet.

We can't say the 991 v2 has a spacious fit, but our caliper returned 29.0 mm when we measured the toebox height. This, added to the stretchy mesh of the upper, offered us enough space to feel comfortable during our walks.

We felt pretty stable with this shoe during our wear tests. Even though the 991 v2 doesn't feature any specific stability technologies, our feet felt safe and balanced. After all, we're talking about a former runner, and it shows!

This New Balance's midsole didn't let us really twist the shoe. Our thumbs had such a hard time with this that we decided to give the 991 v2 a 4/5 on our torsional rigidity test. Undoubtedly, this added some extra points on stability.

Breaking with the rigid heel counter of the 991 v1, the 991 v2 scored a 2/5 on our heel counter stiffness test. We were actually pretty happy about this change, as it added extra points on comfort. This might also mean some loss of support, but former runner means... no more running!

One of the changes that we liked the most on this newest version is that it features a wider midsole. At 110.9 mm, our caliper indicated that it's not only wider than the v1's (107.9 mm) but also wider than average.

This provided us with a wider platform every time we landed, which felt great during our walks as it enhanced the overall stability.

The midsole at the heel follows the same path. Our caliper returned 87.0 mm, which is way higher than average. This provided us with plenty of space, and we really appreciated it when we had been walking for hours, as feet tend to get swollen.

Just like the previous iteration, the v2's midsole gets in the way when it comes to flexibility. Its dense composition makes the 991 stiffer than the average sneaker, as our tread gauge returned 30.4N when we pushed the shoe all the way up to 90 degrees.

This means that the 991 v2 might need a little bit of a warm-up to start following your feet moves closely. Even so, the ride is not as natural as the one we felt with other models of this same brand, such as the NB 530 (needed 17.8N on this same test), for example. Once again, and just like the v1, this stiffness comes in handy for people with foot conditions, as it prevents excessive foot flexion.

The second key point where we actually see a massive improvement in the 991 line is regarding weight. We could already tell this second version felt lighter on foot, but you know we always turn our ideas into numbers, so we grabbed our scale and put the shoe on it.

It returned 13.93 oz/395g, which is an average score. The thing is that the v2 is a whole 9% lighter than the v1, which stands at 15.31 oz/434g. Even though this might not sound like much, trust us, your feel will start to feel it after a couple of hours walking in this pair.

The best part of it all? That the durable upper and high-quality materials of this premium pair do not mean a heavier weight!

With the v1 earning a 5/5 on our breathability test, we had high expectations for the v2. And they were met! When we cut its upper in half, we noticed the light could easily shine through the mesh of its toebox.

This was great news, as it anticipated wonderful results regarding breathability. Our smoke machine confirmed it, look!

Thanks to our microscope, we could see the reason why. The 991 v2's material has big ventilation gaps. It reminds us of the 991 v1's, as it also features a second layer underneath.

All this just makes the perfect cocktail for the 991 v2 to get a perfect 5/5 on our breathability test. This makes the shoe perfect for any summer adventure, and the fact that its design sweetly balances a breathable forefoot with a structure rearfoot (even though it's made using the same mesh) just proves how much of a quality pair it is!

As expected from a premium model, it features premium materials. Even though we burned the suede of its rearfoot, there was no flame and no sticky mess as a result. Consequently, we can confidently say the 991 v2 features authentic suede.

Great breathability usually comes with low durability, yet this New Balance is ready to be the exception to the rule. We always place our Dremel in the very same spot, and the thing is that this model features a bigger protective layer around the toebox.

As you can see, the tool barely touches the mesh, as the top suede material shields it from the abrasive tool. This achievement alone has made us give the 991 v2 a solid 4/5 on our toebox durability test, which is a huge step ahead from the 1/5 the previous version scored on this same test.

We were pretty happy to see the heel didn't back down. It faced the Dremel bravely, earning another wonderful 4/5 on durability. Even though the tool rolled at 5K RPM and with 2N of force, it was not enough to make this supposedly more fragile part break down.

When we turned this shoe upside down, we were welcomed by the brand's wonderful NDurance rubber compound. When we pressed our durometer against it, it returned 88.0N, which is higher than average.

This indicates that the outer rubber focuses on durability. But there's a lighter and inner compound that we found was not as hard. At 82.5 HC, the rubber hugging the FuelCell technology is softer, creating a comfortable balance on every step.

At 10K RPM and with 2N of force, our Dremel tried to destroy the 991 v2's outsole. Once the time was up, we measured the dent left by the tool, which went all the way up to 1.0 mm.

It's an average result, so we expect this New Balance pair to last for a while before any worrying signs of wear appear on its rubber.

As the compound used is durable enough, New Balance didn't need to go for a big piece of rubber in order to make the outsole last. Our caliper returned 5.2 mm, which is just slightly lower than average. But after our Dremel test, we're not worried at all!

We walked for hours with this shoe around our city, and its runner soul tagged along in every step of the way. Why? Well, because the traction levels were just on point. We can't say this pair bites the floor like a hungry pup, yet the grip it offered was enough for us to feel safe and happy.

The pattern is slightly similar to the v1's... just like a distant cousin! It also features multiple flex grooves that allowed our feet to move more freely, as they added some flexibility to the shoe. The big longitudinal gap does pretty much the same, apart from reducing the overall weight!

A premium shoe with premium materials and... a premium price. Just like the previous iteration, the 991 v2 has nothing to do with some other cheaper New Balance models. You need to be ready to make the investment, and after our detailed analysis, we can say we believe it's worth the money. This stylish long-lasting pair looks good with pretty much anything, as its aesthetics are really trendy nowadays. But that's not all: its overall design is also made to last!

As expected from a pair of sneakers with this price tag, the 991 v2 features reflective elements all over its upper. You can see the shoe shine no matter where you are! From the top:

From the side:

And even from the back!

Even though the v2 is lighter than the v1, it features a thicker tongue, improving the overall comfort levels.

With a solid layer of foam that reaches 12.3 mm, we absolutely forgot about any kind of lace bite. This pillowy piece comes alongside strategically padded interiors that focus on the mid and rearfoot. All in all, this New Balance offers the best of both worlds: a well-ventilated toebox and a padded heel.

Following the retro aesthetics and 90's vibes, the 991 v2 doesn't have a heel tab. It keeps a clean touch with the name of the version and its lovely suede and leather accents.

As a master of insoles, New Balance added perforations and containing walls to the one this shoe features. As if that wasn't enough for us to love it, the brand also made sure it was removable!