Our verdict

The runner past of the retro 998 can be seen everywhere in its breathable structure. Its sporty look features premium quality materials and the famous ABZORB cushioning of the brand. We enjoyed our walks around town with it, as this New Balance pair was incredibly comfortable and flexible, bending alongside our feet easily. The best part is that its style is pretty easy to rock, as it looks good with many different outfits. Nevertheless, its high standards of workmanship come with a high price!

Pros

  • Wonderfully cushioned ride
  • High-quality and durable upper
  • Retro and stylish design
  • Nicely padded
  • Doesn't feel heavy on foot
  • Fairly grippy on urban surfaces
  • Breathable and flexible structure

Cons

  • High price-point
  • Not for wide feet

Audience verdict

87
Good!

Who should buy

We believe the New Balance 998 deserves a spot in your sneaker collection if you're looking for:

  • A casual model with a runner soul that is extra comfy to walk around all day.
  • A classic New Balance shoe with a top-notch design and premium materials.
  • Breathable and durable kicks that will stay by your side for a long time.

New Balance 998_outdoor_01

Who should NOT buy

This shoe's high-quality and durable design comes in a high price point. After all, it's part of the Made in USA collection! If you're looking for something more affordable, we recommend skipping the 99X models and going for the 237, the 574, or the 327.

The 998 doesn't have the most spacious toebox, which means big-feet sneakerheads might find it uncomfortable. If that's your case and you want a New Balance shoe with runner aesthetics, the 530 might be worth checking out!

New Balance 998-pieces

Cushioning

Heel stack

Our calliper had to open wide to measure this shoe's heel stack.

New Balance 998 Heel stack-1

At 34.1 mm, it's higher than average! It features a thick midsole that uses ABZORB cushioning, which offered us a soft and comfortable ride. As you might already imagine, this meant that our wear tests were bliss. We loved showing off this shoe whilst walking around town, running errands, or meeting some friends to grab a bite.

New Balance 998_outdoor_04

Test results
998 34.1 mm
Average 29.7 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

The 996 also has a forefoot higher than average.

New Balance 998 Forefoot stack-1

Our calliper returned 19.6 mm, which means our toes were protected from the harshness of urban surfaces. We really enjoyed this setup, as it offered us great shock absorption and made us want to keep walking!

Test results
998 19.6 mm
Average 18.8 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

The difference between the heel and the forefoot stacks is pretty big, which means this shoe's drop is higher than average.

New Balance 998 Drop-1

The drop of 14.5 mm sounds like a lot, but our feet didn't have to get used to it or anything. We felt the heel was higher than the toes, that's for sure, but this didn't make us walk in a different way, and it definitely wasn't uncomfortable either!

New Balance 998_outdoor_02

There's no such thing as a "good" or "bad" drop, it honestly just depends on personal preference!

Test results
998 14.5 mm
Average 10.9 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

After looking at the cut-up picture of the 998 in the last section, you can probably tell there are two different materials in the midsole. First, we have the white and grey one, right under the insole in the heel; and then, the white-ish one that goes all the way down to the outsole.

New Balance 998 Midsole softness-1

The foam closer to the foot got 24 HA when we measured it with our durometer, indicating it's softer than average.

New Balance 998 Midsole softness-2

On the other hand, the one that's closer to the ground returned 30.5 HA, which means it's harder than average.

We believe this design offers the best of both worlds: a comfortable and soft foam right under our feet and a harder one protecting us from the surface.

Test results
998 23.9 HA
Average 29.2 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 64 trainers
Number of shoes
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Insole thickness

There's nothing spectacular to say about this shoe's insole.

New Balance 998 Insole thickness-1

At 5.1 mm, its thickness is just average. We can't complain about it, but if you're not happy with it, you can always change it!

Test results
998 5.1 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

New Balance 998 is true to size (10 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 97 trainers
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

It was finally time to measure this shoe's toebox width, and we started with its widest part.

New Balance 998 Toebox width at the widest part-1

At 96.7 mm, it's narrower than average, which means wide-feet sneakerheads might not enjoy this pair to the fullest! But we still need to check the area closer to the toes, so there's still hope!

New Balance 998_outdoor_014

Test results
998 96.7 mm
Average 98.9 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
91.3 mm
Toebox width - widest part
105.3 mm

Toebox width - big toe

Our calliper returned 75.7 mm when we measured this shoe's toebox width at the big toe.

New Balance 998 Toebox width at the big toe-1

Even though this is higher than average, we still don't think the 998 is the best shoe for people with wide feet. Our standard-sized feet felt happy with this extra room at the tip, but the fact that this specific model is available only on standard (D) width might be an issue for some sneakerheads.

New Balance 998_outdoor_015

Test results
998 75.7 mm
Average 75.0 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
65.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
83.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The runner soul of this shoe can be seen in many of its features, one of them being its collar.

As you can see, it didn't let our ankles overextend themselves. Even though the 998 doesn't feature a plastic/tough leather upper that offers immovable containment, it's padded collar does the job perfectly well.

Torsional rigidity

Walking with this shoe was just fantastic. Our feet enjoyed every single step, and we can say it bent alongside their moves every single time.

Our fingers didn't struggle that much to twist and bend it. Even though it still offers some support, its materials focus on being comfortable, so it didn't put up much of a fight. That's why we have decided to give it a 3/5 on our torsional rigidity test.

Also, it has a rubberized wall right in the heel area, which didn't increase the torsional rigidity levels of the shoe. When you walk, you don't really bend the shoe in that part, so it just adds some extra structure to the overall design instead of making it more rigid.

Test results
998 3
Average 3.5
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Prioritising comfort once again, the brand didn't go for a crazy stiff heel counter.

As you can see, our thumb didn't struggle much, and the Achilles area didn't act like a wall either. After taking all this into account, we have decided to give this New Balance pair a 3/5 on our heel counter stiffness test.

New Balance 998_outdoor_05

Test results
998 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Our calliper opened up to 109.4 mm when we measured this shoe's midsole width in the forefoot.

New Balance 998 Midsole width in the forefoot-1

This result is higher than average, which means this New Balance has a wider base than average. Do you know what that means? A more stable ride!

Test results
998 109.4 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

The 998's midsole width in the heel is wider than average at 86.6 mm.

New Balance 998 Midsole width in the heel-1

Once again, this means there's a wider base that makes every step even more comfortable. 

Test results
998 86.6 mm
Average 83.2 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

After our torsional rigidity test, we already guessed the New Balance 998 would be pretty flexible. And we had the same feeling during our wear tests, as the shoe moved comfortably alongside our feet.

When we took it to our lab, we saw we needed 16.8N to make it bend all the way up to 90 degrees. This score is a solid 27% lower than average, which means this shoe is way more flexible than many of the shoes in its category.

New Balance 998_outdoor_09

We know we have already mentioned multiple times throughout this review just how comfortable the 998 is, but trust us, the fact that it's this flexible just makes every single walk with it even better!

Test results
998 16.8N
Average 22.9N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
51.8N

Weight

During our wear tests, we didn't feel this shoe was a burden to our feet. We can't say it's the lightest model out there, but it definitely didn't feel heavy to us.

At 13.9 oz/393.0g, the 998's weight is just average. We were really happy to learn this, as the thicker outsole and high-quality materials could've made it heavier.

New Balance 998 Weight-1

Nevertheless, once again, New Balance didn't disappoint!

Test results
998 13.86 oz (393g)
Average 13.86 oz (393g)
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

When we had a look at the New Balance 998, we couldn't see any ventilation gaps around!

As you can see, the light doesn't manage to get through any of its parts and shine brightly. Even though this made us feel suspicious, we still wanted to ask our smoke machine and microscope.

Check that out! This NB's toebox showed wonderful results: it let all the air go through its toebox with no problems. That thick and constant column showed us why our feet didn't feel toasty during our wear tests when temperatures went up.

Also, in comparison with the poor Jordan Legacy 312, which couldn't get more than a 1/5 on this same test, the performance of the 998 is even more impressive.

New Balance 998 Breathability-2

The mesh of the toebox is the main character here. Can you see those gaps in between the threads? The smoke moved freely past them, letting the shoe breathe.

New Balance 998 Breathability-3

In conclusion, we've decided to give the New Balance 998 a fantastic 4/5 on our breathability test.

Test results
998 4
Average 3
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

To check the leather and suede quality of a shoe, we use our butane torch and scratch awl. First, we burn the material, and then we start scratching to see how it responds.

The N of the logo was our first victim. As you can see, it doesn't melt, and there isn't a big flame at the beginning. Consequently, it's authentic.

The suede central panel doesn't burst into flames either, and it doesn't show a sticky texture after the test. Once again, we can verify it's authentic!

Last but not least, the suede of the heel patch also showed us that fire was not enough to make it melt! Wonderful news yet again: it's authentic!

Toebox durability

The high-quality materials of this New Balance pair made us have high expectations on the toebox durability test. We know our Dremel is a force to reckon with, though, so we had to see it with our own 2 eyes!

We drilled non-stop during 12 seconds at 5K RPM and with 3.2N of force. Once we put the tool aside, we were pretty happy with the results.

New Balance 998 Toebox durability-3

As you can see in the picture, the suede overlayer fought the Dremel bravely, and it ended up with some damage. But it was no way near enough for us to panic.

New Balance 998 Toebox durability-2

Look at the New Balance 530, which is the brown shoe on the right. Now that would make us panic! This pair couldn't get more than a 1/5 on our toebox durability test, as our Dremel made a big hole on the upper. On the other hand, the 998 managed to score a 4/5 on this same test. Which is a fantastic result!

Test results
998 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

We moved the tool all the way back to the heel to check its durability.

The 4 seconds of this test must've felt like an eternity to the NB 998, as its heel padding tried to survive the drilling. But it ended up pretty messed up!

New Balance 998 Heel padding durability-3

That might not look like a big mess to you, but let us show you the heel of the New Balance 990 v1 right after this same test.

New Balance 998 Heel padding durability-2

On the left, the 998 and its 2/5 on our heel padding durability test. On the right, the 990 v1 and its 5/5 on this same test. As you can see, the material doesn't even have a scratch!

Test results
998 2
Average 3.2
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

This shoe's outsole has two clearly divided sections: a black and a white one.

New Balance 998_outdoor_011

The black one is definitely a rubber compound, but the white one is basically an extension of the midsole's material. In other words, we're talking about two completely different things here!

To check the hardness of these two outsole sections, we grabbed our durometer and pressed it against them.

New Balance 998 Outsole hardness-1

The black rubber compound scored 84.6 HC, which is average. This means it'll offer a healthy mix between grip and durability. But we will have to ask our Dremel about that!

New Balance 998 Outsole hardness-2

When we measured the white section, it returned 55.5 HC, which is 35% lower than average! Trust us, that really is a lot. This most likely means that the material is not very durable, even if its traction levels are high!

Test results
998 84.6 HC
Average 85.4 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
91.3 HC

Outsole durability

We always put our Dremel in the same spot on the durability test. In this case, it landed on the black rubber material, and we expect it to endure the drilling session much better than its white counterpart!

After 22 seconds at 10K RPM and with 3.2N of force, we put the tool aside to see the results. And, wow, it looked pretty good! So we got our tread gauge and measured the depth of the dent.

New Balance 998 Outsole durability-2

It returned 0.6 mm, which is way lower than average. This translates into wonderful durability, which is always great news!

Test results
998 0.6 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 80 trainers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

When our calliper marked 6.0 mm measuring the outsole thickness, we were pretty excited!

New Balance 998 Outsole thickness-1

This result is higher than average, which means the shoe uses a bigger chunk of rubber to protect our underfoot from the surface. The 998 promises great durability with its hard outsole and thick rubber piece.

New Balance 998_outdoor_06

Test results
998 6.0 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

We already had a quick look at the outsole and its materials on the hardness outsole section, but now we're going to talk about its capabilities to bite every surface you step on.

New Balance 998_outdoor_010

Honestly, we can't complain. Its traction is fairly good, and the flex grooves let the shoe bend in any direction it needed during our wear tests. We enjoyed showing the 998 off every day, as its quality materials and pliable structure were a fantastic duo!

Price

As a part of the Made in USA collection, the 998 has a high price point. We found it features top-notch materials, and the whole shoe boasts wonderful quality while keeping its classic New Balance look.

It also contains a domestic value of 70% or more, as the brand's website states!

New Balance 998_outdoor_07

If you don't want to spend that much or you're on a budget, the New Balance 574 might be worth checking out. It has a very similar vibe and you can also wear it from sunrise to sunset!

Test results
998 $184.99
Compared to 108 trainers
Number of shoes
£60
Price
£220

Reflective elements

Time to shine!

The 998 might not feature a heel tab, but it includes reflective elements on the heel area, which is really cool!

Test results
998 Yes

Tongue padding

A fairly padded tongue makes sure our feet don't experience any kind of lace bite.

New Balance 998 Tongue padding-1

At 8.0 mm, our instep was protected and comfortable. Also, this tongue being less padded than average didn't have a negative effect on our feet. Quite the contrary, as it reduced the shoe's overall weight!

New Balance 998_outdoor_013

Test results
998 8.0 mm
Average 9.1 mm
Compared to 81 trainers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

Heel tab

This New Balance doesn't have a heel tab.

New Balance 998_outdoor_012

But we didn't miss it or anything. In fact, we can't wait to show you what this shoe features in that area! Stay tuned!

Test results
998 None

Removable insole

As usual, New Balance decided to include a removable insole in the 998.

New Balance 998 Removable insole-1

Consequently, if you want or need to change it and use your own orthotics, this pair won't complain at all!

New Balance 998 Removable insole-2

Test results
998 Yes