Our verdict

One of New Balance's top offerings for tennis, we found the 996 v6 a solid performance shoe. Stable and propulsive, it accommodates fast and shifty movements all over the court. And it's a must to consider if you mostly play in hot conditions. On the downside, the shoe's poor durability kept it from getting to our best tennis shoe picks but if you can catch a discount, you won't regret it.

Pros

  • One of the most breathable tennis shoes
  • Lively and propulsive cushioning
  • Excellent impact protection
  • Very secure foot containment
  • Highly stable platform
  • Comfortable step-in feel
  • Reliable grip
  • Wide option available

Cons

  • Serious lack of durability
  • Heavier than average

Audience verdict

58
Bad!

Who should buy

The 996 v6 should be on your radar if:

  • you have a speedy playing style and move around the court a lot
  • you need a highly breathable tennis shoe to survive hot summer sessions

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 review

Who should NOT buy

The lack of durability in the shoe's upper and toe drag guard was a major turnoff for us. If you are an aggressive slider, we recommend investing in a better-reinforced shoe. The NikeCourt Vapour Pro 2, for example, has a similar price and parameters but shows better signs of longevity.

On the other hand, if you are bothered by the above-average weight of the 996 v6, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 is one of the best lightweight tennis shoes out there. It is also exceptionally durable and breathable.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

We never lacked cushioning or impact protection in the New Balance 996 v6.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Heel stack

With a calliper reading of 29.8 mm, the shoe's heel stack proved to be on par with the average.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 29.8 mm
Average 29.3 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

Our forefoot also received a nice buffer upon landings thanks to the shoe's 21.4 mm forefoot stack.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Forefoot stack

We felt confident choosing the 996 v6 for long sessions as it took good care of the balls of our feet and didn't leave them beaten up afterward.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 21.4 mm
Average 19.6 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
16.1 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Drop

We measured the heel-to-toe drop of the New Balance 996 v6 at 8.4 mm.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Drop

It is a very safe offset for most players because it's neither too low to strain the Achilles nor too high to push the toes forward.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 8.4 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
6.2 mm
Drop
14.7 mm

Midsole softness

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

New Balance kept the shoe's tongue padding minimal at 4.7 mm which is a few millimetres thinner than average.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Tongue padding

But it certainly did not cut back on the collar padding. It is as abundant as it could possibly be!

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 26.4 HA
Average 28.4 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
17.1 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Insole thickness

The primary cushioning is complemented by a comfortable well-padded insole. We measure its thickness at 4.8 mm in the heel.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Insole thickness
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 4.8 mm
Average 5.2 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.9 mm
Insole thickness
7.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

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Toebox width - widest part

On its official product page, New Balance states that the fit of the 996 v6 is great for narrow feet.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 fit

Contrary to that statement, our medium-width feet felt very nicely accommodated in this New Balance shoe.

What's more, our calliper confirmed that its toebox offers as much space as the average tennis shoe.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Toebox width - widest part

We measured a standard 101.9 mm in the widest part of the forefoot.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 101.9 mm
Average 101.0 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
96.3 mm
Toebox width - widest part
105.0 mm

Toebox width - big toe

We also found that the shoe's toebox has a rounded shape showing as much as 79.7 mm at the big toe point. That's a few millimetres wider than some of the other D-medium shoes we measured in a men's US size 9.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Toebox width - big toe

Players with wide feet shouldn't give up on the NB 996 v6 either because it is also available in wide options (2E for men and D for women).

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 79.7 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
74.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
81.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Another positive change we saw in the 6th version of the 996 is its enhanced stability.

We could feel the difference in foot containment and side-to-side support as we performed more forceful lateral movements and rapid direction changes.

Torsional rigidity

One major stability component that remained unchanged from the v5 is the chicken-foot shank that runs through the bottom of the shoe.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 shank

Together with the firm raised midsole sidewalls, it helps to create a rather rigid platform to prevent the shoe from twisting and wobbling during agile movements on the court.

After the unsuccessful attempts to twist the NB 996 v6 in our manual test, we rated its torsional rigidity with the highest stiffness score of 5.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 5
Average 4.3
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

According to New Balance, the v6 received a higher collar and a tighter heel lockdown.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 vs v5 collar height comparison

In a side-by-side comparison, the difference in collar height appears to be very minor. But we can subscribe to better heel lockdown as we could feel a notable upgrade in the v6!

The shoe's heel counter got stiffer and more structured and refused to yield in our manual test. On a stiffness scale from 1 to 5, we gave it a high score of 4.

The 996 v6 gives a very secure slip-free experience in the rearfoot.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 4
Average 3.9
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

The shoe also provided a very steady and planted experience thanks to its wide platform.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Midsole width - forefoot

There is a protruding flange on the lateral side of the forefoot which showed 115.3 mm in the widest part. A few millimetres wider than the average, it offered a reliable base for side-to-side landings and charged push-offs.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 115.3 mm
Average 111.9 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
105.3 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
117.4 mm

Midsole width - heel

The heel doesn't skimp on the landing area either. Our calliper measured 89.7 mm in its widest part which is a standard width for tennis shoe heels.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Midsole width - heel
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 89.7 mm
Average 89.5 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
Midsole width - heel
99.7 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

Its funky chicken shank loaded the 996 v6 with a great deal of stiffness.

Using a force gauge, we discovered that it takes 44.6N which is about 40% more force than average to bend this New Balance shoe to a 90-degree angle.

We believe that this is what helped the 996 v6 feel so ready to go! The shoe has a propulsive nature to it which made our sprints to the net feel nice and charged. Paired with its stable platform, it creates a pretty speedy experience, just as the brand promised.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 44.6N
Average 31.3N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
18.8N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
52.0N

Weight

New Balance positions the 996 v6 as a tennis shoe for a "speedier type of play," also mentioning that its design is inspired by racing cars. Unfortunately, we didn't see that reflected in the shoe's weight.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Weight

Our scale returned 13.8 oz (390g) in a men's US size 9 which is a whole ounce heavier than average. What's more, the v6 gained some serious weight over its previous version - the 996 v5 came in at only 11.9 oz (336g)! 

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 shoe weight

But on the bright side, the shoe doesn't feel heavy on foot thanks to its propulsive midsole and a shank (more on that below).

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 13.76 oz (390g)
Average 12.84 oz (364g)
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
10.30 oz (292g)
Weight
14.71 oz (417g)

Breathability

Copying the outsole pattern from its predecessor, the gripping capacity of the 996 v6 felt exactly the same.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 traction pattern

We had no issues starting and stopping on a sixpence or retaining speed on corners.

Breathability

New Balance promised "breathability during long matches on hot days" and the 996 v6 delivered it!

Look how incredibly fast the smoke passed through the shoe's toebox! We rarely see this level of ventilation in tennis shoes because it is usually a trade-off with durability (unfortunately, that's the case for the 996 v6 too but more on that below).

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Breathability under microscope

The secret lies in the shoe's highly porous net mesh where thousands of ventilation holes let the air in and out without any obstruction.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Breathability microscope test

Without a doubt, this is one of the most breathable tennis shoes we've tested earning the highest score of 5.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 5
Average 3.4
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toe guard durability

Now to the trade-offs. The other side of the shoe's impressive breathability is its catastrophic lack of wear resistance.

In less than 22 seconds of drilling it, the translucent toe guard was completely destroyed by sandpaper! We couldn't believe how weak the shoe's protection was.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Toe guard durability test

Unfortunately, we don't think that the NB 996 v6 can stand up against aggressive sliding and that is reflected in the shoe's very low toe guard durability score.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 1
Average 2.6
Compared to 8 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toe guard durability
5

Toebox durability

Obviously, the shoe's net mesh is not the strongest material either.

After applying sandpaper to the exposed fabric for 12 seconds, we saw some pretty notable damage.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Toebox durability comparison
New Balance 996 v6 vs. On The ROGER Pro 2

But we should still give that mesh some credit because it resisted the Dremel long enough to prevent a glaring hole. It did even better than the £200 ROGER Pro 2 (on the right)!

That's why we upped the toebox durability score to 3 out of 5.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 31 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Looking at the shoe's inner lining, we also believe that New Balance could've done better.

Assessing the damage left by a 4-second Dremel test, we couldn't rate it any higher than 2 out of 5.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Heel padding durability comparison
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 2
Average 3.1
Compared to 31 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

At the bottom of the NB 996 v6, we found both hard and translucent types of rubber in the shoe's outsole.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 outsole

Using a Shore C durometer, we measured the hardness at 90.0 and 89.0 HC respectively. Nearly identical compounds.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Outsole hardness

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 90.0 HC
Average 86.1 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
79.0 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

We applied our Dremel to the hard rubber part of the outsole for 22 seconds. The speed was set to the demanding 10K RPM.

The material fought back rather well developing only 1.0 mm of damage. This is a good result for a tennis shoe in this price range. 

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Outsole durability test
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 1.0 mm
Average 0.8 mm
Compared to 31 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

We were also glad to see as much as 4.5 mm of outsole thickness in the 996 v6.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Outsole thickness

Overall, we found the shoe's outsole sufficiently hard, abrasion-resistant, and thick to last as long as the average tennis shoe outsole.

But a durability warranty would've made us more reassured.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 4.5 mm
Average 4.2 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

Copying the outsole pattern from its predecessor, the gripping capacity of the 996 v6 felt exactly the same.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 traction pattern

We had no issues starting and stopping on a sixpence or retaining speed on corners.

Price

The retail price of the New Balance 996 v6 sits right in the middle of tennis shoes.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Price

For this price range, we believe that the shoe offers excellent performance with its nimble and propulsive ride.

But because it lacks in the durability department we don't think that the 996 v6 deserves the full price.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 $135
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
£65
Price
£200

Tongue padding

New Balance kept the shoe's tongue padding minimal at 4.7 mm which is a few millimetres thinner than average.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Tongue padding

But it certainly did not cut back on the collar padding. It is as abundant as it could possibly be!

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 4.7 mm
Average 7.7 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.1 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue of this New Balance shoe has gussets on both sides which we found quite helpful during forceful lateral movements.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Tongue: gusset type

We experienced no tongue shifting and the overall lockdown felt like a race car bucket seat.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 laces

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Both sides (full)

Heel tab

The NB 996 v6 is very agreeable during on-and-off despite not having any finger loops or pull tabs to hold on to.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Heel tab
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 None

Removable insole

It takes no effort to remove the insole of the 996 v6 in case you need a pair of orthotics.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6 Removable insole
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Yes