****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
First things first, I had to return them which really is a shame. I love the style of this shoe. The problem I have with any walking shoe is that the heel slips. Apparently most walking/running shoes made for women are produced on the same forms they use for men. which causes heel slippage for many women with a more narrow heel. There are fancy ways to tie a shoe that slips (videos can be found on the internet to explain this) I tried the loop method with this shoe because it does not have an extra hole at the top, and it just would not snug up enough on the heel. I tried a running sock, which offers more padding in the heel area and alas it still slipped.The Quality of the shoe is superb as with most NB shoes. The look and style is exactly as pictured. I ordered the C,D or 1x wide which was perfect for my slightly wider feet as this shoe runs narrow. However, if you have extra wide feet this one comes in a 2E or 2x wide which is a great option to have. The treads look great for trail walking, I only wish I could have worn them outside.First, the pros: I like these shoes very much. They look nice and are comfortable. I like the styling and the touch of pink adds a bit of feminine touch without it distracting from the style of the shoe.Now, my complaint: My only complaint is that they run small. I have large and wide feet, but I normally can buy a wide width and have plenty of room in a shoe. Luckily I had noticed some reviews of the shoes stated that they ran a little small and I bought a size larger than normal and extra wide. If I had not done so, I would not have been able to wear these. That being said, if you typically have to buy extra wide, you may not find that these are wide enough.These are not your typical supportive New Balance .After reading reviews across the web I ordered a size wider and am glad I did. I exchanged theinsoles that come with the shoes for my orthotics and then the fit was much better and I still had plenty of tow wiggle room in the toe box. Only very minor slippage in the heal while wearing Thorlo socks.I don't consider these shoes as an exercise walking shoe but rather a great shoe to wear under jeans when dressed casually since they are a very good looking shoe. The price at Amazon was GREAT at $44.00 since everywhere else wanted $79.99 and up. Where else can you get a water resistance leather casual shoe for $44.00 and have it be a New Balance?? The answer is nowhere!I have made myself a promise that if I order shoes on line and they aren't amazing I will return them. These fit just fine in terms of length and width, but a good walking shoe can make you feel like you are walking on air, and these most definitely did not. There was not enough arch support or sense of cushioning and I also have weak ankles and there was no sense of stabilizing there. They fit like regular shoes but not like athletic or walking shoes. So I tried them on and wore them in the house but then realized that if I tried them on in a shop there was no way I would buy them, so just because they were already in my home, doesn't mean I would keep them. So I returned them the next day - Amazon has a very easy return format. I've already received an email from amazon saying that they have received them and that I am refunded.This shoe was comfortable right out of the box. Based on another review, I decided to order a 2E width instead of my usual C/D (wide), and I'm so glad I did. The loss in width from the slightly tapered toe was offset by the wider width size and is just right. Length seems to be about right - got my usual size 8.5, and there's a reasonable space between the end of my toes and the end of the shoe (as there should be).The sole is a bit harder than the usual sneaker-type shoe - it does make a bit of noise on my wood floors, but the shoe is very easy and comfortable to walk in - I've walked all over in them, with and without orthotic inserts, shopping and errands and the like, and no sore feet, even with bunions!I also like the styling - a refreshing change from the splashy wild colors and patterns that are on so many shoes.I have worn NB for many years and the other style I've purchased is heavier with a more substantial sole. I don't think these shoes will last as long as those but they are lighter are more stylish and the wide width in these shoes feels wider than the wide width in the other style I have worn; which I appreciate. I use special insoles and they fit in these shoes. I think without the insoles the shoes would not provide as much arch support as I like.I messed up a tendon in a car wreck and require orthonics in my shoes and I need a shoe that preferably has a "roll bar" or a "strike path". This doesn't have either one, specifically, however they fit perfectly and I bought them to wear into work. They look nice enough for the office, and they have enough support that I'm comfortable having them on all day.I typically wear an 8.5 W. I bought these in a 9 C/D. With my orthonics, I have to remove the insole that comes with them, and put in my orthonics. This gives me enough room from in the top of the shoe to wear light-to-mid weight socks without any pressure points.I really love NB shoes.Not a bad shoe for the price. I'm on my feet all day everyday at work. They are keeping together good but I have noticed my feet starting to get sore. I was advised by a co-worker to alternate shoe styles instead of wearing the same shows daily. Hopefully that helps.
