****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I am generally pleased with these New Balance MW983Walking shoes. They are definitely better looking than most walking shoes so that's a big plus. I am flat footed from birth and at age 61 I've been through a lot of torture and now add diabetic neuropathy which adds a whole new dimension of pain. To me any arch support is better than nothing. The New Balance Abzorb system is one of the best for a mass production shoe so I look for this. I like that these are mostly leather instead of mesh, making them a bit more of a dressier look, nothin' fancy, but a bit flashy. These shoes were a bit tighter than I expected as I'd previously moved from size 10 to size 10.5 on most brands made in Asia. Whenever possible I use the European scale and can usually do good in a size 44. Most New Balance shoes I own, and I own quite a few pair, fit best at 10.5 D, so these were a surprise that they were just a bit tighter than what I have usually experienced. The seem to be well made which is what I've come to expect from New Balance as a standard. Some reviewers have stated that those standards have dropped in recent years but so far I've not had that experience. I have a lot of different shoe brands and also can generally recommend Ecco, Brooks, & Merrell. Other brands are good but you have to be more cautious. So many shoes are now made in China or east Asian nations that don't have the American size system very well figured out. That's why I recommend to anyone to find your correct European sizing, and you should have better luck when ordering on line shoes. How well these shoes hold up remains to be seen and I've only worn them for 5 hours at the most so far. I tend to rotate shoes a lot and have specific shoes for outdoor gardening, walking, visits to family & friends, visits to doctors or other professionals, and general shopping or just whatever. If I have anything to add about these shoes I will do that at a later date of course. It may seem strange to have so many shoes as a man, but I was in retail management which included a large shoe retail operation where I learned a lot about them and developed a fondness for good shoes. Unfortunately the average retail shoe store doesn't carry many truly great shoes these days. But if you look around you should be able to look around in your area and find a retailer that is at least OK. Support shoe stores that aren't part of big corporations when possible, otherwise get smart and buy online. Generally if you wear a NB 10 these should be fine.For now, I give to these shoes five stars because they look really nice and it seems that they have a good arch support. I ordered the 2E version because I have flat feet and 2E is necessary for me. They fit as expected and they are good enough to be a good office option. This because they are not like sneakers but they look more elegant but casual at the same time.I stand every day for more than 6 hours, I have a standing desk. I will update this review with how these shoes will hold after a couple of days and in terms of support offered.After day 1: 10 hours standing on these shoes + my orthotic insoles = feet perfectly rested. I love the fact that the 2E are very good for flat feet with plenty of space so the foot is not constricted in the shoes (reason of pain and discomfort after a prolonged standing).After 1 Week: Still amazing, a great arch support so my feet are well supported during my standing time. Shoes are soft and they don't bother me at all. I would like to buy another pair in different color to alternate because they really are great.I took a slight risk buying these shoes without trying them on first, but I have a pretty good track record with New Balance. I have worn these for a couple weeks now so I feel pretty good reporting in.While these aren't as supportive as some other (much more expensive) NB shoes I've bought, they do work well for all day use. I live in a wet climate so the waterproofing is really nice.I will say that these run just a LITTLE narrow, (my foot is a 4E), but are breaking in well. The toe box is large enough, however, which is a must.I use these for everyday wear, which includes walking a couple miles each day and using a standing desk for part of the day as well.Fit is the same as the other New Balance running shoes I own (10 4E size) I was always a Medium width guy until by mistake purchased a pair in 4E , what a difference ! They felt too sloppy in the forefoot, but I paid for them, so I was going to get my monies worth. Two weeks later they were my favorite shoe. Okay back to these shoes. I will be traveling in Italy and I was looking for a shoe that I could wear walking all day, that could also be worn out to a casual restaurant for dinner. These are those shoes ! They are well made, look great, and I can walk and stand in them for at least 6 hours.( The longest time I have worn them so far )I had to return mine after trying them on and finding them to be to narrow for my feet. I wear a size 11 and have always worn that size but, I also have to add an orthotic insert to my shoes. These shoes "WITHOUT" the orthotic were a bit snug and and very tight about and inch from the front of my toes on top of my feet. With the orthotics in they were totally unwearable, I couldn't even get my foot into the shoe. Its a shame because the shoes are very nice and and has a classic style, with the modern touch of different heal color. So I don't want to say I didn't like it I just couldn't fit my foot into it.I am a size 10 EE and the shoe is slightly tight in the toe box, but not tight enough for me to return it. The length is fine. I really like the way the shoe looks and it has plenty of cushioning and support for extended walks. I like my shoes to fit, but I also like them to fit like a glove. I'm fully expecting these to expand slightly in the toe box area, so I think they will become extremely comfortable (I have only worn them for a few hours). I expect to be able to wear them all day, stand all day, doing pretty much anything and feel fine. I highly recommend them and I'm not worried about them becoming too warm in summer. I will update this review if my feeling about the NB MW983 shoes change.
