New BalanceMen's 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer

This is the "industrial division" version of the New Balance 608 walking shoe. Although marketed as a walking shoe, it is sturdy enough to be considered a cross-trainer. It's available in a variety of color combinations but retains a conservative look. Key features are a large wide toe box that will easily accomodate orthodics, mid-range arch support with a semi-curved last and a 10mm heel drop. The upper body is faux leather(for this style) that breaths better than real leather. The outsole cushion is a New Balance propreitary EVA bonded to carbon rubber in areas subject to wear. EVA cushion and carbon rubber outsole. I wore the USA made NB 928 walking shoes for several years before discovering this imported "clone" costing half as much as the 928. By "clone" I mean the 608 has similar features and is just as comfortable as the 928 at half the price.I am very particular about the shoes I use because I've had corrective surgery on both my feet with mixed results that necessitates a netrual shoe with an extra large toe box. New Balance refers to this shoe as its industrial version due to the non-slip outsole. The non-slip outsole is an understandment. For example, my job requires me to install a security device on packages to deter theft. For larger packages I hold the cable (about 1/16 " diameter), of the security device temporarily with my foot to falcilite installation, lifting my foot off the cable to finish the install. When I started wearing the 608's I ran into difficulty because when I lifted my foot to finish installing the cable, the cable stayed gripped to the bottom of my shoe. I had to reach down to remove the cable from the grip of my shoe. I average about 13K steps a day, seven days a week which is considered high milage use for shoes. I've been wearing the same pair of shoes for the past 14 months and finally decided its time for a new pair. The 928's I used to wear needed replacing every four months by comparison. You will not find a better constructed more durable walking shoe that retains its cushoining well beyond shoes with similar designs.

I am thoroughly amazed and grateful these are just what I needed. My last pair of NB were walking shoes and was last bought 5 or 6 years ago. I do tons of walking but don't drag my feet so the soles don't wear fast and I don't let them get wet, but it was time to get a new pair. These new ones are perfect in every way, absolute comfort, roominess, but snug enough fit with a good amount of comfort padding inside, and they have the exact size dimensions of the last size 15's I had from 5 to 6 years ago, maybe a slight tad wider for even better comfort. I love that they don't pronate (tilt to one side from overly spongy soles) and are even more stable for the ankle than the last ones. They also don't have excessive heel height which is a huge problem for me in this trend of making heels too high since i have ankle issues and had to have surgery on my feet at age 4, so I was told my my orthopedic doctor my feet could not handle excess sloping, i.e., higher heels. In this regard, it reminds me of barefoot shoes with a flatter more even profile, but still with good arch support and still perfect shock absorbing comfort (not excessive since I can't handle excess arches). Glad I came across the perfect fit shoe for me, though there is one thing I hope will last and that is four of the shoelace eyelets in the middle were done differently for stylistic reasons: they are put through some type of fabric loop instead of the leather that the other holes are made to go through. If those loops have stitching that fails at some point then one would have to resort to drilling a hole into the leather where it normally would go through because they had to do this "cool" looking style feature. Who knows, maybe it will last okay. The price is great too, and hope they don't read this and raise it!

WARNING: Great purchase very happy. Well packaged and carefully delivered on July 4. From order to arrival in 13 hours on a holiday. Love them. SIZING warning. I have been wearing NB shoes for many years now. All in current use are up to 4 years old and all are sized US 9.5 4E. They fit well. The new order last night offered size 9.5 in Wide, Xwide, XXwide, XXXwide, and XXXXwide. I used 'Ask Rufus' for guidance. Got confusing answers and advice. I decided to order XXWide and hope for the best. The red box had confusing information so I went to the shoes. Both toe tags were marked 6E, and US 9.5. will try to share a pic. Failed.

While the fit, structure, and design are solid I cannot recommend this to others. As a nurse I sometimes stand 8 hours straight on my feet and I jut wish the soles were softer to cushion my feet. The soles are solid and firm and too firm in my opinion. I know I can buy some soles for extra cushions but I wanted something more comfortable. The size is true and grip is good and arch feels okay.

Very good! One of the most comfortable shoes I have worn in years. I walk a lot, always have.I am 83 years old, and my feet have stretched out over the years.There is enough room in the toebox, the height, whereI can add a Dr Scholl's pad. There is now enough room for my wide foot.I usually once wore a size 12. Here, I bought a size 13 extra wide. Fits good. For once, the laces do not come untied within two blocks of walking like most of my other shoes did!The only downside I can think of is that there are not many ventilation holes in this shoe and if you live where the daily high temperature is 90, or more, for 90 days a year and a 95 degree day could see a sidewalk of 110 degrees. I cut a small hole in the toebox. Works well.I now have several pairs in reserve. If I were to wait till these shoes wear out and then look for a same shoe replacement, that there shoe probably will no longer exist for sale!