This shoe is #1, period. Review on New Balance 990 Footwear

I am sure you are wondering, why is the 990 such a highly rated shoe? What would bring somebody to buy a shoe that looks like that? Well you are probably right, I wouldn’t have even thought of trying it on if I hadn’t gone to the store to specifically try on that shoe. A friend of mine who is an avid runner recommended the 990’s to me when he heard me complaining about having to run on pavement. He told me that these shoes would provide the best support and cushioning for road running than any other shoe on the market. I decided that if this was true, it would be worth giving them a shot.

First Impression I saw the shoes next to some beautifully crafted Nikes, and some exotic Reeboks, and I felt embarrassed asking the sales attendant to get me a pair of the ugliest shoes I had ever seen, and I felt my esteem running down the drain. The style in which they were formed looked like something out of the 60’s. Overall the shoe looked like the people making it could have cared less what the shoe looked like. Comfort Well as soon as I put the shoe on I knew that the people making it could have cared less what the shoe looked like. But they certainly cared that the shoe was the most comfortable shoe on the market. Immediately I recognized it as the most comfortable shoe I had ever put on. The shoe is light, and gives your foot a free feeling, but it still feels supported at the same time. I don’t know how they managed to combine the freeness of running barefooted, with the support of a well made shoe.

The only problem I have had with comfort, is that when running on really hot days my feet will start to feel the heat. Normally when I run in the woods, since I use spiked shoes that are water resistant, I also run without socks so that I my feet won’t get water logged when I run through water. Because of this my feet stay rather cool as well when I run in the woods, so when I get out on the pavement with socks, new shoes, and the whole shabang, my feet fell the added heat. The circulation may not be as good as some other shoes, but I don’t think this will affect most people. Support The 990’s have a very wide base which you from turning over on your ankle, causing injury. The only problem with this would be that if you somehow managed to turn your ankle despite the wide base, the results would be a lot worse than turning an ankle with regular shoes. If you just use them for road running you should never turn an ankle with these shoes, so you won’t have to worry about the effects being worse.

The shoes are regular low top running shoes so don’t expect the same ankle support as basketball shoes. The 990’s have an extra hole at the top so that you can lace the shoes up higher than most other shoes. I would recommend doing this if you have weak ankles as it provides extra support. Cushioning One of the major reasons this shoe is the top of the line is the fabulous cushioning the soles provide to take the pressure off your knees and upper legs. You may not notice it when you try them on but after using them on the road, I found my knees and legs feeling less and less stressed. If you plan to do some serious road running you are going to need serious support for your knees because pavement is the worst surface to run on. These shoes have provided me with that support and cushioning that I have always lacked in a shoe. Finally I am able to run on pavement and other hard surfaces without injuring myself.

The Bottom Line: My Final Impression. No question about it, this is the best running shoe I have ever owned. It has held up through thick and thin for over a 18 months more than 1400 miles. I usually buy new shoes every 500 miles, so this shoe has nearly tripled it’s value. If you can get beyond the drab gray coloring, you will never want a different shoe. If this shoe finally wears out one day, there is no question in my mind I will get a new pair. I am not even going to bother looking at newer brands, because I simply don’t need anything better even if they could make it. This shoe is #1, period.