Anyone else notice a decline in NB shoes quality?

Horrible new balance cheap-a-goes their shoes soles. Used to last 4-5 months not 1-2 months and soles are so worn that they hurt my knee to wear. I wear orthotics so I walk evenly. DoNOT but these ever

I wear Brooks Addiction. walker no pain no wearing out

Shame on you New Balance. Your company will eventually fold.

New balance cheap-a-field their soles. They wear out in 1-2 months. Shame on you new balance your shoes used to last 4 -5 months. I hope you go out of business. Do you know how a persons knees feel with uneven worn out soles. Horrible. Vet Brooks and save yourself misery. Call new balance and return them. Guess what they give you credit for another pairUGH

Pure JUNK

David K. wrote:

Why are they called New Balance.

Because GoDaddy was deemed too sexist.

All that is fine, but I will fight anyone who talks bad about the Beacon.

ScaryClown wrote:

I'm thinking wrote:

It must have something to do with some runner that they're sponsoring. Who is it that's messing up their quality control?

Are Kim Conley and Jenny Simpson on a production line somewhere making shoes like Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory on I Love Lucy?

Kim Conley may be if she doesn't start running faster soon.

Pans wrote:

Pure JUNK

I feel for you.... maybe your form has something to do with it....

Yes New Balance quality isn’t what it used to be. I’ve been through 2 pairs of 574s in the last year. Sole separation has been the issue. If you’re a fan of the 574, I suggest looking at the Merrell Solo Luxe 2. Basically the same shoe with better toe design and much stronger glue used. Sizing is different. I take a UK 11 in NB and 10 in Merrell.

I recently bought a pair of New Balance 1540 Version 3 shoes from a mail-order supplier that were totally DEFECTIVE. I have been wearing the 1540, made in the USA, for years. The latest version is made in Vietnam. My pair had RIGID soles, with the only flex being right up at the toes. NO cushioning to them. I tried wearing them a few times and could not continue. Looked at another NB shoe in a store and it was the same. Looked at another sample, same model, and it was totally different.

I got the mail-order dealer to refund me for them even though they were worn. I am right now talking to New balance about their quality issue, wondering how that will turn out. I also wrote to the mail-order house that I had been buying my New Balances from for decades. They told me that they will not be responsible for shipping costs both ways if I buy and return defective shoes. I told them I will not buy New Balance or anything else from them if that is how they support their product.

Fresh Foam not made to last. Other trainers still hold up well.

This is an old post but, yes, the quality has declined a lot over the last 5+ years. Mine last 3 months before they stretch out so much, the shoe strings are dragging on the floor. The soles wear out, unless I buy a new pair, my knee's start aching, and or lower back pain increases. Really disappointed with them. An employee told me, they start breaking down, new, over time, before they are even worn. I have some old pairs, 10+ years that are in better shape than the new ones.

Really think so? New Balance trainers seem to be near the top right now. 1080s for an all-arounder, SC trainer for easy, easy days, Rebels for up-tempo days, and SC Elites for race days. Fantastic shoes.

I had the New Balance Beacon when it was all the rage.

Never seen a rubber outsole wear so quickly.

Also had a pair of shorts from them which formed a hole near the groin after a few washes. Maybe I got unlucky but I have never had that happen before.

I agree. I like New Balance shoes. Saucony is my other preferred brand. I’ve never had issues with either.

That said, it seems like all shoes don’t last as long as they did “back in the day.” My memory is probably skewed, though, and I probably wore shoes well past their “expiration date.” Also, when I was in high school, my parents were buying my shoes and they probably were not all that eager to replace my shoes especially since I had seven siblings.

I could not be happier with NB the last couple of years. I have been alternating between the Fuel Cell Rebel v2s and the RC Elite v2s and have gotten 600-800 mi out of each of them. The Rebels are the most comfortable trainers I've ever had. I hope the v3s turn our to be equally good when I need to replace shoes soon. I do race in the Nike VF Next %2s, which are a faster shoe than the NB RC Elites.

I have a NB outlet right near me. They have a discount rack where you can get shoes in the 40 dollar range. Not super shoes, but the thrifty part of me loves the prices.

Yes, I have a pair of 1080 v12s. I am not happy with them at all. They feel significantly worse than the 1080 v11s I had. The foam is much different, and not as protective. I blame the ShoeTubers because they always want the high tech foam. There was nothing wrong with it last year!

I want to like them but they just suck.

Shoes that last a long time would be too expensive to buy.