The most comfortable New Balance shoe for most people is the New Balance 990 series (especially 990v5 / 990v6).
For walking and all-day wear, models like the 2002R and 1906R are also extremely comfortable.
From my experience working with long-wear testing, comfort benchmarking, and consumer fit analysis, New Balance stands out because it prioritizes support, balance, and width options, not just softness.
Comfort isn’t just about soft cushioning.
In real-world wear, comfort comes from:
Official brand reference:
👉 https://www.newbalance.com/
Key insight:
Shoes that feel “amazing” for 10 minutes often feel bad after 8 hours.
New Balance 990 (v5 / v6)
Why it’s number one:
Straight answer:
If comfort is your top priority, start with the 990.
New Balance 2002R
Why it works:
New Balance 1906R
Why it works:
New Balance 574
Why it works:
Note:
Comfortable, but not designed for extreme all-day use.
The most comfortable New Balance shoes share a few traits:
My honest take:
New Balance comfort is about support first, softness second.
| Model | All-Day Comfort | Stability | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 990 series | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Everyday / work / walking |
| 2002R | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Walking / travel |
| 1906R | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Standing / daily wear |
| 574 | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Casual use |
| Fresh Foam runners | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Short-term wear |
Key takeaway:
Support + fit consistency = long-term comfort.
Simple truth:
The “most comfortable” shoe depends on how long and how often you wear it.
Q1: Is New Balance more comfortable than Nike or Adidas?
For many people, yes — especially for all-day wear.
Q2: Are New Balance shoes good for wide feet?
Yes. Width options are a major comfort advantage.
Q3: Is softer cushioning always better?
No. Too-soft shoes often cause fatigue.
Q4: Can I wear New Balance shoes all day?
Yes — that’s one of their biggest strengths.
New Balance proves that real comfort is engineered, not marketed.
At 👉 https://fukigymwear.com/
we help brands apply the same principles to activewear and footwear:
The most comfortable product isn’t the softest —
it’s the one that still feels good at the end of the day.