This New Balance 1540 Sizing Guide uses direct comparison photos where I put my 1540 shoes next to other popular shoes so you can see the difference in sizing. I will also discuss things like weight, width, flexibility, heel drop, and sole height. After trying these shoes, do New Balance 1540 shoes run big or small?
New Balance 1540 shoes fit true to size. They have a fit that is very comparable to other types of athletic shoes. I ordered my normal sizing and they fit comfortably. In the article below I have side-by-side photos comparing New Balance 1540 sizing to the sizing of other popular shoes.
It’s important to note that this shoe is built using the SL-2 last, which is designed to create a wider forefoot area and a deeper toe box (show me comparison sizing photos for the 1540). However, the SL-2 will *most likely* not be wide enough in standard form to overcome the need for wide sizing. In most cases, even on a wider last like the SL-2, you should still order wide sizing if you normally order wide sizing in shoes.
For comparison, here is my New Balance 1540 compared to Nike Air Max:
If you look closely above, you can see how the 1540 has a slightly rounder, wider toe box. And here is my New Balance 1540 compared to Brooks sizing:
The New Balance 1540 fits true to size regarding length, but has a wide, roomy toe box. Let’s start this New Balance 1540 Sizing Guide by looking at other direct side-by-side comparison photos of my New Balance 1540 shoes compared to other popular shoes.
New Balance 1540 Sizing Photos
All photos below use a size 12 men’s shoe. The exact version used for these sizing photos is the New Balance 1540v3.
New Balance 1540 On My Foot
To give you an idea how the 1540 responds on a foot, here I am wearing mine:
New Balance 1540 (right) vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Skechers Go Walk Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Saucony Shadow 6000 Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Nike Air Max Excee Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Keen Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Vans UltraRange Sizing
New Balance 1540 (right) vs 574 Sizing
New Balance 1540 vs Skechers Afterburn Sizing
New Balance 1540 (right) vs 997 Sizing
New Balance 1540 (left) vs 860 Sizing
New Balance 1540 (right) vs 624 Sizing
New Balance 1540 (left) vs 880 Sizing
New Balance 1540 (left) vs 1080 Sizing
New Balance 1540 (left) vs 993 Sizing
New Balance 1540 (left) vs 2002r Sizing
Do New Balance 1540 Shoes Run Big or Small?
When I compared the New Balance 1540 Shoes to other types of popular athletic-style shoes pictured above, I found the fit to be very similar. In my experience, the New Balance 1540 shoes fit true to size.
To read more about sizing, visit my New Balance Sizing Guide.
Do New Balance 1540 Shoes Fit Wide or Narrow?
The New Balance 1540 is a walking/running shoe that can also be worn casually. These shoes are designed to offer rear foot movement control. This shoe is built using the SL-2 last, which is designed to create a wider forefoot and deeper toe box area.
It’s important to understand that although the SL-2 last creates a wider fit compared to normal lasts, it won’t be enough to overcome the need for wide sizing. You will likely still need to order wide sizing if you normally order wide sizing in shoes. The SL-2 will feel just a tiny bit wider than standard shoes.
For width comparison, here is my New Balance 1540 compared to my Nike Air Max shoes (both size 12).
As you can see, the 1540 shoe has a slightly rounder, wider toe box. But, again, even though this shoe is a little bit wider than regular shoes, it likely won’t be enough to overcome the need for wide sizing.
To get a better idea of how wide these shoes are, below is the width of my New Balance 1540 shoes (standard) compared to the Nike Air Monarch 4E (which is a popular extra wide shoe) both size 12:
Below is a photo of me measuring the width of the outsole on my 1540 men’s size 12 shoes:
The outsole width on these New Balance 1540 is within the standard range, and is similar to other types of athletic shoes.
The main takeaway is expect these 1540 shoes to offer an adequate amount of width compared to most other types of athletic shoes. These shoes are available all the way up to New Balance 6E Width.
How Much Do New Balance 1540 Shoes Weigh?
My size 12 men’s New Balance 1540 shoes weigh 1.07 pounds per shoe.
Recently I tried over 30 different types of New Balance shoes. Although these shoes are comfortable to wear, there were other types of New Balance shoes that weigh less. Click here to see how the weight of the New Balance 1540 Shoes compares to other New Balance shoes.
New Balance 1540 On Foot
Here I am wearing my New Balance 1540 shoes, which I found to have a true-to-size, comfortable fit:
New Balance 1540 Material
The New Balance 1540 shoes are made using a combination of mesh and leather to create a shoe that is both supportive and breathable. Here is a close-up look at the material on my 1540 shoes:
How Flexible are New Balance 1540 Shoes?
Flexibility can play a large role in the fit and comfort of a shoe.
The New Balance 1540 shoes offer a comfortable, dependable fit. There are, however, more flexible types of New Balance Running Shoes. These 1540 shoes are built to find a middle-ground between support, control, and flexibility.
In the videos below, I tried to capture how flexible these shoes are:
As you can see above, these shoes aren’t as flexible and “twistable” as many types of lightweight modern running shoes. For example, here is my New Balance FuelCell Rebel running shoes:
The 1540 is a good walking/running shoe for those who need premium support and stability. They may not offer the flexibility of a modern running shoe, but they offer much more stability under the foot.
Do New Balance 1540 Shoes Fit Tall?
New Balance 1540 Sole Height
I found the New Balance 1540 sole height for my size 12 shoes to be just under 2 inches tall near the heel. This heel height is very similar to many other types of New Balance shoes that I have tried.
In the photo below, I tried to capture the heel height, and the overall height of the 1540 shoe:
New Balance 1540 Heel Drop
When I measured my New Balance 1540 shoes using an 8-inch Digital Outside Caliper, I found the heel drop to be approximately 10-11mm.
Here I am measuring the heel drop of the New Balance 1540 shoes:
**It is important to understand that although I tried my best to get accurate measurements, the best way to measure heel drop is to cut the shoes in half and use an industrial caliper. Obviously, I didn’t want to destroy my shoes, but this is a convenient alternative way to measure the New Balance 1540 heel drop.
The point is, think of this number as an approximation. For all official measurements, it would be best to reach out to New Balance directly.
The heel drop won’t affect how the New Balance 1540 shoes fit, but it can affect how comfortable it is for you to use. To read more, visit my article that discusses the New Balance 1540 heel drop and how it compares to other options.
Do New Balance 1540 Shoes Fit Comfortable?
In my experience, the New Balance 1540 shoes have a comfortable fit that is reasonably lightweight, but offer more stability and control than ultra-lightweight running shoes.
To read more in depth about comfort, visit my article Are the New Balance 1540 Shoes Comfortable?
New Balance 1540 Padding
Out of all the New Balance shoes that I have tried, I feel like the New Balance 1540 shoes have the most padding around the tongue and collar. Here is a look at my New Balance 1540 shoes near the collar:
Does the New Balance 1540 Have a Removable Insole?
Yes, the New Balance 1540 has a removeable insole in case you need to clean or swap your insole. Here is a look at the removable insole in my New Balance 1540 shoes:
How Thick is the New Balance 1540 Insole?
I measured my New Balance 1540 insole to be slightly under a quarter-inch thick. This insole thickness is comparable to many other types of New Balance shoes.
1540 Comparisons
To read more about how these shoes compare to other options, visit my articles linked below:
New Balance 1540 Sizing Conclusion
In my experience, New Balance 1540 sizing fits true to size. When I compared the sizing of the 1540 to the sizing of other popular athletic shoes, I found the sizing to be very similar.
The New Balance 1540 shoes have a regular width that I would describe as not too narrow nor too wide. The material used for the upper is flexible, but not as flexible as ultra-lightweight running shoes.
These 1540 shoes are built to provide support and stability, while still being reasonably lightweight and flexible. The thing that stands out the most to me when using these shoes is the rear foot heel stability.
If you want a running shoe that is more lightweight and flexible, I like the New Balance FuelCell Rebel and the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080.