New Balance 2002r Sizing Guide w/ Photos [Fit Big or Small?]


This New Balance 2002r Sizing Guide uses direct comparison photos where I put my 2002r 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 2002r shoes run big or small?

New Balance 2002r shoes fit true to size for most people. 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 2002r sizing to the sizing of other popular shoes.

When I compared New Balance 2002r sizing to the sizing of other popular shoes, I found the sizing length and width to be very similar. For example, here are my New Balance 2002r shoes (on the right) compared to Adidas 2K Boost:

new-balance-2002r-vs-adidas-2k-boost-sizing

And here are my New Balance 2002r shoes compared to Nike Zoom Winflo:

new-balance-2002r-vs-nike-zoom-winflo-sizing

Click here to jump ahead on the page to view the 2002r side-by-side sizing photos comparing these shoes to other popular brands. I will also discuss how other design specs of this shoe differ from other options.

Table of Contents

New Balance 2002r Sizing Photos

All photos below use a size 12 men’s shoe.

New Balance 2002r On My Foot

The video below should give you a better idea how this shoe responds on a foot:

New Balance 2002r vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-adidas-2k-boost-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Reebok Classics Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-reebok-classics-sizing

New Balance 2002r (right) vs 1080 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-1080-sizing

New Balance 2002r Sizing vs Asics

new-balance-2002r-vs-asics-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Keen Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-keen-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-under-armour-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing

brooks-vs-new-balance-2002r-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Saucony Shadow 6000 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-saucony-shadow-6000-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-nike-air-max-90-sizing-1

New Balance 2002r vs Crocs Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-crocs-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Vans Old Skool Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-vans-old-skool-sizing

New Balance 2002r Sizing vs Nike Air Force 1

new-balance-2002r-vs-nike-af1-sizing

New Balance 2002r (right) vs 574 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-574-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Skechers Afterburn Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-skechers-afterburn-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Nike Zoom Winflo Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-nike-zoom-winflo-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Adidas Cloudfoam Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-adidas-cloudfoam-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Converse Chucks Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-converse-chucks-sizing

New Balance 2002r vs Nike Cortez Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-nike-cortez-sizing

New Balance 2002r (right) vs 880 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-sizing

New Balance 2002r Sizing vs Adidas Superstar

new-balance-2002r-vs-adidas-superstar-sizing

New Balance 2002r (right) vs 990 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-990-sizing

New Balance 2002r (right) vs 1540 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-1540-sizing

New Balance 2002r (right) vs 997 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-997-sizing

New Balance 2002r (left) vs Roav Sizing

new-balance-roav-vs-2002r-sizing

New Balance 2002r (right) vs 860 Sizing

new-balance-2002r-vs-860-sizing

Do New Balance 2002r Shoes Run Big or Small?

When I compared the New Balance 2002r 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 2002r shoes fit true to size.

To read more about sizing, visit my article about New Balance Sizing.


Do New Balance 2002r Shoes Fit Wide or Narrow?

In my experience, New Balance 2002r shoes do not fit too wide or too narrow. Overall, the toe box area is average width. For comparison, here is my New Balance 2002r compared to my Nike Zoom Winflo:

new-balance-2002r-vs-nike-zoom-winflo-sizing

The width of the two shoes above is very similar.

If you have wide feet: To get a better idea of how wide these shoes are, below is the width of my New Balance 2002r shoes (in regular width) compared to the Nike Air Monarch 4E (which is a popular extra wide shoe):

new-balance-2002r-vs-nike-air-monarch-sizing

Below is a photo of me measuring the width of the outsole on my 2002r men’s size 12 shoes:

new-balance-2002r-outsole

These New Balance 2002r sizing width measurements are very standard compared to other types of athletic shoes.


How Much Do New Balance 2002r Shoes Weigh?

My size 12 men’s New Balance 2002r shoes weigh 0.82 pounds per shoe.

new-balance-2002r-weight

Recently I tried over 30 different types of New Balance shoes. Although these shoes are lightweight, New Balance does offer running shoes that weigh less. Click here to see how the weight of the New Balance 2002r Shoes compares to other New Balance shoes.

Are New Balance 2002r Shoes Breathable?

Yes, the New Balance 2002r shoes are breathable. Here is a close-up look at the breathable material on my 2002r shoes:

new-balance-2002r-material

This is one of the most breathable New Balance shoes that I tried. Some of the other New Balance running shoes are also very breathable (especially the FuelCell Rebel and FuelCell Propel), but out of all New Balance “Lifestyle” casual athletic shoes, I think these 2002r shoes are the most breathable.

For example, here I am holding my 2002r shoes up to the light:

new-balance-2002r-breathability

As you can see, there is light passing through these shoes. These are a nice option for warm weather.

New Balance 2002r On Foot

Here I am wearing my New Balance 2002r shoes, which I found to have a true-to-size, comfortable fit:

new-balance-2002r-on-foot

How Flexible are New Balance 2002r Shoes?

Flexibility can play a large role in the fit and comfort of a shoe.

The New Balance 2002r shoes have a flexible design that feels responsive on my foot. In the videos below, I tried to capture how flexible these shoes are:

Do New Balance 2002r Shoes Fit Tall?

New Balance 2002r Sole Height

I found the New Balance 2002r sole height for my size 12 shoes to be approximately 2 inches tall near the heel. Overall, this is a very standard heel height that is very similar to other types of athletic casual shoes.

In the photo below, I tried to capture the heel height, and the overall height of the 2002r shoe:

new-balance-2002r-sole-height

New Balance 2002r Heel Drop

When I searched for New Balance 2002r heel drop information, I couldn’t find solid data anywhere. New Balance (at the time I am publishing this article) does not list the 2002r heel drop information on the product page.

I decided to measure the 2002r heel drop myself. When I measured my New Balance 2002r shoes using an 8-inch Digital Outside Caliper, I found the heel drop to be approximately 13-14mm.

Here I am measuring the heel drop of the New Balance 2002r shoes:

new-balance-2002r-heel-drop-1
new-balance-2002r-heel-drop-measurements-1

**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 2002r 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 2002r 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 2002r heel drop and how it compares to other options.

Do New Balance 2002r Shoes Fit Comfortable?

In my experience, the New Balance 2002r shoes have a comfortable fit that is reasonably lightweight and flexible. However, my favorite New Balance running shoes for comfort are the FuelCell shoe – the FuelCell Propel and the FuelCell Rebel.

To read more about comfort, visit my article Are the New Balance 2002r Shoes Comfortable?

New Balance 2002r Padding

The New Balance 2002r shoes do have padding around the collar and tongue which helps create a comfortable, but dependable fit. Here is a look at my New Balance 2002r shoes near the collar:

new-balance-2002r-padded-collar

Does the New Balance 2002r Have a Removable Insole?

Yes, the New Balance 2002r 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 2002r shoes:

new-balance-2002r-insole-1

How Thick is the New Balance 2002r Insole?

I measured my New Balance 2002r foam insole to be slightly under a quarter-inch thick. This insole thickness is comparable to many other types of New Balance shoes.

new-balance-2002r-insole-measurement

2002r Comparisons

To see how these shoes compare to other options that I tried, visit my articles linked below:

New Balance 2002r vs 990

New Balance 2002r vs 992

New Balance 2002r vs 993

New Balance 2002r Sizing Conclusion

In my experience, New Balance 2002r sizing is true to size. When I compared the sizing of the 2002r to the sizing of other popular athletic shoes, I found the sizing to be very similar.

The New Balance 2002r 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.

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 880.

Paul Johnson

Paul is a lead content creator for Workwear Command. He has had several blue-collar jobs which have provided him a wide range of experience with tools and gear. He also has a business degree and has spent time in business casual office settings.

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