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When I compared the New Balance 327 vs 574, this is what stood out the most to me:
- The New Balance 574 and New Balance 327 are similar in that both shoes are inspired by retro athletic shoes. Another New Balance shoe that is very similar to these shoes is the 237. I actually like the 237 better because I think it provides more comfort under the foot. This is where you can view the New Balance 237 at NewBalance.com (paid affiliate link takes you to NewBalance.com).
- Despite both having a thick foam midsole, they aren’t as “squishy” under the foot as modern running shoes. If you prefer that “squishy” comfort, I would recommend the New Balance FuelCell Rebel (click here to view) or the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 (click here to view) which are my two favorite options.
- The comfort under the foot between the 574 and 327 is pretty similar, but I think the 327 has a little bit more cushioning under the foot. This is where you can see me wearing both of these shoes to see how they compress under my weight.
- Although I think the 327 has a bit more comfort under the foot than the 574, I think the the 574 has a softer, more comfortable fit around the ankle. The 574 has more padding around the collar, and also has padding in the tongue (the 327 does not have a padded tongue). This is where you can see how much padding is around the collar of both shoes.
- I found both of these shoes to be very flexible and “twistable”. If you made me choose, I’m probably taking the 574 as the more flexible option, but it is very close. I’ll let you be the judge: this is where you can see videos of me testing the flexibility of these shoes.
- The 327 is unique because it has a studded outsole that wraps up the backside of the heel. The 574 has more of a traditional design. Both of these shoes have outsoles that are equipped to handle multiple types of surfaces, which makes them popular walking and hiking shoes for some.
- For most people, both the 574 and 327 fit true to size. However, I found the 574 to fit just a little bit shorter regarding length. But it’s also important to understand that the 574 is designed to have a slightly wider forefoot and deeper toe box. My recommendation would be to view these side-by-side comparison photos comparing the sizing of these shoes to each other and to other popular brands so you can judge for yourself.
- The weight of these two shoes is very similar, but I found the 327 shoes to weigh just a little bit less. This is where you can see the weights of these shoes for both men and women.
In this article let’s take a closer look at the New Balance 327 and the New Balance 574 by using the videos and pictures I took of the shoes that I own.
New Balance 327 vs 574 Comfort
New Balance markets both of these shoes as “lifestyle” shoes. That means although they have an athletic design, they’re best thought of as casual athletic shoes. These types of shoes are popular because you can use them occasionally for exercise, but also easily pair them with jeans.
How They Respond on Foot
To give you an idea how these shoes respond on a foot, here I am wearing mine:
When comparing the under-foot comfort of the New Balance 327 vs 574, I thought the 327 offers a bit more cushioning than the 574. But it was very close. If you watch the videos above, you can see that the 327 has a thicker midsole, that offers a bit more compression under the foot.
Although both shoes are comfortable, retro-athletic shoes, they do not have as much cushioning under the foot as modern running shoes. For example, I recently tried over 30 types of New Balance shoes, and the 1080v12 was my favorite regarding comfort under the foot. It provides that “squishy” feeling and even though the 327 and 574 are comfortable, they don’t have a thick, “squishy” midsole like the 1080v12.
Here is how the 1080v12 responds on my foot:
New Balance 327 vs 574 Flexibility
In the videos below, I tried to capture how flexible these shoes are:
Overall, these shoes are very similar in how flexible they are. I think the 574 might be just a little bit more flexible, but it’s almost impossible to judge a difference.
There is, however, a difference in sizing. Click here to view the difference in these shoes regarding sizing.
New Balance 327 vs 574 Padding
I think the New Balance 574 has much softer padding around the collar than the the 327. Also, the 574 has padding in the tongue and the 327 does not (the 327 has a retro nylon tongue).
Here are mine (327 first):
Insole Thickness
Yes, both the 327 and the 574 have removable insoles, so you can clean or swap them as needed. First, here is the insole of the 327:
And below, is the insole for the New Balance 574:
By my measurements, the insole thickness was basically the exact same. I did find the fit of these shoes to be slightly different. This is where you can view the side-by-side photos I took regarding sizing.
New Balance 327 vs 574 Design
Both the 327 and the 574 are made with breathable mesh/suede uppers. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important design differences.
Sole Height
Below is the height measurements I took for the men’s New Balance 327 vs 574 (size 12; 327 first):
As you can see, the midsole is thicker on the 327 (top). But the overall height of the shoes is similar.
Here is how the women’s 327 vs 574 shoes compared (both size 7):
Just like the men’s, the laces of the women’s 327 (top) has a thicker midsole.
Outsole Width
Below is the width measurements I took for the men’s New Balance 327 vs 574 (327 first):
And below is the width measurements I took for the women’s New Balance 327 vs 574 (327 first):
As you can see, the base of the 327 measures wider than the base of the 574. This is noteworthy because it is actually the 574 that has the (slightly) roomier fit.
Here’s a look at these shoes on my feet (327 first):
If you are concerned about fit, I would highly suggest you view these side-by-side sizing photos I took of each shoe (for both men and women) to get a better idea how both the 327 and the 574 fit.
New Balance 327 vs 574 Weight
For men, the 327 weighs 0.77 pounds and the 574 weighs 0.78 pounds per shoe for a size 12 men’s.
For women, the 327 weighs 0.57 pounds and the 574 weighs 0.62 pounds per shoe for a size 7.
As you can see, the 327 weighs less than the 574 for both men and women.
Recently I tried over 30 different types of New Balance shoes and I found the average to be 0.89 pounds per shoe for a size 12 men’s. Both of these shoes are lightweight options. To view the full list of weights (in a chart) I took for over 30 New Balance shoes, click here.
New Balance 327 vs 574 Sizing
Length: Both fit within the realm of what I would describe as “true-to-size” regarding length. However, the 327 does fit a little bit longer than the 574. If you made me choose, I would say the 327 is true to size, and the 574 fits just a tiny bit shorter than my normal shoe sizing regarding length.
Here’s a look at the New Balance 574 vs 327 for men (574 on left):
Here’s a look at the New Balance 574 vs 327 for women (574 on right):
Width: It’s important to note that the 574 is made using the SL-2 last, which is designed to create a little bit of extra room in the forefoot and toe box. I actually think the 327 has a wider forefoot area too compared to other types of athletic shoes. But, if you look closely, you can see below how the 574 (left) has a slightly rounder, roomier toe box.
Even though the 574 uses the SL-2 last designed to create a roomier width, don’t expect it to be enough to overcome the need for wide sizing. If you normally order wide sizing in shoes, I would recommend ordering the 574 in a wide size.
The main takeaway: Expect the 327 to be slightly longer than the 574, and the 574 to be slightly wider. If you want to read more about sizing, you can visit my New Balance sizing guide by clicking here. In the sections below, I compare both of these shoes to other popular shoes so you can get a better feel for sizing.
New Balance 327 Sizing Photos for Men
These photos below all use a size 12 men’s shoe. To see women’s 327 sizing photos, click here. If you would like to skip ahead to 574 sizing, click here.
New Balance 327 (right) vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Reebok Classics Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Vans UltraRange Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Adidas Superstar Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Vans Old Skool Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Skechers Go Walk Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Saucony Shadow 6000 Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Numeric 272 Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Nike Blazer Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Nike Air Max Excee Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Converse Pro Leather Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Converse Chucks Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Adidas Gazelle Sizing
New Balance 327 vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing
New Balance 327 (right) vs 997 Sizing
New Balance 327 (right) vs 990 Sizing
New Balance 327 vs CT302 Sizing
New Balance 327 (right) vs XC-72 Sizing
New Balance 327 (right) vs 237 Sizing
New Balance 327 Sizing Photos for Women
All shoes below are size 7 women’s shoes.
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Under Armour Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Skechers D’Lites Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Nergize Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Keen Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Hey Dude Wendy Sox Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Converse Chucks Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Vans Slip On Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Adidas Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs 860 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 (left) vs 990 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 (left) vs 880 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Nike Blazer Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Hoka Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing
New Balance Women’s 327 vs Asics Gel Kayano Sizing
To read more, visit my article that discusses the sizing of New Balance 327 shoes.
New Balance 574 Sizing Photos for Men
These photos below all use a size 12 men’s shoe. To see women’s 574 sizing photos, click here.
New Balance 574 (right) vs Reebok Classics Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Vans UltraRange Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Vans Slip On Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Vans Old Skool Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Skechers Go Walk Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Saucony Shadow 6000 Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Nike Cortez Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Nike Blazer Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Nike Air Max Excee Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Hey Dude Wally Sox Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Converse Pro Leather Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Converse Chucks Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Adidas Superstar Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Adidas Gazelle Sizing
New Balance 574 (right) vs 997 Sizing
New Balance 574 (left) vs 515 Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Asics Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Adidas Cloudfoam Sizing
New Balance 574 (left) vs 993 Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Vans Authentic Sizing
New Balance 574 (left) vs 2002r Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing
New Balance 574 vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing
New Balance 574 (left) vs 860 Sizing
New Balance 574 (left) vs 5740 Sizing
New Balance 574 (left) vs 1540 Sizing
New Balance 574 (left) vs 880 Sizing
New Balance 574 (left) vs 237 Sizing
New Balance 574 Sizing for Women
All women’s shoes pictured below are size 7.
New Balance Women’s 574 vs 1540 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Under Armour Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Skechers D’Lites Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nike Cortez Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nergize Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Keen Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Hey Dude Wendy Sox Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Converse Chucks Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Adidas Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 (right) vs 860 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 (right) vs 880 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nike Blazer Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Hoka Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing
New Balance Women’s 574 vs Asics Gel Kayano Sizing
To read more, visit my article about New Balance 574 sizing by clicking here.
New Balance 327 vs 574 Conclusion
The New Balance 574 and New Balance 327 are similar in that both shoes are retro athletic shoes. The comfort under the foot is pretty similar, but I think the 327 has a little bit more cushioning under the foot than the 574 because the 327 has a thicker foam midsole. This is where you can see me wearing both of these shoes to see how they compress under my weight.
I found both of these shoes to be very flexible and “twistable”. If you made me choose, I’m probably taking the 574 as the more flexible option, but it is very close. I’ll let you be the judge: this is where you can see videos of me testing the flexibility of these shoes.
For most people, both the 574 and 327 fit true to size. However, I found the 574 to fit just a little bit shorter regarding length. But it’s also important to understand that the 574 is designed to have a slightly wider forefoot and deeper toe box. This is where you can learn more about the sizing of the New Balance 327 vs 574.