Recently I purchased over 30 types of New Balance shoes, including the New Balance 515, so I could compare them on many things, including weight. How much do New Balance 515 shoes weigh?
New Balance 515 shoes weigh 11.84 ounces (0.74 pounds) per shoe for a size 12 men’s shoe. The New Balance 515 was the fifth most lightweight New Balance shoe that I tried.
In this article let’s take a closer look at New Balance 515 weight and how it compares to other popular New Balance shoes.
New Balance 515 Weight
My size 12 men’s New Balance 515 shoes weigh 0.74 pounds per shoe (11.84 ounces).
The New Balance 515 is a casual shoe that combines a lightweight design with a versatile outsole which makes it popular for all-day use.
515 Weight Compared to Other Shoes
After trying over 30 different types of New Balance shoes, below is a weight chart comparing the New Balance 515 weight to all the other New Balance shoes that I tried:
*Weights below are based off of one size 12 men’s shoe.
| Style | Pounds | Ounces |
| FC Rebel | 0.54 | 8.64 |
| FF Roav | 0.61 | 9.76 |
| FC Propel | 0.65 | 10.4 |
| FF Arishi | 0.65 | 10.4 |
| FF Cruz | 0.69 | 11.04 |
| 720 | 0.69 | 11.04 |
| FF More | 0.69 | 11.04 |
| FF Hierro | 0.74 | 11.84 |
| 515 | 0.74 | 11.84 |
| 997H | 0.74 | 11.84 |
| 237 | 0.77 | 12.32 |
| 327 | 0.77 | 12.32 |
| 1080 | 0.77 | 12.32 |
| 574 | 0.78 | 12.48 |
| 880 | 0.78 | 12.48 |
| 2002r | 0.82 | 13.12 |
| 860 | 0.83 | 13.28 |
| 624 | 0.86 | 13.76 |
| 840 | 0.89 | 14.24 |
| MW840 | 0.89 | 14.24 |
| XC72 | 0.93 | 14.88 |
| 877 | 0.95 | 15.2 |
| 608 | 0.97 | 15.52 |
| 577 | 1.01 | 16.16 |
| 990 | 1.01 | 16.16 |
| Numeric | 1.01 | 16.16 |
| 813 | 1.04 | 16.64 |
| 993 | 1.06 | 16.96 |
| 1300 | 1.07 | 17.12 |
| 1540 | 1.07 | 17.12 |
| 57/40 | 1.07 | 17.12 |
| 928 | 1.08 | 17.28 |
| 847 | 1.09 | 17.44 |
| 992 | 1.27 | 20.32 |
| CT302 | 1.53 | 24.48 |
To read more about each of these shoes, visit my article that discusses the weights of different types of New Balance shoes.
Why is the New Balance 515 so lightweight?
The 515 is made with a suede/mesh upper which helps keep the weight down. It is designed to mimic a retro running shoe, but has a more versatile design that makes it better for everyday use:
Because it is designed like a retro running shoe, even though it isn’t as lightweight as some of the more-modern types of running shoes, it still has a lightweight design.
This material, in combination with the foam midsole, allows the shoe to also be flexible. In the video below, I tried to capture how flexible these shoes are:
If you want to read more about sizing and fit, visit my New Balance 515 sizing guide.
Shoes Similar to the New Balance 515
If you are interested in the New Balance 515 because you like retro running shoes, New Balance actually has several options you should consider. Here’s what you need to know:
- New Balance 237 – This New Balance shoe is inspired by 1970’s running shoes and has an overall design that is reasonably similar to the 515. The 237 does have a thicker midsole and sits a bit taller.
- New Balance 327 – The 327 has a retro running design, but it has a unique outsole that wraps up the back heel of the shoe, which makes it unique compared to other options.
- New Balance 574 – This is probably New Balance’s most popular shoe. It is very similar to the 515. It has a retro running design, but like the 515, it has a rugged outsole which makes it a more versatile shoe than other retro runners. To read more, visit my article about the New Balance 574 vs 515.
- New Balance XC-72 – The XC-72 combines a retro athletic style with a more-modern, aggressive midsole and outsole. The midsole itself sticks out from the back of the shoe to create what New Balance calls an “experimental edge” and a “time-bending design”.