This New Balance 550 Sizing Guide uses direct comparison photos where I put my New Balance 550 shoes next to other popular shoes so you can see the difference in sizing. I will also discuss things like weight, width, flexibility, and sole height. After trying these shoes, do New Balance 550 run big or small?
New Balance 550 fits true to size for most people. They have a sizing length that is very comparable to other popular shoe brands, although it should be noted that some people find the toe box to fit narrow. In the article below I have side-by-side photos comparing New Balance 550 sizing to the sizing of other popular shoes.
As I mentioned above, the sizing of New Balance 550 shoes is very comparable to other popular shoe brands. For example, here are my New Balance 550 shoes (on the right) compared to Air Jordan 1 sizing:

But I did find the New Balance 550 to fit just a little bit smaller than Air Force 1 sizing. Overall, it was close, but the AF1 fit a little bit longer, with a roomier toe box. Here is my New Balance 550 compared to Nike Air Force 1 sizing:
Because the toe box on the New Balance 550 is a little narrow, it may be best to size up a half size if you have wide feet. For New Balance 550 width comparison, below is a photo of my New Balance 550 shoes compared to Crocs (which are well-known for having a wide fit design):
Click here to jump ahead on the page to view my side-by-side comparison photos where I compare New Balance 550 sizing to the sizing of other popular brands. You can also view this video where I check for heel slippage in the 550 and you can click here to learn more about the width of New Balance 550 shoes.
Let’s start this New Balance 550 Size Guide by looking at other helpful direct side-by-side comparison photos of my New Balance 550 shoes compared to other popular shoes. Then let’s discuss how design specs of this shoe differ from other New Balance options.
New Balance 550 Sizing Photos
All photos below use a size 12 men’s shoe. The New Balance 550 is on the right in all photos.
New Balance 550 vs Air Jordan 1 Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Nike Dunk Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Reebok Question Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Reebok Club C Sizing
New Balance 550 Sizing vs Reebok Pump Omni Zone II
New Balance 550 vs Nike Blazer Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Nike Air Max Excee Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Nike Cortez Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Hey Dude Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Vans Old Skool Sizing
New Balance 550 Sizing vs Vans Authentic
New Balance 550 vs Vans Sk8-Hi Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Adidas Alphabounce Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Adidas Superstar Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Adidas Gazelle Sizing
New Balance 550 Sizing vs Converse Chucks
New Balance 550 vs Converse Chucks 70 Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Converse One Star Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Converse Pro Leather Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Reebok Classics Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Under Armour Sizing
New Balance 550 vs Merrell Hydro Moc Sizing
New Balance 550 vs New Balance 574 Sizing
Do New Balance 550 Shoes Run Big or Small?
When I compared the New Balance 550 Shoes to other types of popular athletic-style casual shoes pictured above, I found the length of the shoes to fit within the realm of what I would describe as true to size. However, the toe box area is a bit narrow. Let’s discuss width in more detail.
Do New Balance 550 Shoes Fit Wide or Narrow?
In my experience, New Balance 550 fit a bit narrow in the toe box area. If you have wide feet, it may be best to size up a half size.
For comparison, here is my New Balance 550 compared to Crocs sizing. Crocs are well know for having a wider, roomier toe box area.
As you can see above, the New Balance 550 is not as wide fit as Crocs.
For more comparison, below is the width of my New Balance 550 shoes (in standard width) compared to Nike Air Monarch 4E shoes (which are popular extra wide shoes):
Again, I would advise you to expect a narrow toe box in the New Balance 550. I don’t have wide feet, and because of that, I felt like the standard sizing was comfortable. But if you have wide feet, sizing up a half size may be best. To read more, visit my article that discusses the width of New Balance 550 shoes.
New Balance 550 Fit with Movement
Here is how the New Balance 550 reacts on my foot as I move (I ordered my normal sizing):
I personally do not experience any heel slippage when I move in these 550 shoes.
The New Balance 550 shoes have comfortable padding around the collar which helps provide a secure fit. Here is a look at the collar of my 550 shoes:
How Flexible are New Balance 550 Shoes?
Flexibility can play a large role in the fit and comfort of a shoe.
The New Balance 550 shoes have a flexible design, but it is important to remember that they are made with leather. They are not as flexible as modern athletic shoes.
In the videos below, I tried to capture how flexible these shoes are:
New Balance 550 On Foot
Here I am wearing my New Balance 550 shoes, which I found to have a true-to-size, comfortable fit:
New Balance 550 Weight
I found a size 12 men’s New Balance 550 shoe to weigh 1.17 pounds per shoe. Here I am weighing my shoes:
Do New Balance 550 Shoes Make You Taller?
New Balance 550 Sizing Height
I found the New Balance 550 sole height for my size 12 shoes to be approximately 1.5 inches tall near the heel. This is very similar to other types of retro athletic shoes.
In the photo below, I tried to capture the heel height, and the overall height of the 550 shoe:
New Balance 550 Sizing Conclusion
In my experience, the New Balance 550 sizing fits true to size regarding length. When I compared the sizing of the 550 to the sizing of other popular athletic casual shoes, I found the length to be very similar.
But it is important to note that the New Balance 550 does have a narrow toe box. If you have wide feet, you may need to size up a half size to provide additional room. This is where you can read more about the width of New Balance 550 shoes.
If you need wider New Balance shoes, this is where you can read more about your best options.