Do New Balance 574 Fit Big or Small? [My Sizing Guide w/ Shoe Photos]


This New Balance 574 Sizing Guide uses direct comparison photos where I put my 574 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 574 shoes run big or small?

New Balance 574 shoes fit true to size for most people. However, some people find that the 574 fits just a little bit smaller than their normal shoe size regarding length (but the 574 does have a wide, roomy toe box). New Balance now also has its own sizing guide available at NewBalance.com that has helpful sizing tips for the 574 – click here to view that sizing guide at NewBalance.com (paid affiliate link takes you to NewBalance.com).

In this article I will provide helpful comparison sizing photos where I compare both men’s and women’s New Balance 574 sizing to the sizing of other popular shoes. Click here to jump ahead on the page to the men’s 574 comparison sizing photos. Click here to jump ahead on the page to the women’s 574 comparison sizing photos.

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 width comparison sizing photos for the 574). 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.

In my experience, the New Balance 574 shoes have a comfortable fit that is reasonably lightweight and flexible. This is a versatile shoe that has some similarities to retro running shoes, but has a more durable build that makes it better for everyday use.

Let’s start this New Balance 574 Sizing Guide by looking at the direct side-by-side comparison photos of my New Balance 574 shoes compared to other popular shoes. Then let’s discuss how other design specs of this shoe differ from other options.

All photos below use a size 12 for men’s comparison photos and a size 7 for women’s comparison photos. The photos below start with men’s sizing. Click here to jump directly to the women’s sizing photos.

Table of Contents

New Balance 574 Sizing Photos for Men

New Balance 574 On My Foot

To give you an idea how the 574 responds on a foot, here I am wearing mine:

New Balance 574 (right) vs Reebok Classics Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Nike Blazer Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Vans UltraRange Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Vans Slip On Sizing

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New Balance 574 Sizing vs Vans Old Skool

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New Balance 574 vs Skechers Go Walk Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Saucony Shadow 6000 Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Nike Cortez Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Nike Air Max Excee Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Hey Dude Wally Sox Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Crocs Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Converse Pro Leather Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Converse Chucks Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Adidas Superstar Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Adidas Gazelle Sizing

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New Balance 574 (right) vs 997 Sizing

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New Balance 574 (left) vs 515 Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Asics Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Adidas Cloudfoam Sizing

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New Balance 574 (left) vs 993 Sizing

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New Balance 574 (left) vs 2002r Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing

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New Balance 574 vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing

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New Balance 574 Sizing vs Nike Zoom Winflo

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New Balance 574 (left) vs 860 Sizing

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New Balance 574 (left) vs 5740 Sizing

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New Balance 574 (left) vs 1540 Sizing

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New Balance 574 (left) vs 880 Sizing

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New Balance 574 (left) vs 237 Sizing

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New Balance 574 Sizing for Women

New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nike Court Vision Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nike Dunk Sizing

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Women’s New Balance 574 Sizing vs Reebok Club C

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Skechers D’Lites Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Under Armour Sizing

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Women’s New Balance 574 Sizing vs Nike Air Max 90 Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nergize Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Keen Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Hey Dude Wendy Sox Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Crocs Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Converse Chucks Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Adidas Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 (right) vs 860 Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 (right) vs 880 Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 (right) vs 327 Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nike Air Max 1 Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Nike Blazer Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Air Force 1 Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Asics Gel Kayano Sizing

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Women’s New Balance 574 Sizing vs Vans Old Skool

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New Balance Women’s 574 vs Vans UltraRange EXO Sizing

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Do New Balance 574 Shoes Fit Wide or Narrow?

The New Balance 574 sizing 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.

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To give you a better idea how wide the 574 fits, here is the Balance 574 compared to my Nike Cortez shoes. The Nike Cortez are well-known for having a narrow, shallow toe box (both size 12).

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As you can see, the 574 shoe fits wider than the narrow Nike Cortez. 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 574 shoes (standard) compared to the Nike Air Monarch 4E (which is a popular extra wide shoe) both size 12:

new-balance-574-vs-nike-air-monarch-sizing

Below is a photo of me measuring the width of the outsole on the 574 men’s (size 12) and women’s (size 7). The men’s version is first and the women’s version is second:

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To read more, visit my article that discusses the width of New Balance 574 shoes.

Do New Balance 574 Shoes Run Big or Small?

New Balance 574 shoes fit true to size for most people. However, some people find that the 574 fits just a little bit smaller than their normal shoe size. If you prefer a loose fit, you may need to size up a half size.

To read more about sizing, visit my New Balance Size Guide.

New Balance 574 On Foot

Here I am wearing my New Balance 574 shoes, which I found to have a true-to-size, comfortable fit:

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Are New Balance 574 Shoes Lightweight to Wear?

My size 12 men’s New Balance 574 shoes weigh 0.78 pounds per shoe.

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A size 7 women’s New Balance 574 shoe weighs 0.62 pounds per shoe:

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Recently I tried over 30 different types of New Balance shoes. Overall, these shoes are one of the most lightweight options that New Balance offers. To read about how these shoes compare to other New Balance shoes, visit my New Balance Weight Comparison Chart.

New Balance 574 Material

The New Balance 574 shoes are made using a lightweight suede and mesh upper. Here is a close-up look at the material on my 574 shoes:

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How Flexible are New Balance 574 Shoes?

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

The New Balance 574 shoes have a flexible design that feels responsive on my foot. They find a sort of middle ground. The 574 isn’t as flexible as modern running shoes, but they are more durable.

In the videos below, I tried to capture how flexible these shoes are:

Do New Balance 574 Shoes Make You Taller?

New Balance 574 Sole Height

I found the New Balance 574 sole height for my size 12 shoes to be slightly under 1.5 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 574 shoe:

For a women’s size 7 shoe, the sole height measured approximately 1.25 inches near the heel. Here is a look at the height of the women’s 574:

new-balance-574-heel-height

New Balance 574 Heel Drop

When I searched for New Balance 574 heel drop information, I couldn’t find solid data anywhere. New Balance (at the time I am publishing this article) does not list the 574 heel drop information on the product page.

I decided to measure the 574 heel drop myself. When I measured my New Balance 574 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 574 shoes:

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new-balance-574-heel-drop-measurement

**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 574 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 New Balance 574 sizing and fit, but it can affect how comfortable it is for you to use. To read more, visit my article that discusses the New Balance 574 heel drop and how it compares to other options.

Do New Balance 574 Shoes Fit Comfortable?

To read more in depth about comfort, visit my article Are New Balance 574 Shoes Comfortable?

New Balance 574 Padding

The New Balance 574 shoes do have padding around the collar, but the overall design around the collar is a bit sleeker than other New Balance shoes. Here is a look at my New Balance 574 shoes near the collar:

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Does the New Balance 574 Have a Removable Insole?

Yes, the New Balance 574 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 574 shoes:

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How Thick is the New Balance 574 Insole?

I measured my New Balance 574 insole to be slightly under a quarter-inch thick. This insole thickness is comparable to many other types of New Balance shoes.

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574 Comparisons

To read more about how the New Balance 574 compares to other similar shoes, visit my articles linked below:


New Balance 574 Sizing Conclusion

In my experience, the New Balance 574 sizing fits true to size. However, some people find that this shoe runs a bit smaller than normal shoe sizing.

When I compared the sizing of the 574 to the sizing of other popular casual shoes, I found the sizing to be very similar. I ordered my normal sizing and it fit comfortably, but if you prefer a loose fit, you may need to size up.

The 574 is available in wide sizes. I found the New Balance 574 shoes have a regular width, but it should be noted that New Balance built these shoes “on a wider last than the previous generation’s narrow racing silhouettes.”

If you need a narrow design, I found the New Balance 720 shoes to fit more narrow.

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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