This New Balance 840 Sizing Guide uses direct comparison photos where I put my 840 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 840 shoes run big or small?
New Balance 840 shoes fit true to size. They have a fit that is very comparable to other types of athletic shoes. I ordered my normal sizing and they fit comfortably. Click here to jump ahead on the page to see the comparison sizing photos I took for the New Balance 840 versus other popular shoes.
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 comparison sizing photos for the 840). 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.
Let’s start this New Balance 840 Sizing Guide by looking at the direct side-by-side comparison photos of my New Balance 840 shoes compared to other popular shoes. Then let’s discuss how other design specs of this shoe differ from other options.
Please note, that this is the 840 Running Shoe. New Balance also offers the 840 in a walking shoe (which you can read more about by visiting my MW840 walking shoe sizing guide).
New Balance 840 Sizing Photos
All photos below use a size 12 men’s shoe. The exact version used for these sizing photos is the New Balance 840v5.
New Balance 840 On My Foot
To give you an idea how they respond on a foot, here I am wearing mine:
New Balance 840 (right) vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Adidas Cloudfoam Sizing
New Balance 840 (right) vs 847 Sizing
New Balance 840 (right) vs Roav Sizing
New Balance 840 (right) vs 1080 Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Skechers Go Walk Sizing
New Balance 840 vs 880 Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Nike Air Max Excee Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Converse Chucks Sizing
New Balance 840 (right) vs MW840 Sizing
New Balance 840 vs 990 Sizing
New Balance 840 vs 574 Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance 840 (right) vs 2002r Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Rebel Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Hoka Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Brooks Sizing
New Balance 840 vs Asics Sizing
New Balance 840 vs 860 Sizing
Do New Balance 840 Shoes Run Big or Small?
When I compared the New Balance 840 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 840 shoes fit true to size.
To read more about sizing, visit my New Balance Sizing Guide.
Do New Balance 840 Shoes Fit Wide or Narrow?
The New Balance 840 is a casual/running shoe that has more support under the foot than modern “squishy” running shoes. This shoe 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.
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 840 shoes in standard width compared to the Nike Air Monarch 4E (which is a popular extra wide shoe) both size 12:
How Much Do New Balance 840 Shoes Weigh?
My size 12 men’s New Balance 840 shoes weigh 0.89 pounds per shoe.
Recently I tried 33 different types of New Balance shoes. Although these shoes are comfortable to wear, there were other types of New Balance shoes that weigh less. To read how these shoes compared to other options, visit my New Balance weights article.
Are New Balance 840 Shoes Breathable?
Yes, the New Balance 840 shoes use a breathable mesh upper. Here is a look at the material on my shoes:
Although these are breathable, they aren’t the most breathable option that New Balance offers. For example, when I hold them up to the light, there isn’t any light passing through the material:
Compare that to the New Balance FuelCell Rebel, which I think is the most breathable New Balance shoe that I tried:
You can actually see light passing through the shoe.
The main takeaway is, yes, expect the New Balance 840 running shoes to be breathable, but I think there are more breathable options made by New Balance (Propel, Rebel).
New Balance 840 On Foot
Here I am wearing my New Balance 840 shoes, which I found to have a true-to-size, comfortable fit:
How Flexible are New Balance 840 Shoes?
Flexibility can play a large role in the fit and comfort of a shoe.
The New Balance 840 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 840 Shoes Fit Tall?
New Balance 840 Sole Height
I found the New Balance 840 sole height for my size 12 shoes to be just under 2 inches tall near the heel. This heel height is very similar to many other types of New Balance shoes that I have tried.
In the photo below, I tried to capture the heel height, and the overall height of the 840 shoe:
New Balance 840 Heel Drop
When I measured my New Balance 840 shoes using an 8-inch Digital Outside Caliper, I found the heel to toe drop to be approximately 12mm.
Here I am measuring the heel drop of the New Balance 840 shoes:
**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 840 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 840 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 840 heel drop and how it compares to other options.
Do New Balance 840 Shoes Fit Comfortable?
To read more in depth about comfort, visit my article Are the New Balance 840 Shoes Comfortable?
New Balance 840 Padding
Out of all the New Balance shoes that I have tried, I feel like the New Balance 840 shoes have the most padding around the tongue and collar. Here is a look at my New Balance 840 shoes near the collar:
Does the New Balance 840 Have a Removable Insole?
Yes, the New Balance 840 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 840 shoes:
This insole is actually double layered. It has a top layer of a foam material, and a gel-like material underneath:
How Thick is the New Balance 840 Insole?
I measured my New Balance 840 insole to be slightly under a quarter-inch thick. This insole thickness is comparable to many other types of New Balance shoes.
840 Comparisons
To read more, visit my comparison articles linked below for the 840:
New Balance 840 Sizing Conclusion
In my experience, the New Balance 840 fits true to size. When I compared the sizing of the 840 to the sizing of other popular casual shoes, I found the sizing to be very similar.
The New Balance 840 shoes have a regular width that I would describe as not too narrow nor too wide. These shoes are available in wide sizes.
If you want to compare the 840 to other popular types of New Balance running shoes, I also tried the New Balance 860, the New Balance Fresh Foam 880, and the New Balance 1080.