When I compared the New Balance 992 vs 993, this is what stood out the most to me:
- These shoes are both casual athletic shoes that are part of New Balance’s Made in USA series. Another New Balance Made in USA shoe that is very similar to these shoes is the 990, so you will probably want to compare it also.
- Both the 992 and the 993 are comfortable, but I do think the 993 offers a softer compression under the toe pad, so I would give the 993 the edge for comfort under the foot. This is where you can see how both shoes respond on a foot to get a better idea about compression.
- I was a bit surprised how much more flexible the 993 is than the 992. I’ll let you be the judge: this is where you can see the videos of me testing the flexibility of both of these shoes.
- The 992 is offered in many more unique colorways than the 993, and may be the better option if you prefer bright, vibrant colors.
- There is also a significant difference in weight. I found the 992 to weigh more than the 993. In general, the 992 was the bigger, bulkier shoe. This is where you can see my exact weight measurements and how these weights compare to other New Balance options.
- I also found there to be a difference in the sizing of these two shoes. The 992 fits longer than the 993 (the width is similar between these two shoes). When I recently tried over 30 different types of New Balance shoes, I found the 992 to fit the biggest out of all the shoes. In my opinion, it runs a half size bigger than my normal shoes sizing. I would recommend you view these side-by-side sizing photos that compare these shoes to each other, and to other popular brands.
In this article let’s take a closer look at the New Balance 992 and the New Balance 993 by using the videos and pictures I took of the shoes that I own.
New Balance 992 vs 993 Comfort
How They Respond on Foot
To give you an idea how these shoes respond on a foot, here I am wearing mine:
As you can see above, both the 993 and the 992 are made using a suede/mesh upper. In my opinion, the 993 provides more comfort under the foot than the 992 (especially under the toe pad), but it is reasonably close. Both styles use New Balance’s ABZORB midsole which helps reduce impact stress under the heel (softest New Balance shoes explained).
If you prioritize support and stability, the 992 may be the better option. If you want to see the videos I took comparing the flexibility of these shoes, click here.
It’s also important to emphasize that although both of these shoes are comfortable under the foot, they won’t be as “squishy” under the foot as certain types of modern New Balance running shoes.
For comparison, the 1080v12 is my favorite lightweight New Balance running shoe. It provides that “squishy” feeling under the foot. Although the 992 and 993 don’t have this same “squishy” softness, they offer much more support and stability, which is important for many people.
Here is how the 1080v12 responds on my foot:
New Balance 992 vs 993 Flexibility
In the videos below, I tried to capture how flexible these shoes are:
As you can see, the 993 is much more flexible and responsive than the 992. But if you prefer stable support, the 992 will be the better option.
I also found a noticeable difference in the weight of these two shoes. This is where you can see the specific weight data for each shoe, and how it compares to other New Balance options.
Collar Padding
Both the 993 and 992 have quality padding around the collar and tongue and in my experience, there was no noticeable difference in this area regarding comfort. Here are mine (992 first):
Insole Thickness
Yes, both the 992 and the 993 have removable insoles, so you can clean or swap them as needed. First, here is the insole of the 992:
And below, is the insole for the New Balance 993:
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 992 vs 993 Design
Upper Material
Both the 992 and the 993 are part of New Balance’s Made in USA line. They are both made with suede/mesh uppers that are breathable.
Here’s the material on mine (992 first):
Sole Height
Below is the height measurements I took for the New Balance 992 and 993 (992 first):
Outsole Width
Below is the width measurements I took for the New Balance 992 and 993 (992 first):
As you can see, the base of these shoes has a similar width. The outsole pattern is different, but it didn’t cause a noticeable difference either way.
For a better idea how wide these shoes fit, this is where I compare them in standard width to extra wide shoes.
New Balance 992 vs 993 Weight
The 992 weighs quite a bit more than the 993. The 992 weighs 1.27 pounds and the 993 weighs 1.06 pounds per shoe for a size 12 men’s.
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. So, as you can see, both shoes weigh more than that. Click here to read more about how these weights compare to other New Balance shoes.
New Balance 992 vs 993 Sizing
Length: I found the 992 to fit longer than the 993. In fact, when I recently tried over 30 different types of New Balance shoes, the 992 was the shoe that fit the biggest. To me, the 992 runs about a half size bigger than my normal shoe sizing regarding length. The 993 is true to size for me.
Here are mine (993 on right):
Width: The sizing width of these shoes is very similar. Both have a roomy fit that is not narrow on the foot. However, if you normally order wide sizing, I would still recommend ordering wide sizing.
Here is a look at both of my shoes on my foot (993 on right):
To give you a better idea how wide these shoes are, here they both are (in standard width) compared to the Nike Air Monarch 4E, which is a popular extra wide shoe (877 first):
In the sections below, I compare both of these shoes to other popular shoes so you can get a better feel for sizing. To read more about sizing, visit my size guide.
New Balance 992 Sizing Photos
These photos below all use a size 12 men’s shoe. As I mentioned above, when I recently tried over 30 different types of New Balance shoes, the 992 was the shoe that fit the biggest. In my opinion, it fits a half size bigger than my normal shoe sizing. If you would like to skip ahead to 993 sizing, click here.
New Balance 992 vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Nike Zoom Winflo Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Skechers Go Walk Slip On Sizing
New Balance 992 (right) vs 990 Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Nike Air Max Excee Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Adidas Cloudfoam Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Asics Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Hoka One One Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Converse Chucks Sizing
New Balance 992 (right) vs 574 Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Skechers Afterburn Sizing
New Balance 992 vs Nike Blazer Sizing
New Balance 992 (left) vs 2002r Sizing
New Balance 992 (right) vs 997 Sizing
New Balance 992 (right) vs 847 Sizing
New Balance 992 (left) vs 1080 Sizing
New Balance 992 (left) vs 880 Sizing
New Balance 992 (right) vs 237 Sizing
New Balance 992 (right) vs 840 Sizing
To read more, visit my article about the sizing of New Balance 992 Shoes.
New Balance 993 Sizing Photos
These photos below all use a size 12 men’s shoe.
New Balance 993 (right) vs Skechers Afterburn Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Reebok Classics Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Nike Zoom Winflo Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Skechers Go Walk Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Saucony Shadow 6000 Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Adidas Superstar Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Nike Air Max Excee Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Adidas Cloudfoam Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Asics Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Hoka One One Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Converse Chucks Sizing
New Balance 993 (right) vs 574 Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Vans Old Skool Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Converse Pro Leather Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Adidas Gazelle Sizing
New Balance 993 (right) vs 997 Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Nike Blazer Sizing
New Balance 993 vs Fresh Foam Roav Sizing
New Balance 993 (left) vs 880 Sizing
New Balance 993 (left) vs 860 Sizing
New Balance 993 (right) vs 515 Sizing
New Balance 993 (right) vs 57/40 Sizing
New Balance 993 (right) vs 847 Sizing
New Balance 993 (right) vs 813 Sizing
New Balance 993 (left) vs 2002r Sizing
New Balance 993 (right) vs 237 Sizing
New Balance 993 (left) vs 1080 Sizing
To read more, visit my article about the sizing of New Balance 993.
New Balance 992 vs 993 Conclusion
These shoes are similar in that they are both casual athletic shoes that are part of New Balance’s Made in USA series. I did, however, find a slight difference in comfort. To me, the 993 offers a softer compression under the toe pad, so I would give the 993 the edge for comfort under the foot.
I was also a bit surprised how much more flexible the 993 is than the 992. I found the 993 to not only be more flexible, but more “twistable”. This is where you can see the videos of me testing the flexibility of both of these shoes.
Despite both shoes being made with similar breathable suede/mesh uppers, I found a significant difference in weight. The 992 weighs much more than the 993.
I also found there to be a difference in the sizing of these two shoes. The 992 fits longer than the 993 (the width is similar between these two shoes). When I recently tried over 30 different types of New Balance shoes, I found the 992 to fit the biggest out of all the shoes. In my opinion, it runs a half size bigger than my normal shoes sizing. This is where you can read more about the sizing of these two shoes.