Recently I purchased over 30 types of New Balance shoes, including the New Balance 997H, so I could compare them on many things, including weight. How much do New Balance 997H shoes weigh?
New Balance 997H shoes weigh 11.84 ounces (0.74 pounds) per shoe for a size 12 men’s shoe. The New Balance 997H was the fifth most lightweight New Balance shoe that I tried.
In this article let’s take a closer look at New Balance 997H weight and how it compares to other popular New Balance shoes.
New Balance 997H Weight
My size 12 men’s New Balance 997H shoes weigh 0.74 pounds per shoe (11.84 ounces).
The New Balance 997H is a casual shoe that combines a lightweight design with a versatile outsole which makes it popular for all-day use.
997H Weight Compared to Other Shoes
After trying over 30 different types of New Balance shoes, below is a weight chart comparing the New Balance 997H 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 997H so lightweight?
The 997H 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 athletic shoe, even though it isn’t as lightweight as some of the more-modern types of athletic 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:
And to give you a better idea how the New Balance 997H shoe fits and responds on a foot, here I am wearing my shoes:
Shoes Similar to the New Balance 997H
If you are interested in the New Balance 997H because you like retro running shoes, New Balance actually has several options you should consider. Here’s what you need to know:
- New Balance 574 – This is probably New Balance’s most popular shoe. It has a retro running design, but like the 997, it has a rugged design, which makes it a more versatile shoe than other retro runners.
- 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 997. 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 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”.