This New Balance W840v3 Sizing Guide uses direct comparison photos where I put my W840v3 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 W840v3 shoes run big or small?
New Balance W840v3 shoes fit true to size for most people. They have a fit that is very comparable to other types of athletic shoes. I ordered my normal sizing and they fit comfortably. This is where you can see comparison sizing photos comparing the sizing of the W840v3 to the sizing of other popular brands.
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 w840v3). 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 W840 Sizing Guide by looking at the direct side-by-side comparison photos of my New Balance MW840v3 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 Walking Shoe. New Balance also offers the 840 in a running shoe (which you can read more about by visiting my 840 running shoe sizing guide).
New Balance MW840 Sizing Photos
All photos below use a size 12 men’s shoe. The exact version used for these sizing photos is the New Balance MW840v3.
New Balance MW840 On My Foot
To give you an idea how they respond on a foot, here I am wearing mine:
New Balance MW840 (right) vs Adidas 2k Boost Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Skechers Afterburn Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Brooks Adrenaline Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Keen Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Reebok Classics Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Skechers Go Walk Slip On Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Vans UltraRange Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Skechers Go Walk Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Saucony Shadow 6000 Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs 1540 Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Crocs Sizing
New Balance MW840 (left) vs 993 Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Under Armour HOVR Sizing
New Balance MW840 (right) vs 997 Sizing
New Balance MW840 vs Nike Air Force 1 Sizing
New Balance MW840 (left) vs 2002r Sizing
New Balance MW840 (left) vs 847 Sizing
New Balance MW840 (left) vs 860 Sizing
New Balance MW840 (right) vs 624 Sizing
New Balance MW840 (left) vs 877 Sizing
Do New Balance MW840 Shoes Run Big or Small?
When I compared the New Balance MW840 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 MW840 shoes fit true to size.
To read more about sizing, visit my article that talks about New Balance Sizing.
Do New Balance MW840 Shoes Fit Wide or Narrow?
The New Balance W840v3 is a leather walking/casual shoe built with breathable leather and I found it to be more flexible than other leather walking 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 W840 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 MW840 Shoes Weigh?
My size 12 men’s New Balance MW840 shoes weigh 0.89 pounds per shoe.
Recently I tried over 30 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 about how these shoes compare to other New Balance shoes, visit my article about the weight of New Balance shoes.
Are New Balance MW840 Shoes Breathable?
The New Balance MW840 shoes are a unique option and find a sort of middle-ground regarding breathability. Like many other New Balance walking shoes (577, 813), they are made with leather uppers.
But the unique thing about the MW840 is it has perforated sections of leather that help improve the breathability of the shoe compared to other New Balance leather options. Here is the material on my MW840 shoe:
If you prefer a mesh upper for your walking shoe, then you might consider the New Balance 847 shoes. The 847 shoes will help add breathability, but also still have the ROLLBAR technology for stability and the TPU heel insert for enhanced support (see New Balance shoes with Rollbar).
New Balance MW840 On Foot
Here I am wearing my New Balance MW840 shoes, which I found to have a true-to-size, comfortable fit:
How Flexible are New Balance MW840 Shoes?
Flexibility can play a large role in the fit and comfort of a shoe.
The New Balance MW840 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 MW840 Shoes Fit Tall?
New Balance MW840 Sole Height
I found the New Balance MW840 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 MW840 shoe:
New Balance MW840 Heel Drop
When I searched for New Balance MW840 heel drop information, I couldn’t find solid data anywhere. New Balance (at the time I am publishing this article) does not list the MW840 heel drop information on the product page.
I decided to measure the MW840 heel drop myself. When I measured my New Balance MW840 shoes using an 8-inch Digital Outside Caliper, I found the heel drop to be approximately 8-9mm.
Here I am measuring the heel drop of the New Balance MW840 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 MW840 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 MW840 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 MW840 heel drop and how it compares to other options.
Do New Balance MW840 Shoes Fit Comfortable?
To read more in depth about comfort, visit my article Are the New Balance MW840 Shoes Comfortable?
New Balance MW840 Padding
Out of all the New Balance shoes that I have tried, I feel like the New Balance MW840 shoes have the most padding around the tongue and collar. Here is a look at my New Balance MW840 shoes near the collar:
Does the New Balance MW840 Have a Removable Insole?
Yes, the New Balance MW840 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 MW840 shoes:
How Thick is the New Balance MW840 Insole?
I measured my New Balance MW840 insole to be slightly under a quarter-inch thick. This insole thickness is comparable to many other types of New Balance shoes.
New Balance MW840 Sizing Conclusion
In my experience, the New Balance MW840 fits true to size. I though the width was a bit wider than many other types of New Balance shoes, but wasn’t enough to affect my sizing decisions one way or another.
These MW840 shoes are built with a leather upper which helps provide support and stability, but these shoes are more breathable than other types of leather walking shoes that New Balance offers.
If you want to compare it to another breathable walking shoe, I like the New Balance 847, which is made with mesh on the upper, and may offer even more breathability.