New Balance Women's WW928 Health Walking Lace-Up Sneaker

I had to order these to be sent from the US to the Uk, at great expense - added the equivalent of $50 to the price! There is not an equivalent model in the Uk. I have had a bad foot injury for 6 months and been virtually immobile. It got worse after physio - apparently it is a large tendon that is injured and physio made it worse. Having been in an aircast walker for 6 weeks I found I couldn't just go straight into shoes or boots and walk - too painful. I found an excellent blog online by a podiatrist with shoe recommendations and bought some Wolky sandals (which were fine for inside the house, but not for walking outside). These were the one shoe she recommended for walking outside. I tried other things but couldn't find a solution so eventually bit the bullet and ordered these as I need to walk! At first they felt a bit strange, when I tried them on, but they are fantastic to walk in - very light and supportive - and no pain. I am needing to wear a tri-lock brace as well though. But the tri-lock brace with other shoes - even comfort footwear, just didn't get me walking - these did.No they are not perfect - yes the toe area shapes in a bit too much so you can feel it, but not so much as to cause pressure. Yes the ankles are a little stiff and you can feel it, but not so much as to cause any real discomfort and I recommend padded or sports socks to alleviate this. I am aware of it in my good foot, but the foot with the brace on doesn't feel it due to the extra thickness of the brace.Sizing - I really had to try and make sure I got this right as to return them from the Uk after paying postage and import taxes would have been a major financial loss. I had already tried another pair of New Balance shoes in the UK and found I needed to go up half a size, so I ordered the equivalent US size and they were a perfect fit. Yes there is a little room around the heel, but that is more the fit than the sizing, and the right socks should sort this too. I actually found with the foot brace, that that side shoe is even slightly too small now, with my toe against the end, but not so much that it hurts and the amount of walking I am doing (not much!) it is fine.So here are my views on sizing. I normally wear a Uk 7 (or US 9) and need a Uk 7 1/2 in New Balance (equivalent to US 9 1/2). So I ordered the 9 1/2 which is half a size bigger than my regular size, and it is exactly the right size for me. A half size down would have been too small. Having said that - I could also do with another pair a full size bigger than my regular size, for when needing to wear the ankle brace, which with its extra thickness, makes the shoe slightly smaller on my foot.I have read that if you have these shoes you don't need special orthotics and I would agree with that. The fit and comfort for the soles of my feet was perfect out of the box. I also have Morton's neuromas in both feet and normally need flexible footwear and cushioning in the right places and a slightly higher heel to sole ratio (as opposed to the deliberately rigid sole of this shoe, with its roll bar) but found that I managed fine with these - I was aware of the neuromas but only slightly after walking and not so much as to cause pain. I have to say after putting them on and walking around at an outdoor play last week they felt amazing - so light and easy to wear. They are a stop gap for me until my injury is healed, but have enabled me to walk as opposed to not walking at all or aggravating my foot condition by walking in other shoes.I would highly recommend these, as the podiatrist did to me - for anyone with any foot injury. Yes the toe, heel and ankle area could have an improved design, but I don't think any shoe is perfect for everyone, and if you get the sizing right and wear the right socks they are fine. I had no idea a pair of shoes could make a difference.An added bonus is - some people complain about them being white leather - I love it! Our son recently had a new pair of school sports shoes by Startrite which were white leather and I kept saying how nice they were and I would love a pair like them myself, and now by chance - I do have some! They just look like tennis shoes on. I would definitely get the all leather ones and not the mesh ones. They seem well made, lacing is very adjustable, width is adjustable at the ankle nicely if you need an ankle brace on. Apparently they also stop your feet rolling.I actually emailed New Balance and asked if these were available in the Uk - their response was no and they did not feel they had a market for them in the Uk - shame on them! So we are a poor relation?!!! I think they would find there was a market as these are assessed as a medical shoe - and the only medical shoe version they have in the Uk is another model, recommended as a diabetic shoe (also made in the US) but it does not have the roll bar technology I was told was necessary for rehabilitation after a foot injury.Although the white leather is very nice, and supple, I agree that a greater choice of colour would be good - I wouldn't wear black - black lace-ups look a bit military or police type thing, nor would I wear beige suede - which not only shows up muck, but beige is a bit old ladyish sometimes (mind you I am pushing 60 myself but still like to look fairly stylish!). A nice royal blue would be good as well as white, and red would be a winner! And if 3 colours isn't enough, then emerald green and a deep tan leather would be nice too. New Balance should take a leaf out of 'Fly London's' book - they make amazingly well-made, stylish, comfortable shoes also (more fashion shoes) but in a massive range of coloured leathers, muted and bright ones. But not silver please - I don't want to look like the tin man.Note: Width - I ordered the B width, which is medium. I have medium to slim feet and this was perfect - and yet still plenty of width in the toe box for your toes to move around. For anyone with average feet these would be fine and unless you have superwide feet I wouldn't go for the wide fit.

Until recently, I would have given these shoes 5 stars. They have a cleaner, smoother cut from the 927. The reason I knocked off a star, which may be unfair so you'll have to judge for yourself, is that the soles are very slippery on some wet surfaces. I live in "sunny" Florida and don't walk when the streets are wet, but traveling recently I was touring a town shortly after rain, stepped on a metal cover in the sidewalk and went right down. I also noticed that on my treadmill at home, there were some slippery moves. Both could have been weird coincidences. I scrubbed the treadmill track very well but haven't needed to use it since then. Other than that, the shoe fits so perfectly. It is durable--seems to last a year with two to three miles a day walking. This model. like the 927, has a special kind of forward roll when walking. If you've never tried a pair of these shoes, you may not understand what I'm talking about. In any case, if you are interested, try a pair at a local shop, if possible. I bought my first pair locally but couldn't resist the $20. savings on the Amazon purchase.UPDATE: I just walked on wet streets and even in puddles (just to test the shoes) and had no slippage. I was on the freshly-scrubbed treadmill yesterday and had a tiny bit of slippage when I tried to force my foot to slip. I think these shoes are quite safe except for some surfaces--wet metal, obviously. Since any shoe could have that, I'm changing my 4-star rating to 5 stars.2nd Update:This is cautionary. I just received my newest pair of 928's. The front part of the sole (widest part) on this pair is 6 millimeters narrower than my previous ones. At first I thought it was just that the year-old ones were more stretched. After I put them on, I knew they were different so I measured. For me, I think they will work as the others were slightly roomy; however, if the shoe "fits," you may want to consider a wider shoe this time around.3rd Update:So, I found on the second day of wearing these shoes for my 2.5 mile walk, that I could not wear them. Since I had worn the shoes, I could not return them to Amazon for a full refund (although I still had purchase protection through my cc). I contacted New Balance, and, honestly, I cannot believe how accommodating their customer support is. They sent me an email saying they were sorry I was disappointed; they would send me a label to return them; and, they would arrange a credit at New Balance. I was so "blown away" by their attitude, I turned around and optimistically ordered the same shoe in a 9D. Since I purchased this newer pair from Amazon, I was able to test them in two days. Guess what? The sole of the 9 D is EXACTLY the same as the previous 9 B. If I hadn't tried on a 9B in a running shoe store before actually ordering it a year ago, I would think that my year-old 928's had the size label wrong. (Until two years ago, I was wearing narrows for 50 years!--it seems arches are vulnerable to gravity, too!) Now, I have a pair that seems to fit (although it's not 100% the same--boxier in the toe--as the old 9B), and I will order the 9D from my credit at New Balance. The number I take to be the manufacturing date is 0613 (date on year-old shoes was 0312 and newer smaller shoes was 0912) on the 9D's. Hopefully, I'll get the same fit from the New Balance direct and will have shoes for the next two years.

This shoe is a bit heavy but gives the foot a lot of support. I really like the extralacing hole at the top because you can cinch it up so it fits better around the heel.And it is orthotic friendly.

I have been dealing with Plantar Fasciitis in both feet for many years. I've seen 3 Doctors and have been to physical therapy. I've tried splints, inserts and more. The issue has come and gone, but been present and very painful for the last 2 1/2 years straight. It got to the point that I would be in excruciating pain after grocery shopping. Needless to say I'm at the 'try anything' point. I read up about these shoes and wanted to try them. It's now Nov and I have been wearing them since June. I do not have an insert in them. I still do daily stretches and ice my feet once a day (most days). While it has not gone away, it's HAS gotten so much better and been manageable. One day while doing yard work I put on a different pair of sneakers (with inserts), and within two hours of standing (raking leaves) my feet were in AGONY. This is the proof I needed to know for sure it's these sneakers making a difference!! Standing on my feet for two hours straight is a regular thing for me, and I am very active. I rely so heavily on user reviews when purchasing I had to contribute my own. If I've learned anything about Plantar Fasciitis over the years its what works for some does not work for all. But if you are looking for relief, give these a try. I'm ordering at least one more pair right now. I hope to God they never discontinue them!!

Really comfortable shoes. I have Plantar Faciitis and the have helped.