Reviewer marzipan
These are really awesome shoes. My 13 year old daughter has worn them out and wants another pair.
Reviewer StephaniefromOU
As a longtime customer who has owned Emerica shoes and watched the quality go down throughout the years. These shoes are a great pair to own. The quality is good and as expected for an $80 pair of shoes. Very happy with my purchase.
Reviewer Kim Schmitt
Nice knockoffs, same fit, much less money.
Reviewer Beth A Alford
As with almost every shoe I buy, I go a size up or two since they usually don't accommodate for wide feet, but they are absolutely amazing to wear if you're just upgrading from any basic retailer shoe from payless, footlocker, famous footwear, etc. If you have a drastically low arch, you may be looking for something more support as well.
I deal with almost no arch at all and it's a start but you might want a larger support since it feels really small for me, I'm a size 11.
Reviewer Hand
I bought these specifically for cycling with old fashioned toe clips, because I'm weird and I like to know about history and experience things. They were advertised as 10.5US, they are 44eu instead of 45 eu - meaning they "run small", and it's a small 44. I still fit in them, even if they are a tad tight and have been using them with an old peugeot PH11 with the original triangular pedals from the mid 1980's - that style inspired the Look system of "clipless" pedals famously introduced by Greg Lamond in the famous tour pursuit of the badger. Mostly, I just want to pursue coffee and sunshine.
I think these might be the best shoes you can currently buy for use with cycling toe-clips, without spending a fortune or getting shoes that are 20 years old and falling apart. If you're more accustomed to swing out clipless systems such as Look, CrankBros, or Spd, you will recognize immediately that toe clips are far inferior - it took me a few miles to stop yanking my foot out of the back as I tried to sweep through the bottom of my pedal stroke, and it's hard to remember to loosen the strap when coming to a stop. These Puma shoes are very similar to the old sidi shoes that used to be common in cycling, except there's really no stiffness at the end of the toes, and I could tell that I would get a blister on my big toe as a result, so I must meditate on rule 5 of the Velominati prior to using them. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Puma took this shoe design from an old cycling shoe, the laces are shifted to the outside of the shoe and are easy to keep away from the cranks, while the foot bottom is as stiff as any modern cycling shoe. I think it would be hell to walk around in and I really can't comment on their utility as driving shoes.
The ferrari symbol is a regrettable attribute, as my place in society (AKA not a billionaire) would dictate that anyone wearing such driving shoes while tooling around in their ferrari not only has more money than sense, but likely has additional baggage that (fingers crossed) allows me to feel morally superior; which would make up for being hugely outclassed, financially. It's a kind of 99%'ers sour grapes, you know? If you are this person, please feel free to leave me validating comments about the woes in your otherwise blessed life. Mo-money mo problems?
Reviewer Em Gallagher
A good pair of hiking boots, but not as good as 'Red Wing or Fyre boots'! I have found them to be somewhat , uncomfortable & prefer my more comfortable 'Combat Boots'!
Reviewer trevstonlongworth
I normally only wear 574's from New Balance, but I purchased these because they share the same shoe last and they're similar. I can't say that I like them as well, but they're alright.
I believe the mid-soles are different, and while I think I like the 574 mid-sole better, the 565 doesn't seem bad. One thing I definitely don't like as well is the lack of mesh in the all-suede upper. They probably don't breath as well, but that's not a huge factor for me in a suede shoe. I just like the looks of the mesh/suede combo better then the all-suede shoe.
I saved my final criticism for last, because it applies to both the 565 and 574 models of "Lifestyle and Retro" shoes. These are the ones with model numbers that start with "ml". I don't like them because they appear to be the hipster version of New Balance shoes, with laces that usually match the suede. Like any good hipster shoe, they seem to be more narrow, which is antithetical to the very thing that made the 574, and probably 565, popular shoes in the first place (i.e. spacious.) Even though these are supposedly made on the same shoe last as other models in the line, they definitely don't have the advertised toe depth of the SL-2 shoe last. I've also noticed that many New Balance shoes made on the SL-2 last don't seem to be as wide as they used to be, so that issue probably isn't for the lifestyle and retro shoes alone.
Seems strange that New Balance would ruin a popular line of shoes by changing the very things that made them popular, but that's what they seem to be doing. For customers that want a more narrow 574, it seems like New Balance would just suggest the 363 or one of their models made on narrow shoe lasts. Regardless, I wish they'd leave the SL-2 shoes alone, so that customer who appreciate them can continue to do so. I've worn them for 20 years and the only thing that will stop that is if New Balance changes the shoes so much that they're not the same.
Reviewer xpovos
If you're between an 8 and an 8.5, get the 6.5. If you're between an 8.5 and a 9 (like me), get the 7.
Reviewer Dr Garrick Small
Perfect for gym use. Happy with the purchase. Great deal
Reviewer Leonard Cain
Comfortable and durable. I recommend these shoes.
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