New Balance narrowed 4E ... what now?

[ByeByePoly]

Sorry if this is already been discussed here, I have not spent any time in the shoe forum. I will search also ... but figured someone may already know if anyone is still selling a wide 4E like New Balance used to. I talked to Tennis Warehouse, and it didn't sound like the Adidas 4E was any wider.

I have been playing New Balance 4E forever ... but it appears their 4E are no longer 4E (at least based on prior shoes). The last New Balance 4E I have that fits is the old 786 w/mess top. I just got the new 786, and it seems more like a 2E to me. I have also recently tried the NB 806 ... same problem, even worse, tapered toe box. Also ... both new 786 and 806 ran at least a half size to short. I would just get a half size bigger, but it looks like the width is still to tight.

Why would New Balance put the same number on a shoe if it's a narrower redesign? I have bought their shoes for 20+ years ... they just lost a lot of respect from me. I guess they must want out of the 4E line ... each year the options have been reducing.

 

[mikeler]

The last NB 4E shoes I bought are equivalent to the Adidas Barricade Wide 4E. I think the Adidas is more comfortable but the NB has a slightly better tread for clay. Both are snug on me but still comfortable. You may need to consider shoe stretchers. Nobody cares about the hobbit footed among us...

 

[ByeByePoly]

The last NB 4E shoes I bought are equivalent to the Adidas Barricade Wide 4E. I think the Adidas is more comfortable but the NB has a slightly better tread for clay. Both are snug on me but still comfortable. You may need to consider shoe stretchers. Nobody cares about the hobbit footed among us...

What was the last NB shoe you bought? My issue is the toe box. The old 786 was really wide in the toe box. The new 786 is not even close. Stretching? Wasn't sure if that was a thing with tennis shoes. I did stuff packing paper my NB 806 toe box. And I mean stuffed ... use a 1x1 board to jam it in there. I left it for a couple of days, and it definitely helped.

Are you talking about the court wide $50 one, or the classic $100. There are very few sizes available for the $50 one. The toe box does look wide on the $100 classic.

Who knew my tennis would end after 40 years due to shoes, and not knees or hips.

 

[mikeler]

What was the last NB shoe you bought? My issue is the toe box. The old 786 was really wide in the toe box. The new 786 is not even close. Stretching? Wasn't sure if that was a thing with tennis shoes. I did stuff packing paper my NB 806 toe box. And I mean stuffed ... use a 1x1 board to jam it in there. I left it for a couple of days, and it definitely helped.

Are you talking about the court wide $50 one, or the classic $100. There are very few sizes available for the $50 one. The toe box does look wide on the $100 classic.

Who knew my tennis would end after 40 years due to shoes, and not knees or hips.

The 786v2 is the current NB shoe (actually 3 pairs) that I use. I saw the $50 pair of the Adidas at a local store so I bought them on a whim and have been impressed.

 

[ByeByePoly]

FYI ... I called New Balance. I thought I might get some feedback, like which one is their current widest shoe, or some comment about why the narrowing 4E shoes. I also asked if they intend to get out of the 4E line.

That is 5 minutes wasted I will never get back.