Reviewer Tracey L Williams
I bought them for my girlfriend. She liked them although they did get dirty very quickly.
Reviewer TRUDI
They machine wash very well, as they are canvas rather than ultra suede. I like the extra wideness as I like to stretch out my toes. I find the green a bit too bright. I prefer the blue ones.
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 Priscilla S Choate
Nice shoes. I bought them to play tennis with them and so far so good.
Reviewer M Ruffini
The first time I saw the "Backpack" line of shoes from New Balance, I knew that I'd one day be adding a pair to my collections of 574's. Nylon uppers just seems like a fantastic idea, since nylon is so easy to clean and keep clean. I liked the idea of being able to get them dirty, knowing that they'll clean up better then other 574's. Because of this, I might even wear them when I normally wouldn't want to get my shoes dirty.
I haven't had them long enough to make that decision, or know exactly how well they'll clean up, but there is something else different about them that immediately caught my attention. Ever since New Balance changed the manufacturing process for the 574's, I think they've been smaller and less comfortable then versions before that time. I just purchased another pair of 574's a couple of weeks back and noticed this immediately when putting them on, as I always do with a new pair of 574's nowadays.
This pair, however, feels more like the older 574's, because they're so comfortable. My first thought was that maybe they made them like the old ones, but after comparing them to numerous other pairs I have, both old and new, I don't think that's it. The soles still match the newer version (i.e. they're more narrow), but still, I'm pretty sure they have more toe room in the uppers, because they both look and feel as if they do.
I've been a little disappointed with every pair I've purchased, since they changed the manufacturing process, because they're just not as comfortable as they used to be. For whatever reason, these, however, seem closer to what I remember a new pair feeling like and that has me really happy. They are very comfortable shoes.
Reviewer S G Park
This is my husband’s second pair. He’s on his feet teaching and these help his pad his feet.
Reviewer tomthegardener
Good product, it's a good idea to spray some protection on the swede part of the shoe, being white they can easealy get dirty
Reviewer Andrew S Cofrin
They fit true to size, they are comfortable, and the color (blue71) is so awesome. For $20, they are great. My only complaint is that one of the shoes is not centered, so the laces are off center. It's not enough to cost a star or send them back, I mean they're 20 bucks, you can't expect them to be perfect...
Reviewer Jeremy L Osborn
These shoes are incredibly comfortable. They super soft and springy and so far have been great for walking/hiking!
I suggest ordering a half a size as they ran a bit large.
Reviewer J Luczko
Just a touch small but will break in nicely. Fabulous color with silver accent. Love them.
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