New Balance # containment thread

[Vintagebody]

I got my 440's today. Same size as my 306's. Fits good, slightly longer indeed. so my toe doesnt hurt.
They are also crazy grippy... Like seriously never had anything that grippy. You can feel it "sucking" down on hardwood floors.

[RichardBarkley]

I got my 440's today. Same size as my 306's. Fits good, slightly longer indeed. so my toe doesnt hurt.
They are also crazy grippy... Like seriously never had anything that grippy. You can feel it "sucking" down on hardwood floors.

Thats what my new 272s are like. It's really annoying. It's too grippy. Grip doesn't seem to be wearing down either

[Olympus Mons]

parade world has a ton of NBs at, less, or around $50. copt those clear sole 440s for $50

Link? Not even seeing those online anywhere

[Olympus Mons]

[streetmeat]

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parade world has a ton of NBs at, less, or around $50. copt those clear sole 440s for $50

[close]

Link? Not even seeing those online anywhere

damn, looks like none of that is there anymore...weird

[typeischeap]

I got my 440's today. Same size as my 306's. Fits good, slightly longer indeed. so my toe doesnt hurt.
They are also crazy grippy... Like seriously never had anything that grippy. You can feel it "sucking" down on hardwood floors.

ngl, I stopped skating my 440s after a really hard slam on transition where I tried to kick the board away and it ended up sticking to my toe/foot and I landed on it and slipped out. Yeah, probably not the shoe's fault but was enough to take a break from them. Plus the square toe still weirds me out a bit...

[FGO925]

I’m going crazy with the 440s haha. The size 10’s were a bit too small but these Tom knox leather 440s in 10 1/2 are too big.

Dumb on my part because leather shoes always stretch out and usually run big in my experience.

Going to have to exchange these I guess.


In anyone else’s experience, do the regular suede 440s end up stretching out? Left shoe fits perfect but the right one is just slightly too cramped for my liking.

Other than that these shoes seem perfect. Tons of board feel, slim cupsole, and they hug my heel decently well. Once I get the sizing down I can’t wait to skate these.

[Vintagebody]

^ You say that, but my 306's have not stretched out at all. They are vulcs, so you would think that they would.
I guess the rubber strap thing on the 306's, which goes around pretty much the hole shoe, does so it doesnt stretch much, if any at all. I dont know if the 440's have the same rubber strap, but if it does? I doubt it will stretch out :/

[LebowskisRug]

My 440's always stretch a bit. I'm not actually sure I can recall a shoe that doesn't stretch or soften up some from NB, however, I don't think they ever bag out completely like the Vans Pro Line did or some other brands do.

If you're between sizes I would always go up. If you go too small there ain't much you can do to make the shoe longer and you risk constricting your foot. Constricting your metatarsal bones can, in some cases, affect ankle articulation more than you'd realize. It's one major reason rock climbers get injured in a lot of otherwise chill falls.

[somedudefromnj]

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Anyone have experience with the 22’s? How are they, if you have?

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Been asking the same thing, but got nothing.

I went ahead and bought a pair in white leather/gum. Unfortunately I won't be able to skate them for a while (surgery tomorrow), but I like them.

For the last few years I've only skated the 212s, they fit me perfectly. The 22s aren't as wide as the 212s, but are still roomy enough. They have the same insole as the 212s/306s on the same sole as a 306 I think. They're not as thin or light as the 212, they seem like they'll hold up due to less stitching. If you're a fan of Blazers, Bruins or even the old Adidas Skate, you'll like these. I would say they're wider than all of those, which is a plus for me. Most skate shoes are too narrow for me and don't pass the ankle roll test.

They run true to size. I've got them in 10 and I wear 10 in 212s, and whatever else I used to skate (mainly Vans).

Heel lock is good. The laces are far up, I doubt they'll snap quickly. The tongue doesn't seem to slip around.

Photos don't do them justice but I think they're one of the best looking shoes out at the moment:



Sorry I can't be of more help since I can't skate mine right now.

thanks for this!

[Xen]

Good take

[Bubblegum Tate]

I've never been interested in New Balance before but those Franky 272s are really nice. Might fuck around and try a pair.

[fakiefs180]

Yo, I like these 272s. Is the fit comparable to the 440s?

[Diamond_Dallas_Pudge]

My feet are wide as hell and I these 440 his fit perfectly.

Probably the closest thing to a vulcanized cupsole shoe I've ever seen and my feet don't hurt.

I'm sold for life

[Frontside Slappy]

Yo, I like these 272s. Is the fit comparable to the 440s?

In my experience they're much roomier in the toe box area than the 440s, so much so that I dropped half a size down from what I usually wear and they're perfect.

That being said I've never had a pair of leather 272s, but I figure they'd fit the same.

[Xen]

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I've never been interested in New Balance before but those Franky 272s are really nice. Might fuck around and try a pair.

[close]

Stellar work, Franky, hiding the Dad N like that. Well done.

[LebowskisRug]

Yo, I like these 272s. Is the fit comparable to the 440s?

I found em good for a duck footed person. If I sized down my toe hit the end when I lifted my heel up as if I were popping and I live somewhere hot/feet swell. They're definitely less snug than the 306, but I liked the heel lock a lot better. I'm on 1010/440 and still thinking of trying them. The heel felt surprisingly solid for a vulc, in a good way.

[fakiefs180]

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Yo, I like these 272s. Is the fit comparable to the 440s?

[close]

I found em good for a duck footed person. If I sized down my toe hit the end when I lifted my heel up as if I were popping and I live somewhere hot/feet swell. They're definitely less snug than the 306, but I liked the heel lock a lot better. I'm on 1010/440 and still thinking of trying them. The heel felt surprisingly solid for a vulc, in a good way.

For some reason the 306 didn't really feel as snug to me as the 440. Both in a US 7. But I swear, I have the weirdest feet and sizing. You know how they say, your feet are the biggest after a long day? Well my feet actually feel like they shrink during the day. Shoes always fit me the best in the morning. End rant.

[Bubblegum Tate]

[Vintagebody]

Had 2 sessions with 440s. Great shoe actually! At first I did indeed have some awkard situations duo to the grip being so crazy. Kickflips was ace, and so was heelflips. I just prefer cups for the simple fact that their sole doesnt grip the board like a vulc...

Size wise they might be a tad too big. I think a 9,5 stretched out would be perfect on my foot, which is 28cm

[art hellman]

440s are an effin' fantastic shoe and earned a solid place in my list of best cupsoles

[LebowskisRug]

They're the best transition shoe from vulc to cup which is precisely what they were designed for. Shame the 425 didn't take over that.

[art hellman]

They're the best transition shoe from vulc to cup

totally.

[Frank and Fred]

440s are an effin' fantastic shoe and earned a solid place in my list of best cupsoles

Good to hear. I have a pair in my pile and I'm getting closer to actually skateboarding in them. Love the way they look and feel walking around in but I've been concerned I won't feel my board as strictly a vulc bloke.

[art hellman]

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440s are an effin' fantastic shoe and earned a solid place in my list of best cupsoles

[close]

Good to hear. I have a pair in my pile and I'm getting closer to actually skateboarding in them. Love the way they look and feel walking around in but I've been concerned I won't feel my board as strictly a vulc bloke.

my two most important criteria for a skate shoe (more so for a cupsole) is that I can feel the board in the forefoot/toes and heel lock.  440 does both.  i'll be interested to hear your thoughts on em.   

[bighead]

Does anyone have first hand experience with the 425? If so, how does it compare to the 440?

[Gene_Harrogate]

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I've never been interested in New Balance before but those Franky 272s are really nice. Might fuck around and try a pair.

[close]

[close]

Stellar work, Franky, hiding the Dad N like that. Well done.

Definitely like these more than his previous colorway.  I'll have to grab a pair and support my favorite skater.

[Vintagebody]

Went to skate some stairs today. 440's insole is odd, its thinner in the heel than in the toe area, my god they are useless

[Xen]

Went to skate some stairs today. 440's sole is odd, its thinner in the heal than in the toe area, my god they are useless

If true, I never noticed.

[LebowskisRug]

Everyone I've told about using the Superfeet run comfort or adapt insoles agrees that they make the 440 much more supportive and cushioned. I got some new 440s and wore them to walk the dog last night and was like "how in the fuck did I skate these stock". They make any skate shoe with a flat removable insole better. The skate theory of just put tons of cushion in there isn't actually better for most impact scenarios and prob a big reason so many people have ankle issues.