New Balance 996v4 B Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.3

According to our playtesters, New Balance took a step in the right direction when redesigning the 996v4. "These shoes are a massive improvement from the previous 996 in my opinion," said Michelle. "They’re so soft and comfortable, and no break-in was needed at all. When I got mine, I instantly put them on and started wearing them everywhere. Previously, I found the ends of the 996 to be super harsh, and they caused toe jamming, but this update was quite the opposite. No break-in and no toe jamming. The cushioning underfoot wasn't especially plush, but it was still soft, and I felt connected to the ground. Because of this, I loved transitioning from the court into the gym with these shoes. Let's be honest: I loved wearing these shoes almost anywhere. I got to playtest the eye-catching guava pink color, and lots of people commented on how cool they looked. I have to agree."

"Ahhhhhh," began Tiffani. "That's the sound of my feet relaxing every time I slip these shoes onto my feet. The comfort is my favorite aspect of these 996v4s. As usual with New Balances, I opted to go with the wider D model. These shoes have a true wide fit and feel wider than the D width of the New Balance 896v3 I recently tested and still wear. The uppers of these shoes allow my feet to relax, and the cushioning has a soft feel underfoot. These shoes were flexible right out of the box, so I didn't need to break them in. I found myself slipping the 996v4s on after playtesting other shoes on the court. That's a testament to how comfortable these 996v4s are."

Brittany was also pleasantly surprised when she tried on the 996v4s for the first time. She said, "I was a little nervous that there might be a break-in period, but the uppers were soft and flexed well. I didn't have any rubbing or pinching like I have had with past versions. The shoes fit my narrow feet well and were slightly roomier in the toe box. There was plush cushioning around the ankle, tongue and in the heel. The cushioning was more minimal in the forefoot. I would have preferred a little more to absorb shock, but that definitely wasn't a deal-breaker. We have had relatively cool weather during this playtest, so I didn't notice any ventilation issues."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.3

Unfortunately, the 996v4s didn't score perfectly in every category, and our team was hoping for more support and stability from these light shoes. Tiffani described her experience with the wide option, saying, "I opted to wear the D width for this playtest, but if I were to do it over again I'd pick the B width, since the uppers stretched out after a few hours. The feel might have been tight until the uppers relaxed, but with the D width, I felt like the support of the shoes was compromised once that happened. I still felt confident in the stability of the shoes, and I wasn't worried I'd roll an ankle, but I was moving around a bit too much inside the shoes by the end of the playtest."

The support and stability of the 996v4s were also a big issue for Brittany. She said, "I had a major ankle injury about three years ago and need higher levels of support and stability these days. When I was changing directions the uppers didn’t hold my feet in place, and they’d continue to move over the sides of the shoes. I did not notice any ankle stability issues during play, but later in the day my bad ankle was sore and at times swollen. This was an indication that my ankle had to work harder to support itself. Now if I had tested these 996v4s five or so years ago, I would not have needed as much support and stability, and these shoes probably would have been just fine."

Michelle was right in line with the rest of the team in this category. She added, "If I had one area to critique, it would be the support. Because of the new, softer upper, I didn't always feel as supported, and I was afraid of tipping over at times. Luckily, I can say I never twisted an ankle or was let down. I just didn't always feel confident pushing the limits on wide balls. The stability was OK, but because I didn't feel 100 percent sure of the support, I was also unsure how well the stability would perform."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.8

Our playtesters were not expecting much from the 996v4's durability, given the shoe's feather-light weight, but they were pleasantly surprised. "My pair has held up with just slight smoothing in high-wear areas after eight-plus hours of playtesting," said Brittany. "The toe bumper has a lot of material built up, and while I can see a little smoothing, I have plenty of life left. The only place I saw more concerning wear was on the lateral side of the midsole. The ridges are starting to smooth there. I don't think this will impact the shoe's playability, but it's worth noting."

These shoes surpassed Michelle's expectations in terms of durability. She said, "I knew the 996v4s were meant to be a fairly durable option, but I was convinced they would wear out fast because they felt so light. Luckily, that wasn't the case. I saw normal smoothing, but nothing extreme. Plus, these shoes are backed with a six-month outsole guarantee, so players who have a tendency to wear out their shoes will get a second pair if they do so within the first six months. I'm really satisfied with the durability of these shoes. The upper had no signs of wear or tearing either."

Echoing the other testers, Tiffani added, "Considering how light the 996v4s felt on my feet, I'm pleased with the durability levels. I don't expect these shoes to be super tough, but I'm sure I'll get at least a few months of hard-court play. The durability felt solid for such light shoes."

Traction - Score: 3.9

The New Balance 996v4s offered balanced traction that was neither too slippery nor too tacky. "Traction was good for me," said Michelle. "Considering I was yearning for a bit more support, the traction added confidence when making aggressive cuts. I never slid out or lost my footing. The outsole was soft, and neither too sticky nor too smooth. No complaints here."

The modified herringbone pattern on the outsoles allowed Tiffani to feel connected to the court. She said, "Honestly, I didn't have to think about the traction, since it did everything I expected it to. I would say the traction started off maybe a little on the grippier side, but it settled in after a couple of hours. I never felt like I was spinning my wheels, and I could push off confidently."

These shoes felt on the stickier side to Brittany, but she didn't mind. She said, "I was transitioning from shot to shot well, and the level of grip was consistent throughout the playtest."

Weight - Score: 4.3

The weight of the 996v4s was another of our team's favorite features. Tiffani explained, "These shoes feel ultra-light and quick around the court. I was losing a bit of time as the uppers stretched since my feet were moving around inside the shoes. I tied them as tightly as I could, but I still wanted a bit of a sleeker feel overall."

"These 996v4s have to be among the lightest shoes we carry," added Michelle. "Normally with light shoes, that means lack of structure, but I would say these shoes played a bit heavier than their weight. Sometimes light shoes just seem to be too flimsy to play serious tennis in, but this wasn't the case with the 996v4s. I was hoping for more support, but aside from that, I think the shoes played great and were super speedy. Also, the light weight translated into high-performing gym shoes, which I was excited about too!"

These are some of the lightest shoes Brittany has playtested in a while. She said, "I moved quickly and smoothly around the court. I felt speedy, and I thought the shoes transitioned well from heel to toe. I wouldn't have minded a little more weight if I got a little more ankle stability, but that is more of a personal preference."

Overall - Score: 3.9