Reviewer JulieBeth Lamb
My husband got these to referee in since his feet were constantly hurting. From the first day with these, he noticed a huge difference. He finds them very comfortable yet sturdy.
Reviewer L Bicknell
Just finished my first shift in these new kitchen kicks - love these shoes. Best part is how light weight they are and how much cushioning they offer.
They look good, co-workers thought I had Chucks on...but I showed them they are from Emeril, are water & oil slip resistant and they are treated to keep my feet dry.
Reviewer JZW
These are great shoes. My wife gets the ghost series, but using the Brooks website, I was able to determine that this is the best series for myself. My wife and I like to walk, after my knee replacement surgery, I need a good shoe to avoid ever having to go through that again. These are great.
Reviewer Wayne Ewen
I have 6 pairs of Dunham shoes; these are my favorite. They are my daily walking shoes, but can easily fill in for going out to dinner or just hanging out. They look good and feel great. I do like the look a lot, with the gray suede and vents; I like this look much better than sneakers with funky neon designs and giant brand logos. These shoes have little arch support, which I prefer with my flat feet, but that might be a negative for some people.
PROs
Attractive and stylish for a sneaker - nice upscale look that can cover a wide range of activities from office casual to exercise.
Very comfortable, I love the fit. They are my best fitting shoes.
Seem to be made of quality materials
Decent amount of sturdiness for usage as a walking shoe or standing for lengths of time.
Sizing is pretty much true-to-size, you can purchase in your size with confidence. Perhaps they are slightly (1/4 size) short in length. Order a 1/2 size larger if you want some extra room or a margin of safety.
CONs
As mentioned, they are pretty flat. If you have a high arch you will probably not like these.
Outer sole is acceptable but a bit on the thin side. They don't feel plush and thick underfoot.
Price is all over the map, you will see them from $52 to $130. You're certainly overpaying if you spend more than $100, they are not really a $100+ shoe, more like a $60-$80 shoe imho
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 Michelle Frisone
I'm a football official and these are a nice compromise to all the options out there. The price is very nice, but they are comfortable, lightweight and well built. I have had issues with NB not bending at the right place for my foot. That has caused toe discomfort and even cramping. These do not to this. It may be my foot, but I'm a big Reebok fan because of it.
Polish up nicely too so you can impress the coaches - LOL!
I believe they can also be worn as dress casual with black slacks to do presentation as well.
Just a good option for football and baseball officials!
Reviewer David Hunsberger
These are comfortable and durable. I will buy these shoes again for many years to come.
Reviewer Mr Vreij Kolandjian
Love the shoes but they were a tad too big...I ordered the suggested size by Amazon 10 1/2, but reordered size 10...so we'll see.........a week later I received my size10's...still a little loose but the toe box does not allow me to go any smaller...all that said, I really like the shoes, just be prepared if the shoes don't fit exactly in your size
Reviewer Armineh Bezdikian
I'm very pleased with these shoes. They are put together well, and the material, while not actual leather, is pretty close to a leather look and feel. The sizing is accurate, which is a nice change. I'm so tired of getting shoes that claim to be size 11 but are so small I can't get my foot in them! These size 11 shoes are actually size 11.
They are very comfortable to wear. Normally it takes me at least a few hours (if not days) to break in a pair of shoes. These were comfortable from the get go. There is ample padding inside and the square end allows for comfort rather than squished together toes.
The sole is very grippy even on slick wet surfaces. They don't squeak when walking across a glossy floor. The shoes initially creaked a bit, with the creaking coming from the sides rather than the sole. The creaking went away after a few hours of wearing.
Zero complaints. They fit well, are well made, are very comfortable, and provide excellent grip. Five stars!
Reviewer Rubber Ducky
These sneakers look and feel great. Light weight ND comfortable.