Nike Vaporwaffle Sacai Black Gum

Reviewer N0011

Shoe is good but the fit is a little small compared to others in the same size...

Reviewer Ariadne H

My son loves them, easy on, easy off, no ties!

Reviewer homeslicermark

My second pair of the Walker and this time I went with high tops. Beautiful, comfortable and great all around. I do size down 1/2 size, or wear my dress shoes size, and the fit is great. There is some loose grain in the leather, but I don't get caught up in that stuff.

Reviewer H Mary Cork

I normally wouldn't consider a synthetic leather shoe, because I'd never seen any that weren't awful in nearly every way possible. The only reason I considered these is because I needed shoes that fit very particular criteria and one of them was that they're synthetic. So I ordered a pair to evaluate them and the verdict is very positive.

It's not real leather, but it's close. It actually reminds me of cheap leather shoes, but without all the creasing (like comfortable Reeboks, which used loose leather for comfort). The rubber sole seems comfortable and the synthetic lining looks like it'll be easy to keep clean. It has average arch support and the insole is stuck in place, but it does offer good cushioning.

I ordered my normal sneaker size and it fits great, so I'd say the sizing is perfect (I wear a a half size larger in New Balance and sometimes with Nike). The laces are a little long, but just a little and they're nice laces.

Overall, they're nice shoes. No, they're not real leather and I didn't judge them as if they were. But there are some advantages with synthetic leather shoes and these will work great for those who understand they're not leather.

Reviewer reviewernc

Puma's are nice shoes that always fit me great. They're also easy to find on sale, which makes them the price/performance king. They look quite nice, as well!

I purchased these to replace some Nike Sweet's that were a little too big for me. I think the Nike Sweet is a nicer shoe (more padding and softer, thicker leather, etc), but they also cost more. These Puma's are tagged the same size as the Nike's, but they run a little smaller (the footprint does appear a little wider, though). I own several pairs of Puma Suede's and these run about the same size as the Suede does.

Even though I think the Nike Sweet is a better made shoe, there's something about these that I just like better. For one, I think they look better and I'm just more comfortable in them. I wore the Sweet regularly as a kid, back when Nike originally released them, so that's why I purchased them first. When they didn't fit, I purchased the Match 74 to replace them and I couldn't be happier with them.

Reviewer Stacey Cheatham

This review is based on trying them on once.

I really like this shoe. It's very comfortable for an "old school sneaker", It has a removable insole with surprisingly good arch support and more cushioning then you'll find in a typical canvas sneaker. They're also very soft and won't rub your ankles raw. Unfortunately, I can't justify keeping them, but I find it difficult sending them back, because I like them so much (i.e. only so much closet room for shoes.)

The sizing is very accurate. They may run a little on the large side, but that's what I'd want, so I could wear them with heavy socks in Winter months. So, I disagree with those who suggest sizing up or down, because they're actually quite accurate (they're definitely not too small and I don't think they're even close to being too large, either.) The Teva brand used to run all over the place with sizing, but the last few pair I've owned and have been really consistent and accurate.

I didn't try them on a bike, but I suspect that they're very good bike riding shoes, because the soles are quite firm. In fact, I would have liked them better if the sole wasn't so firm, but I expected them to be firm as bike riding shoes. Overall, I think they're very nice sneakers, but I'm looking for something a little more fashion oriented.

Reviewer Sharen O'Leary

These are far more comfortable then typical canvas sneakers, but they offer a similar casual look. The sizing is very accurate, so order your normal size, regardless of whether you plan on wearing them with or without socks.

I've seen some reviews mention that they run narrow, but I don't agree. Compared to your typical canvas sneaker, they actually run wide and probably run wide compared to many other sneakers, as well. They have very ample toe room.

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 K Shields

I only ordered these because I found a great deal on them. Normally I would have passed, but I love Simple brand shoes and figured it was worth the risk. I'm really glad that I did, because I like them much better then I expected. They look better in person then in the pictures and they're very comfortable.

I'd say that they fit true-to-size, although if you're in between sizes, I'd suggest that you go with the larger one. The width is pretty average too. I do wish these had more arch support, but they're not bad as is.

Overall, I'm as pleased as I always have been in the past with this brand.

Reviewer Lorien Pratt

My husband's absolute favorite hiking/urban shoe -- he has 4 pairs and if they ever wear out, my guess is he'll buy more.