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 Meredeth Beers
Look for 1/2 size larger and you'll be OK
Reviewer David B Landon
These shoes are very stylish. I think they look great with jeans or with khakis. They are also pretty comfortable. I have only had them for a week, so I cannot attest to the durability, that is really my only concern. Since they are pretty cheap, I went ahead and bought a backup pair just in case!
Reviewer savebyzero
I love these shoes! They are my everyday shoes! I originally bought them for a trip to Thailand as an easy slip on and slip off for sightseeing at the temples...it was perfect. I now use them just about everyday. They are very versatile and so comfortable! They were a bit bigger than I expected and I ended up exchanging them for a 1/2 size smaller as they stretch with use...and they were perfect.
Reviewer J Wolfsberger
These shows are great to add a titch more style to an outfit than more typical sneakers, but they're still super comfortable. My feet don't typically require tons of cushion or arch support, so i caution those with bad feet or those who run a lot to maybe avoid these. I used to be a 50-60miles per week runner, and personally, i had to avoid these type of flattish-arched shoes or my feet would get sore / injured quickly. However, for the couple miles per day I walk in the city these days (in these shoes) and the 10 miles i run per week (not in these shoes), they work perfectly. Highly recommend
Reviewer Trevor Stewart
great fit and feel, and a good deal thanks
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