I bought two pair of New Balance shoes quite awhile back.  I can't see the model number on the tags in them now because the tags are worn out.  I do see a "600" embossed on the tongues of the shoes, though.

Anyway, I bought the two pairs on 9-12-08 and today is 10-30-12.  So I've had the two pairs for over 4 years.  They are all I've been wearing for the entire time that I've owned them.  I alternate wearing between the two pair.  They held up very well.  The only thing that wore out on them was the lining on the inside of the heels.  I suppose that can be fixed by a shoe repairman.

Since I had good luck with both pairs of the old New Balance shoes, I expected the same from the new pair of the 577 model.  I was terribly disappointed.  I bought the new ones mail order and the old ones at J C Penney where I was fitted in person.  I should not have mail ordered the new ones.  I don't think I'm going to mail order any more shoes.  This is the second time I've had serious problems when mail ordering shoes.

The New Balance 577 shoes were *nothing* like the old New Balance shoes.  I was busy and forgot about them and was hoping that I could get them to break in.  Anyway, I went past the period where you can return them, but I'm going to try to return them anyway.  I know they aren't made right and don't fit and I just messed up my left heel (and maybe the right one, to some extent) after walking only a couple of blocks in them.  As far as I'm concerned, the shoes are *junk*.  They look and feel and fit nothing like my old New Balance shoes.  I would never even guess that they were made by the same company as the older ones.  I also noticed that New Balance was bragging that these new 577 shoes are made in the USA.  Actually, my old New Balance shoes were made in China, as far as I know. Maybe it would have been better if they'd kept making them in China.