I've bought this exact model (608) for years.  Best shoe ever. Usually I get them at Sears because once a year they have a really good sale price on them. This year, however, all I could find was the 608-v2 (version 2).  I tried them on and they felt like crap.  I did some research on the web, and apparently New Balance considers the version 2 as an improved model or upgrade. I don't know how they could be so wrong.  Also, basically every review I read on the web said that reviewer hated the upgrade.  So, with a little more research I finally found my size of the old model on Amazon.  I'm hoping New Balance sees the error of their ways and reverts to manufacturing the old 608.  Otherwise, a lot of us may be buying Nikes.