I have a love/hate relationship with the 574, ever since New Balance began using a new manufacturing process for this shoe. I've purchased several of them, both before and after they began manufacturing them differently, and the new ones all seem smaller and less comfortable. What was once my go-to casual sneaker, is now too tight to hold a title I reserve for my most comfortable shoes.

The first pair of 574's I purchased, made with the new manufacturing process, were sent back for being too small. I've purchased several others since then, but they, too, all seem small. The one exception was a model from the backpack collection, which has the same smaller sole, but feels more like the more comfortable older 574's.

Considering my remarks, you may wonder why I still purchase this shoe and my answer is because I've worn it for so long and I've yet to find a shoe I like better. However, I'm sure there are several out there today, since the 574 is no longer the shoe it once was, and I'll eventually find it and switch.

Having said all that, this is a nice shoe and I really like it. The colors are bright and nice. Something else interesting about the newer 574's is that every pair seems to feel a little different and these feel stout and heavier (something I don't mind.) They seem sturdier and the soles seem thicker, although I haven't compared them to see if it's just the illusion I suspect it to be. I've always worn the same size of 574's, but even though this the 3rd pair I've purchased this year, it's the first pair I've ever purchased where my toes touch the shoes at the tip. I haven't decided whether to send them back, yet, because they still offer about the same comfort found in my other recent, less comfortable 574 purchases and I've never worn any other size in the 574 (Also, I buy a lot of shoes and know for certain that my feet haven't grown any lately.)

Overall, I really like this shoe, but you might want to order a half size up. I currently own 5 other pairs of 574's and this is the only pair where my toes touch.

update: After trying to wear these again, I'm now willing to say that they're not nearly as comfortable as my other pairs, because they're much smaller. They're either defective or the Neon line of 574's is just considerably smaller. Other reviewers have professed their skepticism that all 574's are made on the same SL-2 shoe last and this experience has me convinced that they're right.

Another thing I'll mention is that my other 4 pairs were all made in Vietnam or the USA. My Neon 574's were the only pair made in Indonesia and I'm a big believer in products varying in quality depending on where they were made. The overall quality of my Neon 574's appears to be excellent, with the exception of the sizing issue. However, I'll also note that the entire shoe seems much heavier, including the sole. They actually feel more like a hiking shoe, then a walking or running shoe, and the uppers are very noticeably thicker, too. And, the entire shoe seems like it sits higher off the floor, both in how it feels and how it looks. Even though it's supposed to be a comfortable walking shoe, my only problem is with the sizing issue, though.

update 2: I contacted New Balance and they kindly allowed me to exchange them for a different pair. I chose to replace them with a pair I already own that needed replacing, thinking that they would fit the same way. However, they did not, and like the 574 Neon's, the new pair was also too small. Interestingly, like the Neon 574's I received, the new pair were also made in Indonesia, while my old pair were made in the USA.

I guess that I'm gonna have to start sizing up to an 11.5D, even though I've never worn that size in the past in this shoe. If that doesn't work out, then I'll have to start looking for a new shoe.

update 3: Hopefully, this is my final review. I sent the last pair back and New Balance kindly allowed me to replace them with a size 11.5D shoe. After waiting about a month for them to arrive (more on this later), I finally received them and they fit great! The fit is more like how the 11D's fit before the change in the manufacturing process, although they might still be a little more narrow. Strange, considering how my shoe size hasn't changed with other brands and only New Balance. Even stranger, considering how I own several other pairs of 11D's that fit fine, including a couple of pairs earlier this year. And, in case you're wondering, the new pair were also made in Indonesia.

In conclusion, I'm strongly convinced, despite what New Balance claims, that the 574 shoe has been smaller ever since the new manufacturing process and that the latest models have gone down in size even more. My recommendation for anyone who hasn't tried on this shoe for a while, would be to size up one-half size when ordering.

New Balance was very helpful throughout the process and I really appreciate that from a large shoe manufacturer. Still, I had to pay return shipping twice, so I paid good money for the sizing games they're playing. I'm also a little perturbed that it took so long to receive the last pair, considering the circumstances. Specifically, the CSR asked me to list all the 574 models that interested me, for reasons unknown to me. So, I made a list in descending order of the model I wanted most, to the model I wanted least. Regrettably, I was then told that a model in the middle of my list would be sent in a month. I wrote back requesting that to receive a model I wanted more, while hoping to receive it quicker. The response I received was that it wouldn't be possible, because all those models were out of stock online, despite that it showed them all as in stock online. You're probably asking the same question I asked myself (i.e. If the model I received was in stock, then why did it take a month for them to send it? And if it wasn't in stock, then why couldn't they send one of the other models? Some were even less expensive!)

The shoes arrived when they said that they would and I'm very satisfied with them. Overall, I still consider New Balance to be a good company, but after this experience, I find myself far more leery of the brand. Even though I would have preferred a different model, my new 574 shoes are comfortable and I love them! Ironically, I already own this model, but they're getting worn out and don't have much life in them. I'm happy that I was able to replace this model, but I find it ironic that my old 11D's, that were made in the USA, fit about the same as my new 11.5D's, made in Indonesia. In fact, I even think my old 11D's are wider.