When I look back at my younger self, I am appalled at the shoes I used to wear while walking around a theme park. No wonder why my back is never not hurting. Since I'm now a proper adult, I've been prioritizing comfortable footwear, without sacrificing my outfit, of course.
After seeing so much TikTok hype about (the podiatrist-approved) New Balance sneakers, I decided I needed to try them for myself, especially since I had an upcoming trip planned to Orlando. I needed all the support I could get while trekking through the theme parks.
New Balance Women's 574 Core Sneaker
What I like about these shoes
The style is so cute
So I hopped on the "dad shoe" trend and ordered the New Balance 574 Core. I thought this would be a great style that I could wear beyond a trip to Walt Disney World, too. The brand offers them in few shades; I chose the nimbus cloud in white because I thought the versatility of a "chunky white sneaker" would allow me the chance to wear them more. And speaking of more times to wear them, I love this style for the amount of outfits it looks good with, from midi dresses to athleisure to casual workwear.
I found the sizing to be true-to-size; I'm normally a seven standard and it fit perfectly. If you have a wider foot, the brand offers it in wide sizes, too.
The most comfortable shoes I've ever worn
Now I wasn't about to hit the parks in a brand new shoe: That is an amateur move. So I wore them around New York City for a few weeks prior, from a day at The Met to walking over 30 blocks. I didn't need to break them, at all! They've been the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn, since day one. No blisters; no arch pain.
That might be because the brand says the shoe is designed with "ENCAP midsole cushioning" and lightweight foam. Now I understand why a podiatrist (who recently spoke with Shop TODAY) says this is the shoe that he recommends most often for it's arch support and shock absorption. I knew my feet would be protected when I embarked on my three day park-hopping trip.
And I was right. I spent three full days walking around the theme parks, one of those days doing three laps around Epcot's World Showcase, including standing in hour-long ride lines. According to my Fitbit, we clocked over 15,000 steps a day. My back normally starts hurting and my feet begin to throb around midday, but thanks to these shoes, I was going strong at 7 p.m.! I didn't have those familiar pains at all. (My mother, who was wearing a simple tennis shoe, was not so lucky).
These sneakers saved my feet and provided so much support and comfort for an exhausting (but fun!) and active day on my feet, I could almost feel the shock absorption taking place.
What to consider
Since these shoes are suede, they are a little tough to clean because you can't just throw them in the washing machine. I knew they would get a little dirty: They're white and cream after all. But after a little research, I took a damp tooth brush and lightly brushed away a dirt spot and they looked good as new.
However, that is the price to pay for a lightly colored shoe. But since they're so comfortable and I've been wearing them so much, I'm just going to have to purchase another color.
More New Balance bestsellers to shop
New Balance 608 V5 Cross Trainer
New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Running Shoe
New Balance 997H V1 Sneaker
