New Balance Men's M1690 Minimus Running Shoe

I have been a New Balance devotee for about 3 years now. My last pair (2 pairs actually) was the M750s which never steered me wrong. I thought about just ordering another pair from Amazon, but a friend suggested I try the Minimus line. After trying multiple shoes at brick & mortar stores, I ended up buying the M1690s from Amazon.These shoes are light, stylish, and extremely comfortable. They run a little smaller than normal, so it wouldn't hurt to go 1/2 size up. I was skeptical about the rugged bottom soles, but they are actually an added bonus as they grip the road rather nicely and seem to add a little speed. I tried them out at our last squadron 5K (I'm in the military) and easily passed my running peers, which usually isn't that easy.These shoes are gorgeous to look at too, which is an added bonus. My only negative would be the leathery outer material, which I'm not used to for running shoes, but it doesn't get in the way of performance.

I marked the fit as "Fit as expected" but I do agree with others that these shoes are slightly on the thin side as far as width goes, at least for the 4E that I wear. Based on others' feedback I wasn't sure whether to get the 10.5 4E that I usually wear, or go for the 11 4E to be sure. I went with the 10.5 4E and am happy I did. While slightly more 'snug' than normal at first, after a day they now fit perfect for me.As far as the shoe itself - very nice. I'm a big fan of minimalist shoes but I have tight calves/achilles tendon issues so I have to be careful. These are, so far, the best balance between offering good padding/support while also a minimal heel drop (i.e., the difference between the height of the heel and the toe). I haven't ran in them yet but for walking and day-to-day wear these are very comfortable and nice.That said, the treads seem more geared toward trail running than road/track running. When I first wore them it was raining outside and they were quite slippery on flat surfaces, due to the knobby tread on the bottom. Can't remember if NB markets these as trail shoes or not.

Loved the feel and colors. Size was just a bit to small. Needed half size larger to fit right.

I have worn various New Balance 10.5 4E for many years and this pair fits just as expected. It is my first Minimus shoe and it works well for me. The "less high heel-ness" of these shoe promotes more of a mid-foot impact, less of a heel strike impact. That really helps me as I have suffered from a sprained right ankle injury for many years now. A mid-foot impact with the ground is a lot easier on my ankle. I plan to shop the Minimus line in the future. I recommend these shoes, although please stay away from 10.5 4E as it is always difficult to find my size. :)

Every time I get new shoes and try other brands, I'll go try on a pair of New Balances and remind myself why I keep buying them: they just feel great.These 1690's are no exception - once I remember that, for me, NB's run a little small and therefore I need a 14 instead of a 13, I end up with a fantastic pair of shoes. The 1690's are a perfect balance between the minimal shoe design, with just the right amount of heel drop, and more traditional, "rugged" shoes. These feel great and substantial. Compared to my other NB Minimus shoes (the 10v2's) these just feel all around like a better shoe.If you're enjoying the more minimal shoe but feel like you want something just a little tougher, bigger, or beefier, then I can't recommend these shoes enough.

I wasn't sure about reviewing these as I'm undecided about keeping them. Some observations though. I've been wearing New Balance for years as they're one of the few athletic shoes that are available in wide. Most reviews of this model indicated that you should order one size larger than you normally wear. I ordered an 11 4E (wasn’t available in 2E) and normally wear an 11 2E. The fit seems the same, although roomier in the toe bed, I’m certain due to 4E. What surprises me the most is that these don't seem very sturdy but perhaps that's what is meant by Minimus. I've been almost exclusively using trail running shoes since knee replacement surgery for the added stability, so not sure about this style just yet. Also the 4mm difference between heel/toe drop will take some getting used to.

They say its 4E and all my NB 4E stuff (walking shoes, and golf shoes) fits perfectly, except this 4E was too small, so go with another NB, I switched to the NB 4E cross trainer and its perfect.

I wear an 11.5D in Adidas and Nike and it was the same with these New Balance.The shoes are super comfortable. I don't know the difference in 0mm, 4mm, etc with running shoes so I am not the person to advise you on running fit. But they feel great to me when I run and I have no arch. Very light and very easy to tie and stay tied also.