New Balance 624: AKA The Dad Shoe

The outsole of the New Balance 624 is made out of a full-length rubber that is designed to be flexible and give you great traction on a variety of surfaces. The rubber is designed to not leave marks, so you do not have to worry about marking up the gym floor while you are wearing them. The outsole features flex grooves in the forefront of the shoe to give you more movement and flexibility.

The midsole of the New Balance 624 is made out of IMEVA foam that is designed to be lightweight and durable. It is important to have a durable midsole to be able to handle the repeated beating into the pavement when you are running or walking in them. The shoes offer another layer of protection in the way of a footbed made out of EVA foam, giving you even more cushioning and added comfort. Finally, New Balance brings you ABZORB technology which is a foam based polymer that is located between the outsole and the midsole in the heel area of the shoe. The ABZORB gives you an extra layer of shock absorption to help prevent injury or pain which is important in any shoe.

The leather upper of the New Balance 624 is more rigid than other shoes that use a mesh material. Unfortunately, since the shoes use leather, they are a bit on the heavier side compared to other shoes with lighter uppers. The upper does feature perforations to help keep your feet cool, as they are not as breathable as one would like. The shoes feature a padded tongue and collar to offer the wearer added support and comfort, and a heel counter that keeps your feet locked in so you do not slip while training. There is, however, a lining inside the shoe that is made out of a lightweight material that helps hide the seams inside the shoe that would otherwise rub on your feet, keeping you more comfortable while in them.

The New Balance 624 is advertised as a lightweight cross trainer shoe, however, they are not as light as other training shoes on the market. The shoes weigh in, on average, at 12.5 ounces for the men's sizes and 10.5 ounces for women's sizes. Yes, the shoes are light and will not hold you back when wearing them, it is just something to note about the shoes. The midsole of these sneakers keep them relatively light, most of the weight coming from the leather upper and the full-length rubber outsole.

According to customers, these shoes are not breathable at all due to the leather material that makes up the upper. The shoes do, however, have perforations in the upper to help dissipate heat and keep your feet cool. The perforations do not work as well though as other shoes on the market that are made with a breathable material.

One thing that the New Balance 624 can boast about is that they are comfortable. The midsole is made to keep you comfortable while you are training. The ABZORB technology, IMEVA foam, and the footbed made out of addition EVA foam work together to keep your feet comfortable and happy. Nobody wants to be in the middle of a hardcore training session and have to worry about their feet hurting because their shoes do not have enough cushioning in them.

The New Balance 624's mimic the past iterations of the shoes by giving you a plain and simple design. These shoes only offer two color options, you can choose between black or white with navy. Customers have commented that they wish they had more color options to choose from. These shoes are simple and can be worn as both a training shoe at the gym or an everyday casual shoe. They do not draw attention to themselves and some customers really like that about them.

The New Balance 624 is not the most durable shoe on the market. Customers have commented that the shoes, unfortunately, suffered from premature wear and tear. The upper and the sole separated easily after only a short amount of time. After only a few months of normal wear, customers have also commented that the eyelets tore off. The shoes are relatively cheap in price, but reviewers were still upset that they had to replace them after only a few months.

These shoes do offer a decent amount of protection for you while you are wearing them. First, they protect you from the elements, as they are water resistant. You do not have to worry too much about your feet getting wet if you get stuck in the rain while wearing them. Next, the shoes come featured with an internal shank that is located between the midsole and the footbed to encourage your foot to bend at the forefront instead of your arches to help protect you from arch pain and potential injury. Another form of protection comes from the heel counter and padded tongue and collar. These work together to make sure your foot stays locked into your shoe and keeps you from slipping around inside and hurting yourself.

These shoes are extremely responsive due to the excellent construction of the midsole. The IMEVA foam that makes up the majority of the midsole has a decent amount of cushioning and gives you a moderate energy return to help you spring forward with each step. Responsive shoes are nice for those who are weight training and especially for those who run, as they help you run longer and faster.

Between the footbed and the midsole of the New Balance 624 lies an internal shank. The shank acts as a way to offer you additional support while in the shoe. It encourages your foot to bend at the forefront instead of at the arch like many other shoes do. This helps prevent pain or discomfort in your arches and gives you relief and exceptional support which is important when working out. When you are transitioning between different activities you need a shoe that is going to be able to keep up and give you support no matter what you are doing. These shoes will give you the support you are looking for.

The New Balance 624's are a cross-training shoe and are generally meant to be worn in a gym setting. If you are going to be running in these shoes, it is suggested that you stick to flat non-abrasive surfaces such as treadmills, roads, or tracks. The shoes do have an outsole with a great grip and customers commented that they have worn these shoes on many other surfaces, like dirt or grass, without any problems. The shoes are water resistant so that is an added bonus if you are running or walking somewhere they may get wet, like in the rain.

These shoes are very budget-friendly, as with many other New Balance branded shoes. The MSRP of the New Balance 624 shoes comes in at only $74.99 which is on the low end for other training shoes. Of course, with almost anything else, you can find these shoes on sale somewhere online and get them for significantly cheaper. Keep in mind, you get what you pay for when it comes to purchasing shoes, and customers have complained that they have had to replace these shoes after only a few short months. With the exception of the durability problems, customers have been happy with their purchase of these shoes.

The full-length rubber outsole of the New Balance 624 offers you amazing traction. These shoes can hold quite the grip on most surfaces. They have a tread pattern that was designed to help increase traction and keep you safe from slipping on most surfaces. You will not have to worry about your shoes sliding out from underneath you when you are under weights or running for any period of time. The traction will keep its grip on wet and dry surfaces alike so it is one less thing that you will have to worry about when you are training.

The flex grooves on the outsole of the New Balance 624 are designed to give you maximum flexibility. It is important to have a shoe that is going to allow you to move your feet as naturally as possible while wearing them to help prevent strain and injury. You do not want to be wearing a pair of shoe that will not allow you to move around. You do not have to worry about that with these shoes, they do offer a good amount of flexibility.

The New Balance 624 is a neutral shoe, meaning that they were made for those with a more natural gait. If you happen to be one of the thousands of runners who need a stability shoe because you roll their feet inward or outward (overpronate or supinate) while running then there are better options for you when it comes to picking out a training shoe. Yes, these shoes do help protect your arches in the form of the internal shank, however, if you have high arches or flat feet, these shoes will still cause you discomfort and possible injury or pain and it would be best to find something that will give you the support you need.

A shoe's drop is simply the measurement of the incline of the shoe, how much taller your heel is than the forefront of your foot. The average drop of a training shoe is between 8mm and 12mm. The New Balance 624 has a drop of 10mm so that puts them right at the average mark when it comes to the drop. If you are looking for a minimalist training shoe then these are not the right choice for you, but if you are looking for an average dropped shoe then you have come to the right place.

-Flex grooves located at the forefront of the shoe for increased flexibility
-IMEVA midsole to give you a firm but responsive cushioning
-Internal shank to help protect against arch pain
-Leather upper that is water resistant
-Outsole does not leave marks on the floor
-10mm drop
-Footbed and heel pocket made of EVA foam
-Simple style for the gym or casual wear

There are mixed reviews when it comes to the New Balance 624, some people absolutely love them and others, not so much. If you are looking for something that is comfortable, responsive, and flexible then this a good option for you. These shoes, unfortunately, are not the most durable on the market, however, they are relatively cheap.