It may be a bit controversial but it’s something you’ll see with more of the models NB introduces like the v6 that have come since the increase in interest in the brand as a whole. They’re building a brand new factory in NH and one reason is to ramp up production numbers to meet the increased demand from popularity. Their QC has always been a pillar they’ve stood behind but it’s bound to happen as the numbers leaving the factories grows. I’ve had my grey v6’s since the original release week and they’re holding up fine with a similar level of usage, it may just be certain batches, or a technical issue they corrected after a certain production date 🤷🏼♂️ Good topic once again bro, cheers til the next one 🫡
That's good to know that they are building a new factory! Im sure new balance won't let this continue to be a problem, its new balance. Appreciate you!
I bought the 990v6 on Aug 15, 2024, and started rucking. I am 275 lbs and am up to 30 to 40 lbs in the ruck. I put about 80 miles ( 4 to 6 miles per day, 17:00 to 18:00 min/mile) on the shoes. I looked yesterday and the grey material at the ball of my foot was completely worn out. I am not doing the the ruck shuffle, just walking on sidewalk and streets, most concrete. The black part looked pretty good, the grey part was gone. I am thinking they are not the same material. I think you are onto something with your concern. Mine are the Blue version of the shoe.
I had no idea what rucking was and I just looked it up and it looks insane! I’m going to look more into it. I don’t think it will be too big of a problem in the long run. Some 990v6s that are not the general release like a teddy Santis model gave different material for the bad piece and it last longer. I hope your pair keeps serving you well and get after it!
I have a pair of grey 990v6s, and the grey on the bottom has chipped away as well as the black. However, the grey that's chipped away is much more noticeable.
I recently bought a pair of new 990v6s and just 40 days in I began seeing the same problem. It was even happening on the black part! I do use them to target everyday where I work so that may be a cause but still they should be durable especially considering the price. I hope NB quality isn’t going down
Just pulled the trigger on this pair and initial impressions, I say I was a bit dissappointed on alot of things. Firstly, the quality. Coming from the V5s, the build quality is not on par on the V6s. This feels like a lower end NB. Suede quality is noticeably lower. Then the stability, or lack thereof. The V5s are just superior in terms of comfort and stability. I felt foot fatigue on this V6s, something that the V5s doesnt give me. The tighter fit might be one of the cause, or could be just the fuel cell sole to squishy for my liking. But hands down, I like how this new one looks.
The 990v5 is absolutely perfect so it’s very hard to top it. I agree that the stability of the v5 is much better than that cloud feel in the v6. Hopefully in the v7 then can add fuel cell and still keep that stability
I had a pair of V6 I ordered them for a conference where I was going to be walking for hours and I can say I did not like them. I felt very wobbly and the shoe was very narrow compared to my v3. In the middle of the second day of the 3 day conference I went back to my room to switch back to my v3. I love everything about the V6 and how they look just not for me I guess and that sucks because I love some of the color ways
I totally see where you are coming from. The v6 has that pillow cloud comfort and for someone who has been wearing the v3 and used to that stability it can be kind of uncomfortable. I would say to try and wear it here and there and maybe the comfort will feel a little better
Same 😢. The rear sole just feels soft and not very supportive. Reminds me of my ultraboost21s on how soft it is. Had them for a few days and after wearing them alternately with my V5s, the old shoe is definitely superior in terms of stability.
Hey Sam where did you get the shoe box’s you have behind you in the video and are they individually stackable ? Looking to configure something on the top shelf in my closet Thanks in advance Also on the topic someone asked about cleaning it You said no water , makes sense with the suede however is there a specific cleaner you use and what is your take on using a waterproofing spray protection like Scotch Guard or Camp Dry Just got my first pair of 990’s and want to protect them before wearing them
I got the shoe boxes off of Amazon. Here’s the link : a.co/d/ehyeIDi They have grooves that link together so you can stack them and organize them however you like. Cleaning suede is a tough task but it can be done. When I’m cleaning suede I use a dry medium bristle brush- I brush all the dirty suede in one direction to try and loosen the dirt. After that I hit it with a suede eraser (you can find that Amazon as well) and that should get the suede clean. If the mesh is dirty or any non suede areas I just use the basic Reshoevn8r cleaning kit. Hope this helps! Enjoy your first pair of 990s!!
I got the shoe boxes off of Amazon. Here’s the link : a.co/d/ehyeIDi They have grooves that link together so you can stack them and organize them however you like. Cleaning suede is a tough task but it can be done. When I’m cleaning suede I use a dry medium bristle brush- I brush all the dirty suede in one direction to try and loosen the dirt. After that I hit it with a suede eraser (you can find that Amazon as well) and that should get the suede clean. If the mesh is dirty or any non suede areas I just use the basic Reshoevn8r cleaning kit. Hope this helps! Enjoy your first pair of 990s!!
@@samdopkosky Thanks I am a total New Balance junky I run in 1080 V 13’s and 880 v 8’s I use 608’s with Vibram oil resist soles for work and ballroom dance and square dance on an older pair of 1080 v9’s that are worn slick and slide perfectly for dancing And just got the new 990’s for lifestyle use Have owned easily 15 to 20 pairs of New Balance shoes over the years Thanks for your feedback Subbed your channel and will do a deeper look see on it
I love this comment because it shows how versatile new balance is. You can find a new balance shoe that supports any aspect of life. Thanks for you sub, I really appreciate it
I have the black pair. Love em. Mine have started to do this as well, not only on the gray part but the black as well. It seems to me that the density of the grey tread is slightly softer than the black so the chipping definitely shows up there first. Eventually though, it will happen all over. I think the placement of grey part also contributes to this. The tread design is also more lugged than most runners with knobbier bits and deeper grooves. This means it likely to catch more on things like curb edges, pavement irregularities and things like the pedals in your car. I love the outsole design, especially when new but i was a little disappointed to find this happen to it.
Im surprised it happened to the black piece as well. I agree with you, I love the outsole design but it is very sad that this happens. Hopefully they can correct it
Hi Sam, I have v4 navy/red version and its almost destroyed but comfortable yet. A v6 Lapis Lazuli also but its still in his box, soon I will take them to street, thanks a lot for sharing!
I loved those but I remember when they came out I had just got my 990v6 lapis lazuli and I loved them so much I never thought I’d need another shoe again so I passed on them 😂
Hey Sam, amazing video as always! I have a quick question. How do you clean your 990v6? I have mine destroyed as well and I have not found the way to clean the suede properly. 💔
Thanks! It can be difficult to clean suede at times. What I do is take a soft bristle brush and brush the stain in one direction until it's almost gone. Once you knock all of the dirt out, you can use a suede eraser or sometimes a regular eraser and it cleans it up pretty good. The main thing is to never use water
These are my favorite shoes, and its a shame they have this problem. I've been thinking about buying the lapiz lazuli since I've seen on reddit that this chipping away of the outsole only really happens on the grey 990v6.
It’s doing that on my grey ones too but not my sepia blk or my purple magenta ones I think the blk Grey and navy core colors it does that chipping bc of the grey rubber on it
From what I've seen hanging out in the New Balance Reddit group every day it's only the gray and black pairs that has this problem. (The original grey)
Wow that's good to know. I'm deciding between the v5 and v6. I think I'll cop the v5s for now since I like the design more and they're a little cheaper.
Not really concerned about it. I have other 990s that I wear strictly for lifestyle. The v6 are primarily daily drivers for me, meant to get beat and replaced over time.
It is not good vs v3 for me as I have elevated orthotic and it does not support my ankle. Also 2012 new balance you pay for quality shoe last 12 years. 2024 new balance you pay 300$ CAN and it breaks in 3 weeks.... 5 models lasts me 14 days to 25 days before degradation.
Just checked my v6 - same chipping problem! I never noticed before. These shoes have been my main shoe for the last ~8 months. Never noticed the issue before 🫤
Remember telling you this couple of months ago. Thanks for sharing with everyone ❤
I owe it to you for brining this problem to my attention!
It may be a bit controversial but it’s something you’ll see with more of the models NB introduces like the v6 that have come since the increase in interest in the brand as a whole. They’re building a brand new factory in NH and one reason is to ramp up production numbers to meet the increased demand from popularity. Their QC has always been a pillar they’ve stood behind but it’s bound to happen as the numbers leaving the factories grows. I’ve had my grey v6’s since the original release week and they’re holding up fine with a similar level of usage, it may just be certain batches, or a technical issue they corrected after a certain production date 🤷🏼♂️ Good topic once again bro, cheers til the next one 🫡
That's good to know that they are building a new factory! Im sure new balance won't let this continue to be a problem, its new balance. Appreciate you!
I bought the 990v6 on Aug 15, 2024, and started rucking. I am 275 lbs and am up to 30 to 40 lbs in the ruck. I put about 80 miles ( 4 to 6 miles per day, 17:00 to 18:00 min/mile) on the shoes. I looked yesterday and the grey material at the ball of my foot was completely worn out. I am not doing the the ruck shuffle, just walking on sidewalk and streets, most concrete. The black part looked pretty good, the grey part was gone. I am thinking they are not the same material. I think you are onto something with your concern. Mine are the Blue version of the shoe.
I had no idea what rucking was and I just looked it up and it looks insane! I’m going to look more into it. I don’t think it will be too big of a problem in the long run. Some 990v6s that are not the general release like a teddy Santis model gave different material for the bad piece and it last longer. I hope your pair keeps serving you well and get after it!
I have a pair of grey 990v6s, and the grey on the bottom has chipped away as well as the black. However, the grey that's chipped away is much more noticeable.
I recently bought a pair of new 990v6s and just 40 days in I began seeing the same problem. It was even happening on the black part! I do use them to target everyday where I work so that may be a cause but still they should be durable especially considering the price. I hope NB quality isn’t going down
I don't think it will be a major issue. those 990s have plenty of life left! I sure hope NB's quality isn't going down
I checked my 990v6 and had the same exact chips like yours. Anyway, still love it. Thanks for influencing me into the 990x line
That’s how I feel. I’m glad I inspired you!
Just pulled the trigger on this pair and initial impressions, I say I was a bit dissappointed on alot of things. Firstly, the quality. Coming from the V5s, the build quality is not on par on the V6s. This feels like a lower end NB. Suede quality is noticeably lower. Then the stability, or lack thereof. The V5s are just superior in terms of comfort and stability. I felt foot fatigue on this V6s, something that the V5s doesnt give me. The tighter fit might be one of the cause, or could be just the fuel cell sole to squishy for my liking. But hands down, I like how this new one looks.
The 990v5 is absolutely perfect so it’s very hard to top it. I agree that the stability of the v5 is much better than that cloud feel in the v6. Hopefully in the v7 then can add fuel cell and still keep that stability
I had a pair of V6 I ordered them for a conference where I was going to be walking for hours and I can say I did not like them. I felt very wobbly and the shoe was very narrow compared to my v3. In the middle of the second day of the 3 day conference I went back to my room to switch back to my v3. I love everything about the V6 and how they look just not for me I guess and that sucks because I love some of the color ways
I totally see where you are coming from. The v6 has that pillow cloud comfort and for someone who has been wearing the v3 and used to that stability it can be kind of uncomfortable. I would say to try and wear it here and there and maybe the comfort will feel a little better
Same 😢. The rear sole just feels soft and not very supportive. Reminds me of my ultraboost21s on how soft it is. Had them for a few days and after wearing them alternately with my V5s, the old shoe is definitely superior in terms of stability.
I had a problem on the v3. the pair I wore to work the black rubber on the bottom of the sole started falling off like the glue was wearing away.
Hey Sam where did you get the shoe box’s you have behind you in the video and are they individually stackable ?
Looking to configure something on the top shelf in my closet
Thanks in advance
Also on the topic someone asked about cleaning it
You said no water , makes sense with the suede however is there a specific cleaner you use and what is your take on using a waterproofing spray protection like Scotch Guard or Camp Dry
Just got my first pair of 990’s and want to protect them before wearing them
I got the shoe boxes off of Amazon. Here’s the link : a.co/d/ehyeIDi
They have grooves that link together so you can stack them and organize them however you like.
Cleaning suede is a tough task but it can be done. When I’m cleaning suede I use a dry medium bristle brush- I brush all the dirty suede in one direction to try and loosen the dirt. After that I hit it with a suede eraser (you can find that Amazon as well) and that should get the suede clean. If the mesh is dirty or any non suede areas I just use the basic Reshoevn8r cleaning kit. Hope this helps! Enjoy your first pair of 990s!!
I got the shoe boxes off of Amazon. Here’s the link : a.co/d/ehyeIDi
They have grooves that link together so you can stack them and organize them however you like.
Cleaning suede is a tough task but it can be done. When I’m cleaning suede I use a dry medium bristle brush- I brush all the dirty suede in one direction to try and loosen the dirt. After that I hit it with a suede eraser (you can find that Amazon as well) and that should get the suede clean. If the mesh is dirty or any non suede areas I just use the basic Reshoevn8r cleaning kit. Hope this helps! Enjoy your first pair of 990s!!
@@samdopkosky
Thanks
I am a total New Balance junky
I run in 1080 V 13’s and 880 v 8’s
I use 608’s with Vibram oil resist soles for work and ballroom dance and square dance on an older pair of 1080 v9’s that are worn slick and slide perfectly for dancing
And just got the new 990’s for lifestyle use
Have owned easily 15 to 20 pairs of New Balance shoes over the years
Thanks for your feedback
Subbed your channel and will do a deeper look see on it
I love this comment because it shows how versatile new balance is. You can find a new balance shoe that supports any aspect of life. Thanks for you sub, I really appreciate it
I have the black pair. Love em. Mine have started to do this as well, not only on the gray part but the black as well. It seems to me that the density of the grey tread is slightly softer than the black so the chipping definitely shows up there first. Eventually though, it will happen all over. I think the placement of grey part also contributes to this. The tread design is also more lugged than most runners with knobbier bits and deeper grooves. This means it likely to catch more on things like curb edges, pavement irregularities and things like the pedals in your car. I love the outsole design, especially when new but i was a little disappointed to find this happen to it.
Im surprised it happened to the black piece as well. I agree with you, I love the outsole design but it is very sad that this happens. Hopefully they can correct it
I have one pair of this grey 990v6 model too. This issue happens on the black ndurance piece rather than the grey piece of my shoe's outsole.
That’s weird that it happened on the black part. Good to know!
Great video, may I ask what kind of new balance jacket you are wearing in the video?
Thanks! I’m not sure what the name of the jacket is sadly. I bought it used and the tags were cut out :/
Hi Sam, I have v4 navy/red version and its almost destroyed but comfortable yet. A v6 Lapis Lazuli also but its still in his box, soon I will take them to street, thanks a lot for sharing!
Why did you miss out on the 990v6 cream (mindful grey) colorway?
I loved those but I remember when they came out I had just got my 990v6 lapis lazuli and I loved them so much I never thought I’d need another shoe again so I passed on them 😂
Just wondering, approximately, how many days, weeks, months of wear do you think in these before it started chipping.
I’m not sure exactly, I’m going to do a mini wear test on a brand new pair to get an estimate of how long it takes
Id say that after about a month of solid wear you will start to notice.
For me, it was around the 3 month mark while wearing them almost every day.
Hey Sam, amazing video as always! I have a quick question. How do you clean your 990v6? I have mine destroyed as well and I have not found the way to clean the suede properly. 💔
Thanks! It can be difficult to clean suede at times. What I do is take a soft bristle brush and brush the stain in one direction until it's almost gone. Once you knock all of the dirt out, you can use a suede eraser or sometimes a regular eraser and it cleans it up pretty good. The main thing is to never use water
Do you think 991v2 also have the same problem?
They do not. The 991v2 outsole is as durable as can be
I seen this on the r/newbalance I think its only the first GR release, I havent seen this happen to bakalava or the lapis pairs.
These are my favorite shoes, and its a shame they have this problem. I've been thinking about buying the lapiz lazuli since I've seen on reddit that this chipping away of the outsole only really happens on the grey 990v6.
It's good to know that it's really only happening on the grey pairs. I highly recommend you getting the lapis lazuli, they are worth every penny
It’s doing that on my grey ones too but not my sepia blk or my purple magenta ones
I think the blk
Grey and navy core colors it does that chipping bc of the grey rubber on it
Im glad that it's only doing it on the core color ways. Hopefully they fix the rubber soon. Thanks for letting me know!
@@samdopkosky I need to wear my sepia and my magenta ones more to determine it thou
my 990v6 pair smells like mild dew, how should I clean it?
I would suggest letting them air out in the sunlight or try getting some sneaker ball air fresheners
@@samdopkosky I would do that when I get home this month. much appreciated!
From what I've seen hanging out in the New Balance Reddit group every day it's only the gray and black pairs that has this problem. (The original grey)
Good to know, Thanks!!
@@samdopkosky no problem.
Wow that's good to know. I'm deciding between the v5 and v6. I think I'll cop the v5s for now since I like the design more and they're a little cheaper.
You can never go wrong the the v5!
Not really concerned about it. I have other 990s that I wear strictly for lifestyle. The v6 are primarily daily drivers for me, meant to get beat and replaced over time.
That is exactly how I feel about it
Where did you get the jacket?
I got it at a Marshall’s
Idk if it’s my pair but the toe cap on my right shoe started to peal off and little began on my left pair
That’s scary… I hope it doesn’t get any worse
i don't wear nb 990 in rainy day .. in rainy day i wear echelon walker 3 saucony.. i also ton't wear them in place with stones
It can be dangerous to wear a 990 in the rain! That suede needs to be kept nice and buttery
I have the same problem with my v6 Black
It is not good vs v3 for me as I have elevated orthotic and it does not support my ankle.
Also 2012 new balance you pay for quality shoe last 12 years. 2024 new balance you pay 300$ CAN and it breaks in 3 weeks.... 5 models lasts me 14 days to 25 days before degradation.
i’ve had the same issue w my 860s from 2 years ago
same with my pair
Do you smoke right before your videos? You always look so high to me 😂
I do not smoke🤣 but thanks for commenting this, made my day😂
You ever gonna review the Keisha’s?? $$$ haha talk about big money
I wanted those so bad until I found the resale is $1k🤣
@@samdopkosky Exactly why I’m gonna try to grab those blue V4s from TS Season 5!
Just checked my v6 - same chipping problem! I never noticed before. These shoes have been my main shoe for the last ~8 months. Never noticed the issue before 🫤
I don’t think it’s a huge problem. I don’t think it will ever effect the shoe itself