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New Balance 996: the slimmest in the top range

While most New Balance classics are built wide and full, the 996 goes the other way. It is the slim, low version of the 99x family, with a last that stays closer to the foot and a midsole that hardly stands out. That makes it one of the few models from that series you can wear under smart trousers without the shoe dominating the look.

The technology is present on the shoe here as well. C-CAP is pressed into the midsole wall, a compressed foam layer that keeps weight down. That’s a different choice than with the 998, where ABZORB is in the sole, or the 1500 with ENCAP. At New Balance, you can literally read a model’s cushioning philosophy before you put it on.

The upper stacks suede, mesh and smooth leather in narrow panels, with the N in an outlined field on the flank and the model number on the heel. Versions with CM996 in the code are the regular international versions; if you see Made in USA in the title, you’re looking at the more expensive American assembly.

Within the brand’s architecture, the 996 is proof that the top range doesn’t necessarily focus on volume. The 992 fills the space, the 996 instead leaves it empty. If you want the 99x family’s quality in a silhouette that doesn’t draw attention, this is it.

On this page you can see which versions of the New Balance 996 are currently hottest according to the Hypescore, the starting price, and in how many shops they’re in stock.