Our verdict

One of New Balance's top offerings for tennis, we found the 996 v6 a solid performance shoe. Stable and propulsive, it accommodates fast and shifty movements all over the court. And it's a must to consider if you mostly play in hot conditions. On the downside, the shoe's poor durability kept it from getting to our best tennis shoe picks but if you can catch a discount, you won't regret it.

Мужские шапки New Balance Pros

  • One of the most breathable tennis shoes
  • Lively and propulsive cushioning
  • Excellent impact protection
  • Very secure foot containment
  • Оригинал new balance 754 мужские ботинки утепленные мехом
  • Comfortable preto-in feel
  • Reliable grip
  • Wide option available

Мужские шапки New Balance Cons

  • New balance 237 womens black bleach blue low casual lifestyle sneakers shoes
  • Heavier than average

Audience verdict

63
Bad!

Who should buy

The 996 v6 should be on your radar if:

  • зимние женские кроссовки на меху new balance 574
  • zapatillas de running New Balance hombre amortiguación media verdes

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul review

Who should NOT buy

The lack of durability in the shoe's upper and toe drag guard was a major turnoff for us. If you are an aggressive slider, we recommend investing in a better-reinforced shoe. The zapatillas de running New Balance asfalto 10k, for example, has a similar price and parameters but shows better signs of longevity.

On the other hand, if you are bothered by the above-average weight of the 996 v6, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 is one of the best lightweight tennis shoes out there. It is also exceptionally durable and breathable.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul lab test

Мужские шапки New Balance | Cushioning

Мужские шапки New Balance | Heel stack

We never lacked cushioning or impact protection in the New Balance 996 v6.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Heel stack

With a caliper reading of 29.8 mm, the shoe's heel stack proved to be on par with the average.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 29.8 mm
Average 29.2 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

Our forefoot also received a nice buffer upon landings thanks to the shoe's 21.4 mm forefoot stack.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Forefoot stack

We felt confident choosing the 996 v6 for long sessions as it took good care of the balls of our feet and didn't leave them beaten up afterward.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 21.4 mm
Average 19.5 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Drop

New Balance Unisex Collegiate Shorts.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Drop

It is a very safe offset for most players because it's neither too low to strain the Achilles nor too high to push the toes forward.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 8.4 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
6.2 mm
Drop
14.7 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

One notable change we noticed in the 6th version of the 996 is that the cushioning got softer and livelier compared to v5!

Our Shore A durometer confirmed this experience showing a lower reading of 26.4 HA. The previous iteration came in at 33.5 HA which is 27% firmer.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Midsole softness

Even though both shoes use the brand's famous FuelCell foam, the brand confirms that this compound can be modified between models.

We welcome this change in the 996 v6 because its updated FuelCell midsole made the underfoot experience a bit more fun and springy.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 26.4 HA
Average 28.1 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
17.1 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Size and fit

Size

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul fits slightly small (38 votes).

Small
True to size
Large

Owners of this shoe, how does it fit?

1 size small½ size smallTrue to size½ size large1 size large

Width / Fit

On its official product page, New Balance states that the 996 v6 runs narrow. But our gel mold of the shoe's interiors shows the opposite!

Contrary to the brand's statement, our caliper returned an above-average reading of 95.1 mm in the widest part of the mold (between the big toe and the pinkie). Our medium-width feet felt very nicely accommodated in this New Balance shoe!

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Toebox width - widest part
New test (recommended)
Old test
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 95.1 mm
Average 92.9 mm
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
88.7 mm
Width / Fit
96.9 mm

Toebox width

The shoe also offered more wiggle room in the big toe area. With a width of 74.3 mm, it's a few solid millimeters wider than some of the other D-medium shoes we measured in a men's US size 9!

On top of that, the NB 996 v6 is also available in wide options (2E for men and D for women).

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Toebox width - big toe
New test (recommended)
Old test
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 74.3 mm
Average 69.2 mm
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
65.5 mm
Toebox width
74.3 mm

Toebox height

With a toebox height of 24.1 mm, the shoe also provides ample space above the toes. That way, we didn't find anything narrow about this NB shoe.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Toebox height
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 24.1 mm
Average 25.1 mm
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
20.7 mm
Toebox height
29.2 mm

Мужские шапки New Balance

Its funky chicken shank loaded the 996 v6 with a great deal of stiffness.

Using a force gauge, we discovered that it takes 44.6N which is about 40% more force than average to bend this New Balance shoe to a 90-degree angle.

We believe that this is what helped the 996 v6 feel so ready to go! The shoe has a propulsive nature to it which made our sprints to the net feel nice and charged. Paired with its stable platform, it creates a pretty speedy experience, just as the brand promised.

This shoe follows methodology 1.8. It has been replaced with methodology 1.8 (the 'gel test') on more recently updated shoes. Results from the two methodologies cannot be directly compared, which is why you don't see recently tested shoes in the chart below.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 44.6N
Average 30.7N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
18.8N
Flexibility Stiffness
52.0N

Weight

New Balance positions the 996 v6 as a tennis shoe for a "speedier type of play," also mentioning that its design is inspired by racing cars. Unfortunately, we didn't see that reflected in the shoe's weight.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Weight

Our scale returned 13.8 oz (390g) in a men's US size 9 which is a whole ounce heavier than average. What's more, the v6 gained some serious weight over its previous version - the 996 v5 came in at only 11.9 oz (336g)! 

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul shoe weight

But on the bright side, the shoe doesn't feel heavy on foot thanks to its propulsive midsole and a shank (more on that below).

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 13.8 oz (390g)
Average 12.8 oz (362g)
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
10.3 oz (292g)
Weight
14.7 oz (417g)

Breathability

New Balance promised "breathability during long matches on hot days" and the 996 v6 delivered it!

Look how incredibly fast the smoke passed through the shoe's toebox! We rarely see this level of ventilation in tennis shoes because it is usually a trade-off with durability (unfortunately, that's the case for the 996 v6 too but more on that below).

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Breathability under microscope

The secret lies in the shoe's highly porous net mesh where thousands of ventilation holes let the air in and out without any obstruction.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Breathability microscope test

Without a doubt, this is one of the most breathable tennis shoes we've tested earning the highest score of 5.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 5
Average 3.2
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
1
Breathability
5

Stability

Lateral stability test

Trainers NEW BALANCE IV574CTP White.

We could feel the difference in foot containment and side-to-side support as we performed more forceful lateral movements and rapid direction changes.

Torsional rigidity

One major stability component that remained unchanged from the v5 is the chicken-foot shank that runs through the bottom of the shoe.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul shank

Together with the firm raised midsole sidewalls, it helps to create a rather rigid platform to prevent the shoe from twisting and wobbling during agile movements on the court.

After the unsuccessful attempts to twist the NB 996 v6 in our manual test, we rated its torsional rigidity with the highest stiffness score of 5.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

New Balance CM997HZH Nimbus.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul vs v5 collar height comparison

In a side-by-side comparison, the difference in collar height appears to be very minor. But we can subscribe to better heel lockdown as we could feel a notable upgrade in the v6!

The shoe's heel counter got stiffer and more structured and refused to yield in our manual test. On a stiffness scale from 1 to 5, we gave it a high score of 4.

The 996 v6 gives a very secure slip-free experience in the rearfoot.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 4
Average 4.1
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

The shoe also provided a very steady and planted experience thanks to its wide platform.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Midsole width - forefoot

There is a protruding flange on the lateral side of the forefoot which showed 115.3 mm in the widest part. A few millimeters wider than the average, it offered a reliable base for side-to-side landings and charged push-offs.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 115.3 mm
Average 111.9 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
105.3 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
117.4 mm

Midsole width - heel

The heel doesn't skimp on the landing area either. Our caliper measured 89.7 mm in its widest part which is a standard width for tennis shoe heels.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Midsole width - heel
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 89.7 mm
Average 89.6 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
82.4 mm
Midsole width - heel
99.7 mm

Durability

Toe guard durability

Now to the trade-offs. The other side of the shoe's impressive breathability is its catastrophic lack of wear resistance.

In less than 22 seconds of drilling it, the translucent toe guard was completely destroyed by sandpaper! We couldn't believe how weak the shoe's protection was.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Toe guard durability test

Unfortunately, we don't think that the NB 996 v6 can stand up against aggressive sliding and that is reflected in the shoe's very low toe guard durability score.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 1
Average 3.3
Compared to 23 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
1
Toe guard durability
5

Toebox durability

Obviously, the shoe's net mesh is not the strongest material either.

After applying sandpaper to the exposed fabric for 12 seconds, we saw some pretty notable damage.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Toebox durability comparison
New Balance 996 v6 vs. On The ROGER Pro 2

But we should still give that mesh some credit because it resisted the Dremel long enough to prevent a glaring hole. It did even better than the $200 ROGER Pro 2 (New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Xialing)!

That's why we upped the toebox durability score to 3 out of 5.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 3
Average 3.7
Compared to 46 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Looking at the shoe's inner lining, we also believe that New Balance could've done better.

Assessing the damage left by a 4-second Dremel test, we couldn't rate it any higher than 2 out of 5.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Heel padding durability comparison
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 2
Average 3.3
Compared to 46 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

At the bottom of the NB 996 v6, we found both hard and translucent types of rubber in the shoe's outsole.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul outsole

Using a Shore C durometer, we measured the hardness at 90.0 and 89.0 HC respectively. Nearly identical compounds.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Outsole hardness

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 90.0 HC
Average 86.0 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 43 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
78.5 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

We applied our Dremel to the hard rubber part of the outsole for 22 seconds. The speed was set to the demanding 10K RPM.

The material fought back rather well developing only 1.0 mm of damage. This is a good result for a tennis shoe in this price range. 

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Outsole durability test
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 1.0 mm
Average 0.8 mm
Compared to 46 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

We were also glad to see as much as 4.5 mm of outsole thickness in the 996 v6.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Outsole thickness

Overall, we found the shoe's outsole sufficiently hard, abrasion-resistant, and thick to last as long as the average tennis shoe outsole.

But a durability warranty would've made us more reassured.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 4.5 mm
Average 4.2 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.2 mm

Misc

Insole thickness

The primary cushioning is complemented by a comfortable well-padded insole. We measure its thickness at 4.8 mm in the heel.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Insole thickness
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 4.8 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
3.4 mm
Insole thickness
7.5 mm

Removable insole

It takes no effort to remove the insole of the 996 v6 in case you need a pair of orthotics.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Removable insole
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Yes

Tongue padding

New Balance kept the shoe's tongue padding minimal at 4.7 mm which is a few millimeters thinner than average.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Tongue padding

New Balance 327 Indigo Morning Fog!

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul 4.7 mm
Average 8.1 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.3 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue of this New Balance shoe has gussets on both sides which we found quite helpful during forceful lateral movements.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Tongue: gusset type

We experienced no tongue shifting and the overall lockdown felt like a race car bucket seat.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul laces

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Both sides (full)

Price

The retail price of the New Balance 996 v6 sits right in the middle of tennis shoes.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Price

For this price range, we believe that the shoe offers excellent performance with its nimble and propulsive ride.

But because it lacks in the durability department we don't think that the 996 v6 deserves the full price.

Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul $135
Average $132
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
New Balance 1099
$80
Price
$200

Heel tab

The NB 996 v6 is very agreeable during on-and-off despite not having any finger loops or pull tabs to hold on to.

New Balance Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul Heel tab
Test results
Chaqueta New Balance Velocity azul None