New Balance 574 vs 550 (2025’s Updated Version)

New Balance 574 vs. 550: Which one’s actually better for daily wear and casual styling?

On most forums, I see some people swear by the 574, while others prefer the 550. But no one really breaks down the key takeaways, which leaves many potential buyers unsure about which one to choose.

That’s why today I’m giving you my personal take on both. That way, you can easily pick the one that fits your needs best. Here we go! 

Detailed Comparison of New Balance 574 vs. 550

To actually find which sneaker suits your daily wear and casual styling needs, I’ve broken down the whole review into a few categories like design, materials, comfort, fit and price. 

This way, it’ll be much easier to find what suits you best.

Design

First, let’s evaluate the design. 

Design-wise, Both the New Balance 574 and 550 are low-top sneakers with a retro, sporty look that comes from the 90s basketball shoe style. Honestly, even carrying 90s style, they don’t look old or outdated.

The 574 has a chunkier, wider design, while the 550 is a bit slimmer in shape. Both shoes have a fashionable vibe and seem perfect for everyday wear.

So, overall, both designs are solid, and I’d call it a tie and will rate both a 5 out 5.

Materials

Next, we’ve got materials. 

And for that, the New Balance 574 has a mix of real leather, suede and mesh on the upper—mesh on the toebox, leather at the N-logo and suede covering the rest. The 550, on the other hand, has a full leather upper. Some versions of the 550 do have suede on the toebox, but mine is all leather.

Moving to the soles.

Both have thick soles with EVA midsoles and rubber outsoles. The key difference is that the 574 includes ENCAP technology in the midsole, which combines EVA foam with polyurethane for better support and protection. 

As for the insoles, they’re just fine on both. The 550 has a removable insole, while the 574 does not. (About insoles, we’ll talk more in a minute.) 

Overall, both shoes are solid for their price, but I believe the 574 gives better value with its suede upper and ENCAP midsole. 

And yeah, for materials, I’d give the 550 a 3 out of 5 and the 574 a 4 out of 5.

Related Article: Why are New Balance Shoes So Expensive?

Comfort and Fit: Which One Offers More Comfort?

Now, onto the comfort of both of these shoes. 

First, let’s deal with the New Balance 574.

For the price, it’s a solid sneaker. Feels good on foot, looks great, and holds up pretty well. But it’s not completely perfect.

One of the main issues I face with this shoe is breathability. It’s not very airy, so on a hot day, your feet might feel a little sweaty. The upper is tightly woven, which helps with durability but doesn’t do much for airflow.

The ankle padding is nice and gives some extra comfort around the heel, though the tongue could use a bit more cushioning.

Now, for the ride—it’s on the firmer side. Don’t expect extra softness from the midsole, but it’s still better than the 550s. With that, the insole is also not really helping much. But the outsole is solid, grips the ground well, and honestly does a better job than the 550s.

Now, let’s cover 550. 

This shoe for me looks even better and goes even sturdier than 574. But it also has a few quirks.

Again, just like 574, breathability is pretty much the worst. Feels warmer and heavier on foot compared to the 574. The midsole is also quite firm; you can’t expect softness underfoot. But the insole and the tongue here are thicker, which helps a little during the walk.

The heel padding is nice and cushy, and the upper gives you a snug fit, which to some people is a good thing. Alongside that, the leather is thick, which means you can expect extra durability and can go along for a long time.

And finally, as for grip, the outsole does a decent job, but it’s not as grippy as the 574.
If I had to rate them, I’d give the NB 550 a 3 and the NB 574 a 3.5. The 574 just feels a bit better overall—lighter, grippier, and slightly more comfortable. But neither is blowing me away in terms of softness or breathability.

Let’s check all the comfort features of both shoes:

Prices: Which Is More Affordable?

Finally, it’s time for prices. 

The New Balance 574 costs around $80–$90, while the 550 is priced between $100–$110. A $20 difference isn’t huge, but it still matters. 

So when it comes to affordability, the 574 wins again.

Fit

Let us see how well they fit. 

The 574 fits true to size and doesn’t feel too tight. However, if you have wide feet, you might want to go for the wide-fit option.

The 550 also runs true to size but feels much snugger. If you have wide feet, you may need to go half a size up or choose the wide version. For normal feet, the leather stretches slightly over time for a better fit. 

So, there is no need to worry about their sizing.

Final Words: Which One is Actually Better?  

In my opinion, the 574 is by far the better option for styling sneakers. It just has that more versatile appearance. And from my likes and dislikes, it also ranks better in each category that I made:

However, that’s just my take based on my experience. At the end of the day, both come from the same brand and are made for different people with different preferences.

Go with the one that feels right for you—you really can’t go wrong with either.

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