New Balance Mens 696 V5 Hard Court

First time I tried New Balance shoes for tennis. I got them for pickleball , rather than tennis. Initially it fits tight, but after wearing it once or twice, break in, it feels good and very secure. Great support and mobility with a good cushion sole...with good comfort. I would not pay full price though..I got them on sale and it's of great value. This color looks best, as other like white, make them look cheap quality. Read more

These tennis shoes are very well constructed and have had great wear and traction. They are some of the best tennis shoes I may have ever owned and the price was reasonable. They are extremely stable and comfortable. Run a little small , so I went up .5 on mine. As far as width I have a slightly wider foot and these accommodate my width nicely. Read more

I believe that New Balance tennis shoes are great quality and have used for 30+years. I switched to this shoe from using New Balance 806. I have wide foot and these shoes are much more comfortable, roomy in the toes and has a better lacing system than the 806. However, just some caution. I have been using the NB 806 (and previous versions) for many years and have never had any issues. The 806 grips the court well but does offer some slide. I have played with 696 six times and have tripped twice and fallen once. The shoes grip the court extremely well and offers very little to no slide; which I wasn’t expecting. Thus if you play with some slide just be cautious. The 696 is a quality/nice looking shoe and much more comfortable than the 806 but I’m not able to use them due to my playing style. In my opinion, for me, this shoe is probably better suited for playing on clay courts. I do wear my 696 pair now just for walking; they feel great! Read more

I could not find my regular kicks for tennis so I picked up these 696 V5 at a sale price. Needed something in a pinch and at the time was hard to find my size in stock anywhere. These ended up being a great shoe for me. Excellent lateral support that seems somewhat of a light shoe. Feet didn't feel tire of a lot of sets which is a very good sign. I also liked that it was a low profile shoe that felt cushy. Sometimes you have to give up one for the other but this is a good blend. I use them hard about 3 times a week and the wear has been great. They are durable. I don't like the look of them but not a big deal. Happy with this purchase. Read more

Light, Stable, and Comfortable on the Court I’ve been playing in these New Balance 696 V5 tennis shoes for a while now, and they’ve become a steady favorite. Right out of the box, they felt light on my feet but still stable enough to handle quick cuts and side-to-side movement. The cushioning is just right—supportive without being bulky, so my feet don’t feel heavy during long matches. The fit is true to size, with a snug heel and enough room in the toe box to keep things comfortable even after hours of play. The upper breathes well, which I appreciate on hot days. The herringbone outsole gives me dependable traction on hard courts, and I like that it feels grippy without being overly sticky. I haven’t had any issues with slipping or sliding. One thing to keep in mind is that the sole is on the firmer side. If you’re used to plush, running-shoe type cushioning, this may take a little getting used to. For me, though, it’s a good tradeoff for the responsiveness and stability on court. Bottom line: A reliable, comfortable tennis shoe with solid support and grip—great for recreational and competitive players alike. Read more

So yes, these are comfortable, nice sneakers... a few things I haven't seen others mention that I really appreciate about these sneakers... they are completely wipeable. Most sneakers have some sort of fabric mesh, and once it gets dirty, its just a mess. These have a complete (leather???) upper, completely easily wipeable to keep looking clean. This is a feature I really appreciate as I am always spilling stuff on my shoes or getting them dirty with my pets or whatever. Another feature that most prob don't really care about, but I really like (I'm a female buying these guy shoes), is that they are designed cleverly to have a bit of an optical illusion to make the shoe look a little more narrow in the front part of the shoe than it really is. You just have to get them to see what I mean. These are nice shoes. I'll prob order a second pair as a back up I like them so much. I buy the guy shoes because they are a little wider and I can wear really thick socks in the winter with them without scrunching my toes. :) Read more

Update 2: after about a month wearing these, the insoles are completely garbage, worst among all shoes I've worn before. The areas where toes are are as thin as paper after compression. The outsoles are in my opinion probably the most durable among the shoes I've worn. Overall, I think outsoles of these shoes are the only highlights of these shoes. Everything else is below average. Update: After 2 weeks wearing these shoes: the fit improved as the cushioning becomes more compact and the shoes become bigger vertically. Just found out the traction of these shoes are better then many other shoes I have worn, even on wet courts they have decent traction. I feel that the front part of the shoes still bend upwards a little making my toes tired easily, but it is improving as I break in them more. I'm a deal hunter and am willing to try any brand if it's on sale. Being playing tennis for so many years, I've tried so many different shoes. These are on the list that I will never buy again. The bads: toe box is wide but not tall enough. You feel the shoe is wide and there is a lot of space there, but it's not tall enough to fit your foot in; the front of the shoe bends upwards a little (or at least you feel it does), making the front half of your foot feeling tired; the material is not breathable, so your feet feel hot and humid; the insole is shorter then the bottom of the shoe, leaving a small crack between the insole and the wall around it. The goods: the heel part has a lot of cushioning, feeling softer than most of other shoes I have worn. Read more