New Balance 990 vs. New Balance 993 – What’s the Difference?

This makes it slightly heavier than the ACSM’s requirements. The shoe possesses a slope of roughly 12 mm.

The New Balance 990 is made from a combination of mesh and pigskin, making it breathable, flexible, and reliable.

There is a lace keeper to keep pesky shoelaces out of the way while running, and extra arch support for stability.

The soles of the shoe are thick and tough so the shoes last longer, and there is enough room in the toe box for people who have slightly longer than average feet.

People who have wide or narrow feet can special order versions of the 990 designed to suit their needs.

The shoe comes in a variety of colors but is known to have an almost bland, drab look since variations of gray make up many of the options.

The New Balance 993 are also known for having a low top, which is great for wearers worried about chafing.

It works well for daily running and was designed for the road, not rugged terrain.

The men’s version of the shoe weighs about 12-14 oz. while a women’s version is around 11 oz.

This makes it slightly heavier than the ACSM’s requirements. The shoe possesses a slope of roughly 14 mm.

The New Balance 993 is made from a combination of mesh and pigskin, making it breathable, flexible, and reliable.

There is a lace keeper to keep pesky shoelaces out of the way while running, and extra arch support for stability.

The soles of the shoe are thick and tough so the shoes last longer, and there is enough room in the toe box for people who have slightly longer than average feet.

People who have wide or narrow feet can special order versions of the 990 designed to suit their needs.

The shoe comes in a variety of colors but is known to have an almost bland, drab look since variations of gray make up many of the options.

So, what really is the difference?

At a glance, the 993 is the heavier, tougher model designed to last longer, but this can be a problem for people looking for speed and flexibility.

The 993 is also more expensive. Otherwise, there aren’t many differences at all, as seen in this handy chart.

Both shoes commit some major blunders based on the ACSM’s standards, including being heavy.

However, they work well for runners who exercise long and hard and need something that will last.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), one of the leading institutions dedicated to ensuring the health of athletes, provides some of the simplistic and clearest guidelines for how to pick a running shoe.

According to them, there are three factors which an individual should look at: weight, slope, and extra features. But what do these mean?

Weight

• According to the ACSM, no shoe should weigh more than 8-10 oz. for maximum comfort and efficiency. This prevents there being too much strain on the muscles and ensures there isn’t a bunch of extra material in the footwear.

Slope

• The ACSM doesn’t give a specific measurement for this bit of criteria, but the premise is the same. Any good running shoe should have a small slope between the heel and toe, or basically little to no incline. This means shoes with high heels are out.

Extra Features

• People really can’t get better than the basics when it comes to shoes. The ACSM advices against including a bunch of unnecessary niceties when it comes to picking a shoe. Is a lot of cushioning really necessary? Does the heel need to be padded? Are the zippers and lights actually helping a runner at all?

Overall, a good shoe complements the foot and doesn’t try to change a person’s natural posture too much.

Naturally, this might be different for some individuals prone to pronation or supination, which the ACSM admits might need correction.

"What is overpronation?"

A small amount of pronation occurs naturally. This is when the ankle rolls slightly inward when someone steps, allowing the foot to support the weight of the body.

Medical News Today identifies some problems individuals can have though, like overpronation.

Overpronation occurs when the ankle rolls inward too much and the arches of a person’s feet lower and often hit the ground.

The body is not receiving the support it should and injuries like sprained ankles become more common. 

Someone who has this problem should invest in a running shoe which helps by adding extra support, so this could be a possible exception to the ACSM rules.

Supination is the opposite of pronation.

This means the ankle might roll too little or will actually roll outward, which has the same risks as overpronation. In this case, a good running shoe might need more support as well.

There are three types a person can have, which changes how they land on the foot and how much support they need: low, average, and high.

Most people don’t know what kind of arch they have.

Thankfully, there are some at-home tests to help individuals figure it out. The most common and easy to do is the wet test.

Heel That Pain provides some of the best instructions for the test.

1. Fill a pan with enough water that the lower half of the foot is completely covered.
2. Remove the foot from the pan and step on a sheet of clean, absorbent material.
3. Repeat the process with the other foot.

Someone with regular arches should be able to see the ball of their foot, the heel, and about half of the midsection.

A person with flat feet will have a complete foot staring back at them, while someone with high arches might barely see the midsection.