TitleNew Balance 740 - Invisible sole defect and poor quality control
I have no issues with the store staff or the shopping experience, but the product quality is extremely disappointing. I bought a pair of New Balance 740s at the official store in Antwerp. Everything felt fine during the fitting, but a serious flaw appeared during my first real walk outdoors.
The left shoe fits perfectly. However, the right shoe has a noticeable internal bump under the ball of the foot. I even tried swapping the original insoles for insoles from my Puma sneakers, but the bump is built into the sole structure itself, so it didn't help at all. After a short walk, it causes severe chafing and pain, making the shoes unwearable.
It is deeply frustrating to get a hidden manufacturing defect from a major global brand at a high price point. New Balance’s quality control is clearly lacking. I strongly advise buyers to physically feel every millimeter inside the shoe with their hands before buying, as brand reputation no longer guarantees quality.