I need a straight last shoe since I have fallen arches and have had a lot of broken bones all over including my feet. Nike stopped making such shoes some years ago and I turned to New Balance and have not looked back since. I have worn 1123 (and whatever similar number preceded those) for years, and longed for an edition in black that I could use for semi-casual wear. When NB made this replacement in black I was among the first to get them; I had put in a pre-order with NB.
I appreciate that the 1540's are lighter and stronger than the 1123's. However, as others here have noted, the box has less mesh and more solid structure, so it fits differently. My small toes kept rubbing and blistering; the 2E width was fine; it is the shoe. I called NB and returned them for another pair, but they all have the same defects. The seam inside now crosses the toes, and it is too rough, causing this problem. I finally took a file and smoothed it out, and also have now covered the seam with a small patch of Moleskin padding -a hint from my wife who was a ballet dancer. This works absolutely fine now, but WHY!? WHY should I have to do this for a fairly expensive running shoe; this should be fixed at the factory! NB has dropped the ball here. NB Customer Service kept telling me why they designed the toe box to be more sturdy, instead of addressing the actual problems with the shoe -shame on them.
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Lot of complaints about NB1540 can be traced to buyers assuming the 1540 has the same fit as the 1123. If you consult "Shoe Fitter" via a link from the NB1540 page, it indicates the 1540 runs 1/2 size smaller than the 1123. While this change may have been kinda dumb on NB's part, the fact remains that buyers should NEVER assume a new model will fit the same as the model it replaces.
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The only sneaker that has worked for me was the 1123 (the model that the 1540 is replacing) until this came around. I wear 3/4" custom orthotics in my shoes because of a leg length discrepancy, and this shoe accommodates them well. The 1123 is ugly, but I was going to order it again until I found that my size is no longer available. The 1540 seems to be very similar in design to the 1123 but it is available in black. Thank god that it is available in black, because in any other color these shoes would look 'special'. The 1540 seems a tad shorter than the 1123 in the same size, but I still fit. For anyone that is not familiar, this shoe is best for people who require a lot of support. I don't know if I would wear it for running, but I don't run any more anyways. I use them for the gym, working out, elliptical, etc.. The good thing about this pair in black is that I can wear them with jeans and they won't look funny. I expect this pair to last for a very long time, because the 1123 outlasted any pair of sneakers that I ever wore. It is upsetting that I will have to pay $20-$30 more for these but it is worth it to be able to get them in black. Totally inconspicuous.
Honest reviews on New Balance Men's M1540 Running Shoe
Arrived July 26, 2013; laced up and put them on first
impression "very comfortable!" The reviews were correct,
I ordered ½ size larger and the length-fit is perfect. Also,
toebox area generous and comfortable; heel is narrow and
perfect for my build. Finally! It feels like my feet are getting
the arch support needed in a shoe that fits perfectly. Now
need to see how long they last at that price (very expensive).
Update: The first couple of days wearing these shoes, my left 'middle' toe was a bit sore
that night. This feeling went away quite soon. Am still concerned if they will last because
I've tried New Balance before and the shoe tried didn't last very long -about 6 months.
All-in-all, I'm very optimistic that these are "the shoes" I need.
Do get 1/2 size larger than you normally wear in these shoes!
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I'm rough on shoes. My favorites were NB 1123's which they seem to have quit making. :-(
NB keeps "improving" an already good product (and making it more expensive each time).
The NB 1540 has ventured in the wrong direction with some of their "improvements".
Most noticeable difference with the 1540 is it runs shorter than the same size of previous models.
The next most noticeable difference is the heel height inside the shoe. It seems the new fashion trend is to bring back the "earth shoe" low heel position from the '70s. If you have ANY lumbar issues, this will set off alarms. I almost sent the shoes back for this reason. Since I couldn't find anything else that would support my feet the way I wanted, I tried putting some Dr Scholls orthodic inserts in the shoe. This provided enough heel lift to make the shoe work for me.
The last "improvement" is the stiffness of the sole. It is a good bit stiffer than previous 1123 and will take a bit of getting used to. With all of the model changes and "improvements" New Balance is making (with large price increases), I think they are leaving themselves open for an aggressive competitor with a customer satisfaction mind set.
