New Balance

New Balance has a strong overall reputation in the r/BuyItForLife community, but that reputation is almost entirely built on its Made in USA footwear lines — particularly the 990 and 993 — rather than the brand as a whole. The 575 analysis appears to be a data error referencing a Maytag washing machine and should be treated as an outlier. For shoes, the community consensus is clear: USA-made models (990, 993, 992) earn genuine BIFL-adjacent praise for durability, comfort, and wide-width availability, while imported models are widely flagged as significantly lower quality. The universal caveat is that no sneaker is truly buy-it-for-life, but New Balance's USA line outlasts most alternatives.

The high-volume brand-generic comments (514 mentions) and the two most-mentioned product lines — the 990 (28 mentions) and 993 (13 mentions) — all point in the same direction: Made in USA New Balance is among the best footwear a BIFL buyer can choose, but the caveat that no sneaker is truly BIFL, combined with the clearly inferior quality of imported models, prevents a strong recommend for the brand as a whole.

New Balance's Made in USA footwear lines are consistently praised for durability, comfort, and podiatrist-endorsed support, with the 990 and 993 standing out as the community's top picks.

• 990 and 993 lines reported lasting years of heavy daily use
• Best-in-class wide and extra-wide sizing across multiple widths
• USA-made construction perceived as significantly superior to imported models
• Podiatrist-recommended for arch support, plantar fasciitis, and flat feet
• Comfortable from first wear with no painful break-in period
• Joe's New Balance Outlet provides strong value on prior-season USA models

Quality is highly uneven across the lineup — imported models are broadly dismissed by the community, and even the best USA-made pairs have known wear points. No model fully clears the BIFL bar.

• Imported models notably inferior in durability to Made in USA counterparts
• Soles and heel linings degrade before uppers, limiting true lifespan
• Frequent model turnover makes finding consistent replacements difficult
• Some wide-width models achieve fit via extra material, not a true wide last
• Political controversy around ownership has alienated a portion of the community

The 990 is as close to a BIFL sneaker as you'll find — no shoe lasts forever, but these outlast everything else I've tried.

Made in USA New Balance is a completely different product from their imported line — don't let the same brand name fool you.

I've had my 993s for four-plus years and they still look nearly new — worth every penny of the premium.

Some pairs of the USA line have been going strong for 12+ years with regular wear — the uppers just refuse to die.

• New Balance 575
• New Balance 990
• New Balance 993
• New Balance Made in USA