For some strange reason within the past 5 years or so I observed that shoe designers for companies that were well known by runners for making WIDE shoes stopped making truly WIDE shoes. This included Saucony and New Balance. They would label a shoe WIDE and the toe box was cramped and narrow. In fact I purchased an "extra wide" pair of New Balance to use for shooting hoops just so I could get my OTC orthotic inside and have ample room in the toe box. And my feet are "normal" width per my podiatrist. Imagine if I had duck feet? They would never fit.

Thankfully I am able to report that New Balance has returned to the game providing a truly WIDE shoe.

I ordered the men's 12 WIDE all black 608 shoe. My usage is for a upscale corporate security officer position in a high-rise where our uniform is a black sport coat, white dress shirt, black or gray tie and black slacks. I opted for this style of shoe because it looks better than a black running shoe.

LOOKS:

-- IMHO it will not appeal to the younger crowd. The aesthetics simply are not designed that way from the stitching to the overall design and including the width. But for my needs it is just fine.
-- It gets a B grade for looks

COMFORT:

-- I would give it an A- or better so far
-- I inserted an OTC orthotic (and removed the included one) and that surely helped
-- I walk approximately 9K to 16K steps per day patrolling our building and parking garage and everything in between escorting vendors etc.
-- Walking on concrete is going to be a challenge for any shoe, but this shoe responded quite well.
-- Since I walk so much I will likely be replacing these every 3-4 months when the cushioning is shot.
-- I mostly sit or walk on my job with little standing, but when I did stand in brief increments when at the desk or escorting vendors they did the job.

SIZE:

-- This is a true WIDE and the size 12 is very accurate.
-- I wear a size 12 shoe 98% of the time and this is a definite 12.
-- My podiatrist said my feet are of a NORMAL width (not narrow and not wide), but since I use OTC orthotics for plantar fasciitis I often need WIDE shoes to get my orthotic to fit. These are quite roomy for me and borderline almost too roomy for my "normal" width sized foot. Bear this in mind.

SLIP-RESISTANT:

-- Not tested as spills rarely occur in my workplace nor greasy floors

REASON I PURCHASED:

-- Reasons already mentioned and I saw a Men's Health review that ranked this shoe as their #2 best for walking and as you can see I walk a lot.
-- If it keeps performing well I could see getting this as a walking shoe for the neighborhood when my other walking shoes wear out and when my other New Balance shoes I use for shooting hoops by myself (for exercise only) wear out I will likely opt for these for those purposes.

VALUE:

-- Price is fair for quality of shoe received

Okay. So let's get this straight. I struggle getting shoes because I have such large feet. So I do a lot of my purchasing online because the stores around here don't carry my size. So a lot of times I have to purchase shoes and then try them on. No, not always. Even with the same company do they always fit correctly. Not the case with these shoes. These shoes are so comfortable. Granted, I have a special insert due to the fact of the in step of my feet. But these shoes are amazing. I've had them for two days now. Been wearing them the whole time. It didn't even feel like I needed to break them in. Definitely a good buy. Definitely worth the money Absolutely impressed.

Fit great, look great! I bought these for everyday wear, and they're perfect! Comfortable, and easy to get on and off. Very happy!

Let me start by saying, these New Balance Men's 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainers have become my leg day heroes. Not just because they provide comfort and support, but because they make my calves look like they've been sculpted by Michelangelo himself.

Picture this: legs so muscular, they could probably bench-press a small car (not that I've tried, of course, but I definitely could). And these shoes? They're like the icing on the cake, or should I say, the sneaker in the gym.

Now, let's talk about the dirt. Some people might cringe at the sight of their pristine shoes covered in the remnants of a hard day's work. Not me. I proudly display the battle scars on my 608 V5s, showcasing the world just how industrious my feet can be. These shoes have seen it all. The dirt is like a badge of honor, a testament to the rugged terrain my size 16 wides conquer on a daily basis.

And here's the kicker "“ I never wear socks with these bad boys. That's right, barefoot and bold. It's not a choice; it's a lifestyle. Because who needs socks when you're striding confidently through life in size 16 wides? Certainly not me. I like to think of it as an exclusive club "“ sockless wonders with legs of steel.

I've used New Balance 608 shoes for many years now, and I'm still just as pleased as ever. Right out of the box, they give hardly any of the burning foot feeling often associated with new shoes (in other words, they feel already broken in even when brand new). I use them for work (I work in a wood shop where I'm on my feet on a concrete floor most of the day), and they provide great support and comfort. They're also comfortable enough to wear around the house, and yet they're classy enough (I get the brown suede) that I even wear them to church (way more comfortable than standard dress shoes!)
I particularly like the fact that the comfort insole is firm enough to provide real support, yet has enough give that it molds to my foot over time (the arch support is not perfect right out of the box, but it quickly conforms to the shape of my foot). Overall, I'm very happy with these shoes, and I hope New Balance continues to offer them without any major changes.