The New Balance 9060 has been out for well over two years now, and at this point, it’s clear this shoe isn’t going anywhere.
What started as a bold, almost risky design has turned into one of New Balance’s most popular silhouettes, and with that popularity comes one big question: do New Balance 9060 run big or small when it comes to sizing?
New Balance has been on a serious roll lately. Between standout collaborations on the 990 series, the return of archive classics like the 550 and the 2002R, and a stronger focus on comfort, the brand has completely shifted how people look at “dad shoes.”
Then the 9060 entered the picture and took things in a much more aggressive direction.
This sneaker is chunky, padded, and futuristic, but still rooted in classic New Balance DNA. And because it looks so big on foot, a lot of people naturally wonder if the 9060 runs big, runs small, or fits true to size.
That’s exactly what this New Balance 9060 sizing guide is here to answer.
I’ll break down how they fit in real life, what to do if you have wide feet, and whether you should size up, size down, or stay true to size before you buy.
And if you’re wondering how this chunky model compares to the rest of the lineup, I break it down in my full New Balance sizing guide.
Do New Balance 9060 Run Big or Small?
I’ll be honest. Any time a brand drops a brand-new silhouette, sizing is a gamble. You never really know if it’s going to run long, short, tight, or just weird in general.
That’s exactly how I felt going into the New Balance 9060. I played it safe and went true to size. And yeah… I was genuinely surprised by how spot on the fit was.
Do the New Balance 9060 run true to size?
In my experience, yes. Very clearly true to size.
My foot measures as a true size 9 on a Brannock device, and my feet lean slightly wide. I grabbed the 9060 in a size 9, and the fit felt dialed in right away.
There was about a finger’s width of space in front of my longest toe, which is exactly what I look for in an everyday sneaker.
What surprised me most is that I didn’t feel the need to size down at all. That’s rare for me with New Balance.
Normally, in a lot of Made in USA models like the 992, 990v3, 990v4, 990v5, 998, and even many 550s, I go half a size down to deal with extra length. The 9060 didn’t need that adjustment. It just worked true to size.
On the flip side, I already stick true to size in narrower silhouettes like the 997, 327, and the 990v2, as well as models like the 2002R and most Made in UK pairs like the 991, 1500, and 1530.
The 9060 fits right in with that group.
(If you want to dig deeper into that fit and see why the 327 behaves a bit differently from other New Balance models, I broke everything down in my full New Balance 327 sizing guide, including who should size up and who’s better off staying true to size.)
So if you’re wondering what size to get, start with whatever your foot actually measures. That’s the safest move here.
How the 9060 feels on foot
The 9060 is heavily padded, and that plays a big role in how it fits.
Because there’s so much cushioning around the collar, tongue, and midfoot, the shoe hugs your foot in a comfortable way. That extra padding is also why I didn’t feel the need to size down like I do with some 990 models.
- Lengthwise, it feels balanced. Not short. Not long. Just right.
- Width-wise, it’s more forgiving than it looks.
Wide feet thoughts (important)
Here’s the part that matters if you have wide feet.
This is one of the most wide-foot-friendly New Balance sneakers I’ve worn in a long time. Around the arch area, where a lot of shoes usually give me problems, I felt zero pressure.
Around the ball of my foot, where tightness usually shows up first, the fit felt smooth and natural.
Honestly, it almost feels like wearing a padded sock inside a chunky sneaker.
That said, there’s a catch.
Even though the shoe looks massive, it only comes in standard width. There’s no wide option. And because there’s so much internal cushioning, people with very wide feet might still feel some tightness through the midfoot.
If your feet are wide, true to size should work for most of you. If your feet are very wide and you hate any kind of snugness, going up half a size is the move. I wouldn’t go more than that.
One thing I didn’t experience at all was heel slip. In some 990s, going true to size with wide feet can cause your heel to lift. That didn’t happen here. The heel feels locked in, even with the added padding.
Related: I also cover sizing on newer New Balance runners in my full New Balance 1906 sizing & fit guide, which is helpful if you already own the 9060 and want something a bit more performance-driven.
Narrow and regular feet
If your feet are narrow or regular width, true to size is easy. You’ll get a secure fit, and the extra padding actually makes the shoe feel more comfortable rather than bulky.
I don’t see any real reason for narrow or regular feet to size down in the 9060.
A quick style note (because it matters)
One reason some people hesitate on the 9060 has nothing to do with comfort and everything to do with looks.
The heel is big. Really big.
In larger sizes, especially around US 11 and up, the shoe can look huge on foot. That’s probably why smaller sizes tend to sell out faster.
There’s an easy fix, though. Wear wider pants. Looser jeans. Anything with some volume. That balances out the proportions and makes the shoe look intentional instead of clunky.
Tapered pants or skinny joggers just make the sneaker look bigger than it needs to be.
Quick sizing breakdown
If you want the short version:
- Narrow feet: True to size
- Regular feet: True to size
- Wide feet: True to size works for most
- Very wide feet: Consider half a size up
- Between sizes: Lean true to size unless you want extra room
Even though the 9060 looks wild and oversized, the sizing itself is refreshingly simple. Start true to size and adjust only if you already know your feet need more space.
If there’s one thing New Balance nailed with this model, it’s how wearable it actually is once it’s on your feet.
Related: If you’ve tried the 9060 and wonder whether the 530 runs big or small, my sizing article breaks it down.
How the New Balance 9060 Collabs Fit
This is worth calling out, because collabs don’t always fit the same as the regular release.
Sometimes brands change the materials, add extra padding, or reinforce certain panels, and that can completely change how a shoe feels on foot.
A good example is the Carhartt WIP x New Balance 990v1. I go half a size down in the regular 990v1, but in the Carhartt pair, I actually have to go true to size because the added structure tightens things up.
With the New Balance 9060, that’s not the case.
Both the Bodega x New Balance 9060 and the Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 9060 fit exactly like the regular 9060. Same length. Same width. Same overall feel on foot.
If you know your size in the standard 9060, stick with that same size for these collabs. No need to overthink it or make adjustments.
Related: If you’re also into Asics, I’ve broken down the full Asics Gel Kayano sizing guide and Asics Gel 1130 sizing as well, so you can see how their fit compares before switching between models.
New Balance 9060 Size Chart
Men
| US Men | US Women | UK | EU | CM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 36 | 22 |
| 4.5 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 22.5 |
| 5 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 37.5 | 23 |
| 5.5 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 23.5 |
| 6 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 38.5 | 24 |
| 6.5 | 8 | 6 | 39.5 | 24.5 |
| 7 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 40 | 25 |
| 7.5 | 9 | 7 | 40.5 | 25.5 |
| 8 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 41.5 | 26 |
| 8.5 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 26.5 |
| 9 | 10.5 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 27 |
| 9.5 | 11 | 9 | 43 | 27.5 |
| 10 | 11.5 | 9.5 | 44 | 28 |
| 10.5 | 12 | 10 | 44.5 | 28.5 |
| 11 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 45 | 29 |
| 11.5 | 13 | 11 | 45.5 | 29.5 |
| 12 | 13.5 | 11.5 | 46.5 | 30 |
| 12.5 | 14 | 12 | 47 | 30.5 |
| 13 | 15 | 12.5 | 47.5 | 31 |
| 14 | 13.5 | 49 | 32 | |
| 15 | 14.5 | 50 | 33 | |
| 16 | 15.5 | 51 | 34 | |
| 17 | 16.5 | 52 | 35 | |
| 18 | 17.5 | 53 | 36 | |
| 19 | 18.5 | 54 | 37 | |
| 20 | 19.5 | 55 | 38 |
Women
| US Women | US Men | UK | EU | CM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2.5 | 2 | 34 | 21 |
| 4.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 34.5 | 21.5 |
| 5 | 3.5 | 3 | 35 | 22 |
| 5.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 36 | 22.5 |
| 6 | 4.5 | 4 | 36.5 | 23 |
| 6.5 | 5 | 4.5 | 37 | 23.5 |
| 7 | 5.5 | 5 | 37.5 | 24 |
| 7.5 | 6 | 5.5 | 38 | 24.5 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6 | 39 | 25 |
| 8.5 | 7 | 6.5 | 40 | 25.5 |
| 9 | 7.5 | 7 | 40.5 | 26 |
| 9.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 41 | 26.5 |
| 10 | 8.5 | 8 | 41.5 | 27 |
| 10.5 | 9 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 27.5 |
| 11 | 9.5 | 9 | 43 | 28 |
| 11.5 | 10 | 9.5 | 43.5 | 28.5 |
| 12 | 10.5 | 10 | 44 | 29 |
| 12.5 | 11 | 10.5 | 45 | 29.5 |
| 13 | 11.5 | 11 | 45.5 | 30 |
| 13.5 | 12 | 11.5 | 46 | 30.5 |
| 14 | 12.5 | 12 | 46.5 | 31 |
| 15 | 13 | 13 | 48 | 32 |
New Balance 9060 Width Chart
| Code | Men | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| 4A | — | X-Narrow |
| 2A | X-Narrow | Narrow |
| B | Narrow | Standard |
| D | Standard | Wide |
| 2E | Wide | X-Wide |
| 4E | X-Wide | XX-Wide |
| 6E | XX-Wide | — |
Related: If your rotation leans more toward Nike, you might want to check out my guides on do Nike Huaraches run big or small and Nike Vapormax sizing, since both fit very differently from chunky New Balance pairs like the 9060.
New Balance 9060 Overview: How This Chunky Icon Came to Be
The New Balance 9060 didn’t just happen by accident. Back in 2021, New Balance set out to create a bold, unapologetically chunky “dad shoe”, and they handed that mission to designers James Lee and Yui Woo.
This all happened during a time when everyone was stuck at home. The two designers were working miles apart, collaborating remotely, and still trying to create something that felt cohesive, forward-thinking, and rooted in New Balance history.
The goal was clear: take inspiration from the past, but make it feel right for the moment.
So they went deep into the New Balance archives and pulled from two of the brand’s most important performance silhouettes:
The New Balance 990, first released in 1982 as a high-end running shoe that eventually evolved into one of the most respected lifestyle sneakers of all time
The New Balance 860, specifically the 860 V2, which debuted in 2011 as a modern performance runner and marked a shift back toward serious running tech
The 990 brought the heritage, the prestige, and the dad-shoe DNA. The 860 brought performance cues, aggressive tooling, and that early-2010s tech runner energy.
James and Yui blended those influences with ’80s running aesthetics and Y2K design language, dialing everything up to create something intentionally oversized, sculpted, and different.
The result was the New Balance 9060, officially released in July 2022.
At first, reactions were mixed. The proportions felt extreme. The heel looked massive. The design pushed past what people were used to seeing from New Balance.
But once people actually started wearing them, everything changed. On-foot, the comfort, balance, and presence made sense.
Since then, the 9060 has gone from a polarizing release to one of New Balance’s strongest modern silhouettes. Collabs sell out quickly, GRs don’t sit long, and the shoe has carved out its own lane as a true modern classic in the brand’s lineup.
Related: Wondering if the 9060 sizing translates to newer releases? Check out my New Balance 2010 fit guide to see if it runs big, small, or true to size.
How to Measure Your Feet for New Balance 9060
Even though the 9060 looks big and chunky, the fit is actually quite precise because of the amount of padding and structure inside.
Here’s the most reliable way to figure out your size, step by step.
The Best Option: Try the 9060 in Person
The absolute best way to nail your size is to try the New Balance 9060 on in-store.
Why this matters:
- The 9060 has a lot of internal cushioning, which can feel snug at first
- Trying them on lets you feel midfoot pressure, toe room, and heel lockdown immediately
- You can walk around, check stability, and see how the shoe feels after a few minutes on foot
- Even a short try-on tells you more than any size chart ever could.
Get Measured by a Fitting Professional
If the 9060 isn’t available in-store, getting measured by a trained fitter is the next best thing.
A professional will:
- Measure length, width, and arch length, not just shoe size
- Check how your foot spreads when you stand
- Help you understand whether you should stay true to size or adjust based on foot shape
This is especially helpful for people with wide feet, high arches, or flat feet.
How to Measure Your Feet Using a Brannock Device
If you have access to a Brannock device, use it correctly for accurate results.
How to do it:
- Stand up with socks on
- Place your heel firmly in the back cup
- Put your full weight on the foot being measured
- Read the length at the longest toe
- Slide the width bar to the widest part of your foot
- Check the arch length as well (often overlooked but important)
- Measure both feet and use the larger measurement
That number is your true size and the best starting point for New Balance 9060 sizing.
How to Measure Your Feet at Home
If you can’t get to a store, measuring at home still works if you do it carefully.
What you need:
- Paper
- Pen or pencil
- Ruler or tape measure
- The socks you plan to wear with the 9060
Steps:
- Measure at the end of the day when your feet are slightly swollen
- Place paper on the floor against a wall
- Stand with your heel touching the wall and full weight on your foot
- Trace your foot with the pen held straight up
- Measure from the wall to the longest toe
- Measure the widest part of your foot
- Repeat with the other foot and use the larger measurement
- Compare your measurements to the New Balance size chart to find your true size.
Important Tips People Often Forget
- Time of day matters: Feet swell throughout the day, so evening measurements are more accurate
- Measure both feet: Most people have one foot slightly bigger
- Wear the right socks: Thick socks change the fit more than you think
- Don’t size down because the shoe looks big: The 9060’s bulk is visual, not length-based
- Expect a short break-in: The padding settles after a few wears
Final Thoughts
So, do New Balance 9060 run big? In my experience, not really. If anything, the 9060 is one of those rare New Balance models where true to size works for most people, which honestly isn’t something I say lightly, especially with how inconsistent sneaker sizing can be these days.
What really makes the 9060 stand out is how balanced the fit feels. It looks massive on foot, but once you put it on, it doesn’t feel sloppy or oversized.
The cushioning fills the shoe nicely, the heel stays locked in, and the toe box gives you enough room. That’s a big reason why so many people end up loving this model after actually wearing it.
If you’ve struggled with other New Balance pairs, maybe sizing down in 990s or second-guessing yourself with chunkier silhouettes, this New Balance 9060 sizing guide should give you some peace of mind.
At the end of the day, the 9060 is popular because it’s comfortable, wearable, and surprisingly easy to size. And once you get the fit right, it’s one of those sneakers you’ll keep reaching for without even thinking about it.