Why You Should
New Balance 327 Trainer Review 2026: Worth It?
Introduction
The New Balance 327 sits in an increasingly crowded lane: sub-£60 retro trainers with enough design credibility to hold their own against trainers costing twice as much. It draws its silhouette from New Balance's 1970s running archive, updated with an EVA foam midsole and mixed suede-mesh upper that have no business looking this considered at this price point. The result is a trainer that has remained in the ASOS UK top ten search results through early 2026 without the benefit of heavy advertising — which is the kind of sustained traction that tells you something real about demand.
Spring is where the 327 makes its strongest case. The herringbone rubber outsole handles the damp pavements that define a British April, the mesh panelling breathes on the days that surprise you with warmth, and the 2026 colourway drops — sage, off-white, terracotta — are a direct match for the muted earth palette dominating UK high street windows right now. This is not a performance trainer. It will not survive a muddy park run or reward you with meaningful arch support on a ten-mile day. What it will do is carry you through the transitional weeks between winter boots and summer sandals without looking like a compromise.
The competition it faces is honest. Adidas Gazelles at a similar price point, Saucony Jazz in the same retro territory, and the ever-present Nike Air Force 1 all compete for the same buyer. What the 327 offers against each of them is a slightly more distinctive silhouette — one that reads as deliberately chosen rather than defaulted to. Whether that distinction justifies a purchase depends on a few specifics this review covers directly.
Price
The New Balance 327 retails at £54.99 on ASOS UK, placing it firmly in the budget trainer bracket without the apologetic feel that phrase sometimes carries.
At this price, the direct comparison is the Adidas Gazelle, which sits at £85–£90 on ASOS and delivers a cleaner silhouette but a thinner sole and less breathable upper. The 327 wins on sole technology and material mix at its price point — the Gazelle wins on brand legacy and a flatter, more minimal profile if that is your preference. The Saucony Jazz Original retails at around £70–£75 on JD Sports and offers comparable retro credibility with a slightly more cushioned ride, though it lacks the mixed-texture upper that gives the 327 its premium-adjacent look.
At £54.99, the 327 is worth the price. The suede-mesh construction, herringbone outsole, and EVA midsole together represent a material and engineering specification that most brands charge £70–£80 to deliver. The caveats around suede maintenance and toe box width are real, but neither constitutes a value failure at this price.
Materials and Construction
The 327 upper combines suede panels — concentrated at the toe cap, heel counter, and N logo — with breathable mesh panels along the midfoot and tongue. The suede has a short, dense nap with a matte finish; it does not feel papery or synthetic, which is the quiet surprise at this price. The mesh is fine-gauge and soft against the hand, though it picks up dirt faster than a tighter weave would.
The EVA foam midsole is low-profile and firm on first flex, measuring approximately 25mm at the heel. It does not compress dramatically, which keeps the silhouette clean but limits the plush underfoot feel some buyers expect from a lifestyle trainer. The rubber outsole carries a herringbone pattern across the full contact surface — not a partial herringbone limited to the forefoot, which is a construction decision that genuinely improves wet-pavement grip rather than just gesture at it.
Stitching at the eyelet row and toe cap edges is double-layered at stress points. The lace loops, however, are single-stitched and have attracted consistent criticism for fraying with regular use — this is the most obvious construction shortcut in an otherwise competent build. The textile lining is smooth and non-abrasive, with no raw seam edges that would cause friction on sockless wear.
Comfort
Out of the box, the 327 feels structured rather than plush. The EVA midsole offers adequate cushioning for city walking — up to six to eight hours on feet without meaningful fatigue reported by the majority of ASOS reviewers — but it does not absorb impact the way a thicker stack height would. If your spring plans involve cobblestones, long standing queues, or all-day tourist walks, the 327 will hold up adequately but will not coddle you.
The break-in period is short: the suede upper softens noticeably after three to four wears, and the toe box, which can feel close on first wear, generally accommodates a standard foot width within the first week. The heel counter is firm and holds the foot securely without digging in — no hotspot at the Achilles noted across regular wear.
Where discomfort surfaces is the arch. The insole is flat and offers no pronounced arch support, which is common at this price point but worth flagging for buyers who pronate or who have spent the winter in more supportive footwear. A standard aftermarket insole fits the 327 without crowding the toe box, and adding one resolves this issue entirely.
Fit and Sizing
The New Balance 327 fits true to UK size — order your standard size with confidence.
The single exception is buyers with wider-than-average feet: the toe box runs slightly narrow, and going half a size up resolves the snugness without creating heel slip, because the heel counter holds firmly regardless of size. Women shopping from the men's range should size down 1.5 UK sizes — a women's UK 6 corresponds to a men's UK 4.5.
Sizing is consistent across ASOS, JD Sports, and the New Balance UK website, so if you are exchanging between retailers, your size transfers without adjustment.
How to Style It
Outfit 1: The Effortless Saturday
Cream or sage 327s with wide-leg ecru linen trousers, a fitted white cotton vest, and an oversized oatmeal blazer. This is the combination UK fashion micro-bloggers have been running on TikTok through early 2026, and it works because the trainer's muted tones and chunky sole balance the volume of the trousers without competing. Add a canvas tote and the look is complete without effort.
Outfit 2: Smart-Casual for Easter Weekend
Terracotta or off-white 327s with straight-cut dark indigo jeans, a tucked-in white poplin shirt, and a camel wool-blend trench coat. The trainer's low midsole keeps proportions clean under a longer coat, and the suede detailing reads as deliberate rather than sporty. This works for a pub lunch, a family gathering, or a day in a market town.
Outfit 3: The Budget Spring Refresh
Sage 327s with a midi floral slip skirt, a plain white long-sleeve top, and a thin knit cardigan in moss green. The monochromatic green-on-green between the trainer and the cardigan is a low-effort styling trick that looks considered. At under £55 for the trainer, this entire outfit can be assembled for under £120 from ASOS, which is the point of the budget theme — the trainer does not demand expensive companions to look right.
Alternatives
Adidas Gazelle — £85–£90 at ASOS UK
Choose the Gazelle over the 327 if you want a flatter, cleaner profile and are willing to sacrifice breathability and outsole grip for a more minimal aesthetic. The Gazelle's suede quality is comparable, but its thin rubber cupsole offers less traction on wet British pavements — a meaningful trade-off in spring.
Saucony Jazz Original — £70–£75 at JD Sports UK
The Jazz Original delivers more cushioning underfoot than the 327, making it the better choice for buyers who walk long distances or stand for extended periods. It sits £15–£20 higher in price, lacks the 327's mixed-texture upper, but earns its premium with a more supportive midsole and a slightly more durable eyelet construction.
Nike Air Force 1 '07 — £84.95 at Nike UK and JD Sports
The Air Force 1 has a wider toe box than the 327, making it the clear alternative for buyers with broader feet who do not want to size up. It costs £30 more, offers a thicker Air unit midsole, and is available in a broader colour range year-round. The 327 is the more distinctive silhouette; the Air Force 1 is the safer, more universally flattering fit.
Pros
- **The suede-mesh upper delivers a premium-adjacent texture and finish that most trainers in the sub-£55 bracket do not match** — the short-nap suede has a matte, dense feel consistent with trainers priced £30–£40 higher.
- **The herringbone rubber outsole runs the full contact surface**, providing genuine wet-pavement grip rather than the partial-coverage traction patterns common on lifestyle trainers at this price.
- **The EVA midsole supports full-day city wear** — up to six to eight hours of walking without the foot fatigue associated with flatter, less cushioned retro soles such as the Adidas Gazelle's cupsole.
- **Spring 2026 colourways — sage, cream, off-white, terracotta — are a direct match for the UK spring palette** and will not look dated by the time autumn arrives.
- **Sizing is consistent and true to UK standard measurements** across all major UK stockists, removing the guesswork common with trainer purchases made online.
- **The low-profile midsole transitions cleanly from jeans to skirts to trousers** without the chunky-sole visual weight that limits more polarising silhouettes in the same retro bracket.
Cons
- **The lace loops are single-stitched at the eyelets and begin to fray with regular use**, a construction shortcut that is visible on multiple-week wear and stands in contrast to the reinforced stitching elsewhere on the shoe.
- **The suede panels require a waterproofing spray before first wear** — without it, the toe cap and heel counter absorb light rain within minutes, and this requirement is not communicated at point of sale on ASOS or JD Sports product pages.
- **The toe box runs narrow**, and buyers with wide feet will find the fit uncomfortable at true size — a known, documented pattern across ASOS reviews that New Balance has not addressed in the 327's current construction.
- **Midsole yellowing occurs with prolonged sunlight exposure** — a subset of reviewers report visible yellowing of the white EVA midsole after a full summer of regular outdoor wear, which affects the longevity of lighter colourways.
- **Suede creasing appears early on high-flex areas** — the toe cap shows visible creasing on some colourways after only three to five wears, which diminishes the trainer's photogenic quality faster than the price point might suggest.
- **The insole provides no arch support**, and buyers transitioning from winter boots with structured footbeds may experience noticeable arch fatigue until either the foot adjusts or an aftermarket insole is added.
Current Price
£54.99
Available at Asos.com
Buy It Now →Price verified as of May 25, 2026. WYS may earn a commission on purchases.
The WYS Verdict
The New Balance 327 is the most considered spring trainer available under £55 in the UK market right now. It earns its price through a mixed suede-mesh upper, a full-contact herringbone outsole, and colourways timed precisely to what British shoppers are actually reaching for in spring 2026. The suede maintenance requirement, narrow toe box, and single-stitched lace loops are real flaws, but none of them disqualify the shoe — they qualify the buyer. If you have standard-width feet, are willing to apply a waterproofing spray before first wear, and store the trainer away from direct sunlight, you will get a trainer that performs and looks well above its price bracket for a full season.
Buy it at £54.99 from ASOS if you fit a standard UK width. Size up half a size if your feet run wide. Skip it if you need arch support without insole intervention, or if the suede upkeep feels like an imposition rather than a reasonable trade-off for the material quality you are getting at this price.
Score: 7.8 out of 10
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the New Balance 327 worth buying at £54.99?
Yes — it scores 7.8 out of 10 and delivers a suede-mesh upper, herringbone outsole, and on-trend spring colourways that most trainers do not offer until the £70–£85 bracket. The main caveat is the narrow toe box, which affects buyers with wider feet more than the price point does.
Does the New Balance 327 fit true to size, and who is it best suited for?
Order your standard UK size — sizing is consistent across all major UK stockists. The exception is buyers with wide feet, who should go half a size up to avoid pressure in the toe box; the heel counter holds firmly enough that half a size up does not cause heel slip.
Do the suede panels on the 327 hold up to regular UK spring wear?
Not without preparation. Apply a suede waterproofing spray before first wear — without it, the toe cap and heel counter absorb light rain quickly, and some colourways show visible creasing on the suede after three to five wears. With spray protection applied and the trainer stored away from direct sunlight, the suede holds its condition well across a full spring season.
What is the best alternative to the New Balance 327 if it does not suit me?
The Saucony Jazz Original at £70–£75 from JD Sports is the strongest alternative for buyers who need more cushioning underfoot or find the 327's lace loop durability unacceptable. It costs £15–£20 more, lacks the mixed-texture upper, but offers a more supportive midsole and a more robust eyelet construction that holds up to daily wear without fraying.