Why You Should
New Balance 574 Core Review 2026: Worth It?
Introduction
The New Balance 574 has been circling the top of UK casual trainer searches for long enough that calling it a trend would be understating it. This is a silhouette that has outlasted multiple trend cycles and is now being styled by a demographic broad enough to include both 19-year-olds at Glastonbury and 45-year-olds on a weekend city break. The 2026 Core version refreshes the format with mesh panelling replacing sections of the previously full-suede upper, a direct response to buyers who found the older construction too warm for British festival season conditions.
The UK market for casual trainers in the £75–£100 bracket is congested. Nike Air Max 90s, Adidas Samba OGs, and Asics Gel-1130s all compete in this space, and each has a legitimate claim on a particular buyer's wardrobe. The 574 Core's case rests on three things: a retro silhouette that photographs well, cushioning that holds up across a full festival day, and a price that does not require much deliberation. Whether those three things are enough depends on the fit of your foot and how seriously you take muddy fields.
The summer 2026 colourways available exclusively through UK retailers lean towards muted pastels and blocked brights — think dusty sage, washed clay, and a clean navy with a white N. They read distinctly British-summer without veering into novelty. ASOS has the widest rotation of these exclusive shades, which explains why the trainer's 'save for later' to purchase rate at that retailer is among the highest in its price bracket.
Price
The New Balance 574 Core retails at £84.99 across all major UK stockists. At that price, it sits at the lower end of the premium casual trainer bracket, and the value holds up to scrutiny.
The most direct competitor is the Adidas Samba OG, currently retailing at £90–£100 depending on colourway and retailer. The Samba's gum sole and clean leather construction are strong arguments, but its flat EVA midsole offers significantly less cushioning than the 574's ENCAP unit. For buyers who plan to stand in a festival field for eight hours, that gap is not cosmetic. The Asics Gel-1130 retails at a similar £85–£95 range and is a closer competition on cushioning, but its chunkier silhouette is a harder sell for buyers who want a cleaner, lower-profile look.
At £84.99, the 574 Core is priced fairly. It does not undercut the competition dramatically, but it does not ask you to pay a premium for branding alone. The ENCAP midsole, the breathable mesh upper, and the durability record across multiple years of owner wear justify the number.
Materials and Construction
The upper combines perforated suede overlays with mesh panelling. The mesh is a lightweight open-weave construction positioned across the toe box and lateral midfoot, and owners consistently report it provides a measurable difference in breathability compared to the full-suede versions of the 574. The suede panels, which run along the toe cap, heel counter, and the N overlay, are mid-weight and have a slight nap texture. They do not feel waxy or plasticky, but they also absorb moisture and grime more readily than leather would.
The ENCAP midsole is a polyurethane foam shell with an EVA foam core. The polyurethane perimeter provides lateral rigidity and long-term structure; the EVA core handles cushioning. This is not the same construction as a purely EVA midsole, and the difference shows in how the shoe holds its shape after repeated wear. Long-term owners report the sole retains its geometry after two to three years of regular use, which is a meaningful durability claim for a casual trainer at this price.
The rubber outsole runs the full length of the shoe with a herringbone-adjacent tread pattern. It grips adequately on dry pavement and compacted festival ground. On wet grass or mud, grip reduces, but this is consistent with the category. The outsole stitching at the midsole join appears reinforced at the toe and heel, and verified purchasers report no sole separation after sustained wear.
Hardware is minimal: flat woven laces in a tonal or contrasting shade depending on colourway, and a heel pull tab that functions without being a design statement. The overall construction reads assembled and intentional rather than mass-produced.
Comfort
The 574 Core requires no break-in period. Owners consistently report the shoe is comfortable from the first wear, which is not a given in the suede trainer category. The ENCAP midsole accounts for most of this: underfoot cushioning is distributed across the full footbed rather than concentrated at the heel, which reduces forefoot fatigue during extended standing.
The midsole does feel firmer than rival trainers in this price range that use a full EVA stack, particularly the Nike Air Max lineage. Buyers who prefer a softer, more pillowed underfoot sensation will notice this. The firmness, however, is also what gives the 574 its responsiveness and structure: it does not compress unevenly or feel dead after four hours on your feet.
The mesh upper improves in-shoe temperature significantly in warm conditions. Multiple reviewers note that the 574 Core runs cooler than the standard 574 in warm British summer weather. The suede overlays remain in contact with the foot at the toe box, and buyers with wider feet report minor pressure at the lateral toe edge in standard D width, particularly over extended wear. The heel counter is structured without being rigid; it holds the ankle in place without creating friction.
For a full festival day across mixed terrain, the cushioning holds adequately. For cobblestone walking in towns or prolonged standing on concrete, a gel or foam insole insert would meaningfully improve comfort, particularly over four hours.
Fit and Sizing
The New Balance 574 Core runs true to UK sizing. Size as you normally would.
Buyers with wider feet should be aware that the toe box in the standard D width is on the narrower side. This is not extreme, but across verified purchase reviews, buyers who fall between standard and wide widths report pressure across the smaller toes on longer wears. The 2E wide width resolves this, but it is only available on selected colourways through New Balance direct; ASOS stocks standard width only. If width is a concern and you want an ASOS-exclusive colourway, sizing up by half a size is the pragmatic solution, though it introduces minor heel slippage for some.
Available in UK sizes 3 to 13, the 574 Core covers the full range. There are no reported fit anomalies specific to the smaller or larger end of the size run.
How to Style It
Festival ready, summer palette: Pair the dusty sage or washed clay 574 with wide-leg cream linen trousers, a white fitted vest, and an oversized khaki shirt left unbuttoned as a layer. A canvas tote in a complementary earthy tone and no jewellery beyond small gold hoops keeps the look intentional rather than assembled.
Weekend city outfit: A midi-length broderie anglaise skirt in white or ivory with a simple fitted cotton ribbed top in navy or black, with the navy colourway 574 completing the look. The retro silhouette of the trainer grounds an otherwise feminine outfit without clashing. A structured crossbody bag rather than a backpack keeps the proportions clean.
Casual everyday uniform: Straight-cut mid-wash denim jeans, a vintage-washed graphic tee tucked in at the front only, and the white-and-green or white-and-navy 574. This is the formula the trainer was built for and continues to perform best in. A lightweight bomber in a neutral colour completes it for a cooler evening.
Alternatives
Adidas Samba OG, £90–£100, available at JD Sports, ASOS, Adidas UK
The Samba is the stronger choice for buyers who prioritise a sleeker, lower-profile silhouette and plan to wear their trainers primarily on dry pavements rather than festival ground. Its flat EVA midsole underdelivers on cushioning for extended standing, but its leather upper is easier to clean and maintain than the 574's suede overlays.
Asics Gel-1130, £85–£95, available at ASOS, John Lewis, Foot Locker UK
The Gel-1130 beats the 574 Core on cushioning outright, with a GEL unit in the rearfoot that provides a softer, more forgiving landing on hard surfaces. Buyers who have existing knee or ankle discomfort will notice this difference. The tradeoff is a chunkier silhouette that is harder to dress up and a colourway selection that trends more sportswear than casual.
Nike Air Max 90, £100–£120, available at JD Sports, Foot Locker UK, Nike UK
The Air Max 90 is the softer underfoot option in this comparison. Its visible Air unit provides cushioning that the 574 Core does not match. At £15–£35 more depending on colourway, the premium is real; it is worth paying only if cushioning is your primary concern. The Air Max 90 has less retro charm and a sportier profile that some buyers find harder to integrate into non-athleisure outfits.
Pros
- The ENCAP midsole retains its structure across two to three years of regular wear, which verified purchasers cite specifically as a differentiator from EVA-only rivals.
- The mesh upper panels reduce in-shoe temperature measurably in warm conditions; multiple UK reviewers note it as a genuine functional improvement over the full-suede 574 for summer wear.
- Out-of-the-box comfort requires no break-in period, confirmed across a wide range of UK buyer reviews covering different foot shapes and sizes.
- Reinforced stitching at the outsole-midsole junction has held without separation across multiple years of owner wear reported in verified purchase reviews.
- The retro silhouette integrates across multiple outfit styles, from festival looks to smart-casual weekend dressing, without demanding a specific wardrobe context.
- The summer 2026 UK-exclusive colourways available at ASOS are well-calibrated for British summer styling and are not available on the standard New Balance global range.
Cons
- The suede overlays stain on wet or muddy ground without pre-treatment with a waterproofing spray, and owners who wore the trainer to outdoor festivals without pre-treating report significant marking that is difficult to remove.
- The ENCAP midsole feels firmer than the EVA-stack cushioning in comparable Nike trainers at this price, which buyers who prefer a softer underfoot sensation will find unsatisfying.
- The standard D-width toe box is narrow enough that buyers with wider feet report lateral toe pressure on extended wear; the 2E width that resolves this is not available on ASOS and is restricted to selected colourways on the New Balance site.
- Popular colourways sell out at ASOS without reliable restocking timelines; buyers who miss initial availability may wait weeks for their preferred shade to return.
- The rubber outsole provides adequate grip on dry and compacted surfaces but loses traction on wet grass, making it a poor choice for muddy festival conditions without prior waterproofing.
- At £84.99, the trainer costs approximately £10–£15 more than entry-level Adidas Gazelles and Pumas in the same casual trainer category, without a proportional performance advantage over those budget-adjacent rivals for buyers who do not need the ENCAP cushioning.
Current Price
£84.99
Available at Asos.com
Buy It Now →Price verified as of July 21, 2026. WYS may earn a commission on purchases.
The WYS Verdict
The New Balance 574 Core is a competent, durable, and well-priced casual trainer that performs best for buyers who want all-day cushioning in a retro silhouette and plan to wear it across festival and urban summer occasions. At £84.99, it is priced fairly against the competition, and the ENCAP midsole gives it a functional edge over flatter rivals like the Samba and Gazelle for extended standing. The suede overlays require maintenance on muddy ground, the toe box narrows out buyers with wider feet in standard width, and the midsole firmness will disappoint anyone coming from an Air Max. For everyone else, this is a trainer that earns its place in a summer rotation without demanding excessive justification.
Score: 7.8 out of 10
Buy it if you want dependable cushioning, a versatile retro aesthetic, and are willing to pre-treat the suede before festival season. Skip it if you have wider feet and cannot access the 2E width, or if you prioritise a softer underfoot feel over long-term structural durability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the New Balance 574 Core worth £84.99?
At £84.99 it sits at a fair price for what it delivers: a multi-year construction record, a breathable mesh upper, and ENCAP cushioning that outperforms the flat EVA midsoles of cheaper rivals. It scores 7.8 out of 10, reflecting genuine value undercut slightly by the narrower toe box and midsole firmness that will not suit every buyer.
Does the New Balance 574 Core fit true to size?
UK reviews overwhelmingly confirm true-to-size fit with no break-in period required. Buyers with wider feet should select the 2E width through New Balance direct rather than sizing up, as a half-size increase at ASOS introduces minor heel slippage without fully resolving toe box pressure.
Will the suede hold up at a festival?
Without pre-treatment with a suede and fabric waterproofing spray applied before wear, the suede overlays stain on wet grass and muddy ground and are difficult to clean afterwards. Owners who pre-treated report significantly better results. The mesh panels themselves are not an issue; the suede is the vulnerability.
What is the best alternative to the New Balance 574 Core?
The Asics Gel-1130, available at John Lewis and ASOS for £85–£95, is the stronger choice for buyers whose primary concern is cushioning, particularly on hard urban surfaces. Its GEL rearfoot unit provides a softer landing than the 574's ENCAP midsole, though its chunkier silhouette is less versatile across casual outfits.