New Balance 796v2 Review

New Balance has released the second iteration of the 796 series. This update comes with amazing features that can help you to perform better on the court. Not only has it got amazing features to play with but it comes with a good price point. This makes it available for all players to afford this high-performing shoe.

If you a someone who loves New Balance products and services then it’s worth checking this shoe out. You wouldn’t be disappointed. In this post, I’m going to provide you with a thorough in-depth review of the New Balance 796v2. Let’s start off with the design.

Design

Right out of the box, the design and colour scheme of the shoe is done in a simplistic way. This gives it a sleek looking and makes it attractive to wear on the court and possibly off the court. This 796v2 is ten times better looking than the New Balance 806 which has a dull design. It’s a big thumbs up from me to New Balance when it comes to the design. They did their homework very well.

Upper

Let’s take a closer look at the upper material. It is made of both synthetic and meshes upper which is going to provide you with nice comfort and feel.

This makes it fun and enjoyable to play in this shoe because you can move smoothly on the court without experiencing any pain in the forefoot area.

Also, the little holes around the upper with the combination of mesh material make it breathable. This is fantastic because it’s going to allow the moisture in the shoe to leave quickly whiles allowing fresh air inside of the shoe.

This is great at keeping your feet fresh and allows you to play in hot conditions without getting too hot.

The only downside to the upper material is the lack of durability. This may not be ideal for players who are aggressive in their movements or like to slide a lot.

Toe Box

New Balance did a great job at providing you with enough room in the toe area. This is great because your toes are going to get very comfortable and prevent you from getting any toe jamming. On top of that, you are going to get good toe box protection.

However, it’s not going to be the most durable toe box, so if you are a toe dragger then I highly recommend that you check out this in-depth post of shoes that are good at dealing with toe dragging.

Heel Counter and Ankle Support

The heel counter and ankle support come at decent height support. This is going to help keep your feet in perfect position as you move around. Also, both the heel counter and ankle support would provide you with nice comfort, support, and stability.

Tongue and Lacing System

Both the tongue and lacing system comes with the traditional system. Whiles other shoes such as Wilson Kaos Mirage comes with a one-strap lacing system which saves you time from tieing your laces all the time.

The New Balance 796v2 comes with a well-padded tongue to provide you with comfort and nice support.

This makes it comfortable and smooth to play in these shoes. On top of that, it helps to put less pressure on your forefoot.

Moreover, the tongue has a leather hole attached to it so that you can lace through. This helps to keep the tongue stable and stops it from distracting you over the course of the match.

The lacing system comes with extra lacing holes. The purpose of this is to provide you with more grip and support when you need it. Also, it would help tighten the shoe even more if you needed to.

Weight

Like I said earlier, one of the key elements of this shoe is weight. The men’s version comes around 310g whiles the women’s version comes around 260g. Having such a lightweight tennis shoe is likely to increase your speed on the court and help you to compete in today’s fast game.

Insole and Midsole

The New Balance 806 comes with a fairly decent insole which allows you to replace the insole with your preferred insole. However, I wouldn’t say it’s the best insole on the market due to the lack of cushioning.  

The midsole is made of REVlite. The purpose of this is to provide you with incredibly lightweight and decent cushioning.

It may not be the best midsole cushioning on the market when you compare it with other shoes such as NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor Pro.

Fit

Another point that makes this shoe worth buying is the fit and size. It’s a shoe that is suitable for players who have a medium, wide and extra-wide width.

The size of the shoe is perfect which means you don’t have to go either size up or down. The shoe may require some break-in period. It may take a few hours for your feet to really get used to this shoe.

Outsole

Now let’s take a closer look at the outsole. It comes with a full-length endurance rubber. This is the same material that they used in their 996v4. The purpose of this material is to provide you with excellent traction on hard courts. This helps you to move better and with more ease.

Also, it is a non-marking sole that does not leave marks on the hard court surfaces.

This helps to keep the court clean and tidy. The way the sole is designed and shaped makes it suitable for only hard court surfaces.

The only downside to the outsole is the lack of durability. It may not be able to deal with the aggressive movements and sliding on the court.

Colour Options

Not only does the New Balance 796v2 looks nice and attractive but it comes with varieties of colours to choose from. This is great because it allows you to select a shoe that suits your outfit.

Price

The last point that is worth talking about is the price of the shoe. It comes under $100 which is a fantastic price point because it gives every player the opportunity to afford this shoe. On top of that, you are going to enjoy all the wonderful features that come with it such as comfort, lightweight, and breathability.

Wrapping Up!!

Overall, the New Balance 796v2 is a great tennis shoe that you can add to your collection because it’s going to provide you with comfort, lightweight, and a nice fit. However, there are some areas that need improvements such as the lack of durability in the outsole and the cushioning. All in well, the positives of this shoe completely outweigh the negatives which make it a great shoe to check out.