New Balance Men's 1540 V3 Running Shoe 7N

I have been wearing the 1540 and its predecessors for nearly 20 years. I have gone through at least 30 pairs. Before this one there was the 1122 and the 1121, both in various v versions. Once before, a new version was bad. The product got bad reviews and sales tanked. They then quickly fixed the problems and came out with a v2 version. This shoe series, along with Brooks "The Beast", are the 2 best shoes for people who may have planter fasciitis, use orthotics, are overweight and/or over pronate. It is built on the New Balance S2 last which produces a straight lasted shoe with extra room in the toe box. The extra room in the toe box is a big deal for people with diabetes, neuropathy, bunions, etc. I wear these shoes every day. I keep 3 pairs in service, wearing each pair every 3 days. This allows the foam in the soles to re-expand between wearings and keeps the foam soft and cushiony much longer. I put a new pair of shoes into service every 18 months, replacing the oldest pair with new ones. I could see immediately that the 1540v3 is a whole new design from the v2. I put on the shoes and wore them around the house all evening. I immediately noticed that the shoes do not have that wonderful, soft cushiony feel that I am accustomed too with a new pair of this series of shoes. The soles are much harder and have less cushioning. The main reason I replace these shoes is when they no longer have enough cushion in them. I can tell, because my feet will to hurt badly at the end of the day. So to start out with new shoes that already have hard soles is a non-starter for me. The second thing I noticed with the v3 is that I am feeling hard pressure points through the arch support area and also along the outside edges of the shoes. I think this is caused by the combination of my orthotic inserts and the harder soles of the shoes. The pressure points were bad enough to make my feet sore after wearing them around the house for a few hours. This is also a non-starter for me. The shoes also have completely re-designed outer soles and the shoes have a more solid feel when you plant your foot and walk forward. The shoes resist rolling to the inside or outside more than the v2s. I like this more solid feel, but time will tell whether this increases or decreases foot comfort. The length of this shoe is exactly the same as the v2 model. The toe box of the v3 has a little more room in it and feels less tight on the toes. The front of the v3 toe box now points inward a little unlike the v2 model which pointed straight ahead. This crowds the outside of the toes a little and could be a problem for people who have bunions. Bunions shift the toes towards the outside of the shoes and crowd the toes against the outside of the shoes. I do have small bunions, but with the wider toe box on the v3 model, I don't think it would be a problem for me. I think this change was made to make the shoes look more stylish, but could decrease comfort for some wearers. The shoes have more padding along the sides and rear of the ankles which makes them more comfortable in those areas. I really like the new styling and colors of the gray and blue shoes. The uppers seem to be made of stronger, more durable materials that would resist staining. These are all nice improvements. The main thing I have disliked about the previous models is that they seem to wear out to quickly for a shoe in this price range. The soles lose their cushioning and the outer soles seem to be made of a soft rubber that wears away too quickly, especially in the heels. Time will tell whether the v3's will last any longer. Because of the lack of cushioning in the soles, these shoes no longer work for me. I am going to try out a pair of the Brooks Addiction 14 which worked out pretty well for me when New Balance ruined the 1122 model some years ago. I may also try out a New Balance 840v4 model. If others also find the soles too hard on the v3 model, we may be seeing a v4 coming out soon. In the mean time, I will be keeping my eye out for v2 shoes in my size and color. Update on July 2, 2021: I just saw an announcement that the 1540v4 shoes will be released in Oct. 2021. This, the V3 version, will start to show limited size availability and, shortly before the V4 is released, will be offered at big discounts. I hope the V4 goes back to a softer sole like the V2 version has. If so, I will likely start wearing them again. In other aspects, it is a very good shoe.