New Balance MC 1006 Men's Shoe Review

Overall Comfort - Score: 4.3

The plush cushioning of the MC 1006s was a standout feature of the shoe for our playtesters. Sebastian thought they felt great from the very first wear. He shared, "I did enjoy the out of the box comfort in these MC 1006s. No break-in was required, which is always a big plus for me. Overall cushioning was soft and comfortable, and I did enjoy the soft tongue and plush padding around the ankle collar. Ventilation was excellent, and I never felt that my feet would run hot in them. The fit and foot support were good for me along the midfoot and lateral sides. I did struggle, however, with the higher heel-to-toe drop, and my foot rode a little high off the ground for my liking at the heel."

Mark also praised the pillowy feel, saying, "I was treated to first class cushioning from the moment I slipped the New Balance MC 1006s on my feet. I had around three hours of light wear around work and then took them for a test drive on the indoor court later that day. From that first session on the court to the final one, cushioning was top notch under and all around my feet."

Chris found a good blend of cushioning and court feel, although it took him a couple of wears to get used to the shape of these shoes. He explained, "I found the MC 1006s comfortable on my very first wear. The shoes curve noticeably from the lateral edge to the medial tip (under my big toes), and it took a couple of wears before the shoes felt natural on my feet. At first it felt like the shoes were curving toward each other in a pigeon-toed manner while my feet splay out more. After a few wears I either got used to the feel or the shoes had molded to my feet and the way I walk. I liked the extensive use of mesh; it made the shoes breathable, comfortable and flexible. There was just enough going on under my feet, too. The arch support was sufficient to keep my arches feeling secure and safe without making the shoes too stiff through the midfoot. I liked how the cushioning helped protect my feet and joints yet I still felt connected to the court."

Granville found the MC 1006s to be a nice fit for his narrower feet. He said, "These shoes were very comfortable out of the box, and sizing was spot on. There was excellent cushioning, and my narrow feet are a great fit for these shoes, which seem a bit narrow for a D width. I did not feel any pinching or rubbing throughout my test."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.6

For the most part, our playtesters really liked the lateral stability the MC 1006s offered through the midfoot and forefoot, but some testers had an issue in the heel area. Chris had to figure out the proper lacing strategy that worked for him. He said, "These shoes moved well with my feet. They were flexible and fast, and my feet felt locked in through the midfoot and forefoot. At the heel the shoes offered too wide of a fit. I had to use the very last lace eyelet and really cinch down the laces to lock my feet in. While lacking the stiff and stable feel of some shoes, these offered enough support to keep me feeling pretty secure."

Sebastian also noted an issue with his heel slipping in his shoes. He critiqued, "Foot support and stability in the lateral parts of the shoes was good. I did notice, however, a pretty substantial heel-to-toe drop that kept my heels from feeling fully secure during aggressive movements. While it got better over time, my heels never felt fully locked in. This might not be as much of an issue for players who don't rely as much on constant aggressive movements on the court."

Granville noticed the lower fit around the ankle as well. He said, "With such a good fit and so little movement inside the shoes, I felt very stable in any position on the court. The ankle collar feels a bit low on my ankle, but once I stepped on the court I never thought about it again. I have yet to use my ankle supports, but I have no doubts there is ample room."

Mark was the only playtester who had an issue with his feet sliding laterally within the shoes during play. He shared, "Overall the MC 1006s are very stable. However, when I really put the brakes on, there was a hint of my feet sliding over the lateral side of the shoes. There wasn't enough sliding inside the shoes to inhibit my movement, but it was noticeable."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.6 / Toe Durablity - Score: 3.6

For the most part our team was impressed with how well the MC 1006s stood up to their abuse during the course of the test. Mark's pair showed very little wear at the end of the playtest. He raved, "With at least 20 hours on my pair (all on hard courts), there is quite a bit of life left in the outsoles. The toe area durability was impressive, and the mesh of the upper was well protected and never made contact with the court."

Sebastian, who is one of our most aggressive movers, was very pleased with the durability of the shoes. He raved, "I found the New Balance MC 1006s to be an extremely durable shoes -- not just the outsole but around the toe area as well. It took plenty of time to even notice some wear on them, so it is fair to say that these New Balance shoes are some of the most durable tennis shoes I have worn all year."

Echoing the others' feelings was Granville, who said, "I found these shoes very durable. I had no issues, especially considering how sticky the shoes are on the court."

On the other hand, Chris was able to wear down his pair quite quickly. He explained, "It did not take long for me to blow through the outsoles of these shoes. After nine hours on court I was completely through the outsole rubber under the big toe of my right foot. I also put some heavy wear on the toe guards of the shoes. I wore both toe guards smooth, but they held up better than the outsoles, and I have not worn through the tips of the shoes yet."

Traction - Score: 4.4

Everyone found the outsoles on the MC 1006s to be very sticky, and they offered excellent traction on the hard courts we tested them on. Granville especially liked how the traction was consistent throughout the entire test. He praised, "These shoes had very good traction and are among the stickiest shoes I've played with in recent memory. The outsoles maintain their traction, and I'm still running around the court in them."

Of a similar opinion was Chris, who shared, "I liked the level of traction offered by the MC 1006s. I was impressed at how the outsoles continued to offer grip even after I had worn sections of the tread smooth. The shoes also offered just enough give to let me slide a little out of quick stops. The little bit of give helped take some of the stress off my joints. I was really pleased with how I was covering the court in these shoes. I think the great grip from the outsole combined with the light and flexible feel to help me move at my best."

Mark liked the blend of grip and give the shoes offered. He raved, "Like many of the better tennis shoes we carry, the MC 1006s offered enough traction for me to be confident launching myself in any direction, while still providing me with just enough slip for a comfortable stop."

Sebastian also noted the great grip the outsole offered, but he actually found that it hampered him a bit when going for his aggressive slides on the hard courts. He shared, "At first I was struggling with the 1006's sticky outsole, which didn't allow me to aggressively slide into my shots. It got better over time, but it took several hours for the outsoles to lose their sticky feel. Once the outsole smoothed out a little bit it made it much easier for me to be aggressive with my movements."

Weight - Score: 4.3

Most of the testers really liked the faster feel of the MC 1006s while out on court. Chris was moving around at top speeds. He praised, "These shoes felt very light and fast on court. I think because the shoes moved so well with my feet they hid their weight well. I was able to quickly forget about the shoes and just focus on chasing down those tough to get to shots."

Mark lauded the MC 1006s in this category, saying, "This was the aspect of these shoes that was most impressive to me. At just under 15 ounces, the MC 1006s allowed me to move around the court easily, with the confidence I usually reserve for heavier tennis shoes."

Granville was also impressed. He said, "I'd call these shoes light! They are easily under my 'one pound per foot' rule."

On the contrary, while Sebastian didn't feel all that weighed down on court, he didn't find the shoes particularly light or fast. He critiqued, "These are not the lightest shoes out there, but they are definitely still light enough to allow me to efficiently move around the court without any feeling of discomfort. I wouldn't recommend the MC 1006s to someone who is looking for speedy-feeling, lightweight shoes, but I still think that players of all levels can have a great time in them."

Overall - Score: 4.0