I recently tried on the New Balance ABZORB 2000.
This isn’t a full long-term review, but I wanted to jot down some quick impressions as a personal note after trying them on.
What I prioritize when buying shoes
First, a bit of context on what matters to me when I buy shoes:
Can I walk 20,000 steps without my feet hurting?
At work, I walk about 20,000 steps a day.
For reference, the average adult male walks around 5,000 steps, so I walk roughly four times as much as most people.
Because of that, I’m quite particular when it comes to shoes.
When I evaluate a pair, I mainly look at three things:
- Cushioning – Essential for reducing strain on your feet and knees.
- Responsiveness – Helps convert each step into forward motion. A good bounce can make a big difference during long walks.
- Stability – A secure fit, especially around the heel, prevents wasted energy and keeps your gait efficient. Loose or unstable shoes tire you out faster.
Here’s what I felt after comparing them with the following New Balance models
Here are the models I’ve used previously.
• CM996
• M2040 V1
• M998
• WR993
• MR993
• M990 V5
• 2002R
• M990V3
• 991v2
• 990v6
Cushioning
Great
The cushioning runs from the heel all the way to the toe, and it feels evenly padded throughout the shoe.
There’s also a noticeable elastic bounce in the midsole, which makes the step feel lively.
Because of that softness and rebound, some people might feel that the shoe is slightly less stable compared with firmer models.
Responsiveness
Great
The Responsiveness is strong, and you can feel the energy return through the forefoot, especially around the ball of the foot.
In terms of responsiveness, it honestly felt comparable to the New Balance 990v6, which is one of the few models I consider capable of handling 20,000 steps comfortably.
Stability
This is the one downside
The shoe doesn’t give a strong lockdown feeling around the foot.
Because of that, there’s a bit of side-to-side movement, which might lead to fatigue during long walks.
Since the shoe has such strong rebound, I think it would have benefited from a more structured upper or stronger lockdown.
Perhaps separating the upper into more structured panels could have improved the fit and stability.
However, considering the price point, that kind of construction might be difficult to achieve.
Overall impressions
Overall, I think the New Balance ABZORB 2000 is a good shoe.
Personally, I didn’t buy it because the design isn’t really my style.
That said, the cushioning and responsiveness left a strong impression.
Even though the stability isn’t perfect, the shoe still feels like it has the potential to handle very long walking days, possibly even close to 20,000 steps.
I also upload New Balance review videos on YouTube.
Thank you for reading until the end.
