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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Select a question to "jump" to the answer, or scroll down the page to review all FAQs.
Potential Wear Testers Current Wear Testers
1. What's in it for me?
2. What is a Brannock Device?
3. Can I become sponsored by New Balance?
4. Do I need to live in the United States to be a wear tester?
5. What adult shoe sizes get tested?
6. What junior sizes get tested?
7. Can I keep the products that I test?
8. How can adult testers with smaller feet (wearing grade school size 6 or smaller) participate in the program?
9. Does it cost anything to be a wear tester?
10. How often will I get products to test?
11. What types/categories of products get tested?
12. What does NB do with my personal information?
13. Has my application been accepted?
1. What do I do now that I have received product to test?
2. How do I return test products?
3. How are testers selected?
4. What do I do if the product does not fit or isn't right for my activity?
5. Is it OK to replace the inserts that come with the test shoes and use my own?
6. Do I need to return the hang tags with the shoes?
7. I just received a new test but it is a style that I have already tested. Do I still need to complete this new test?
What's in it for me?
Testing can be fun, and you can be assured that your participation in the program will have a direct impact on the design and development of New Balance products. By using our products for the full duration of the test period and reporting your experiences, you will help us improve the quality of our products that make it to the marketplace. It is important to note you will NOT be compensated in anyway for your participation in a test beyond the use of the test product for the duration of the test period.

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What is a Brannock Device?
A Brannock Device is a foot measuring tool, which measures heel-to-arch length, heel-to-toe length and forefoot width, then converts these measurements into a suggested shoe size. New Balance uses the Brannock sizing standard as the basis for shoe sizing. That's why all applicants must have their feet measured on a Brannock Device. All New Balance Concept Stores and most footwear specialty retail stores offer this service. By knowing your Brannock as well as your preferred shoe sizes, we are better able to interpret your feedback and make informed corrections to a product.

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Can I become sponsored by New Balance?
Thank you for your interest in New Balance! Unfortunately, New Balance is no longer accepting team or event sponsorship proposals.

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Do I need to live in the United States to be a wear tester?
Though we wish it weren't the case, the Wear Test program is only open to residents of the United States. Wear Test products are prototypes, not 'finished goods', and are therefore controlled by a different set of legal protocols than the goods you purchase at a store. Unfortunately, treaty and trade restrictions currently prevent us from expanding the program beyond the borders of the USA. We do not anticipate any substantial changes to international law or treaties which would alter this restriction any time soon.

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What adult shoe sizes get tested?
We test different sizes at different stages in a shoe's product development lifecycle. In the early stages of development, we only use our sample sizes. The sample size for men is a 9.5 length and D width and for women it is a 7 length and B width. As a shoe moves forward and closer to production in the development lifecycle, we test a wider range of sizes called our extremes. The adult extreme sizes most commonly tested are: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12, 14 lengths and B, D, 2E, 4E widths for men; and 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 lengths and 2A, B, D, 2E widths for women. Don’t be discouraged if you are not one of the sizes listed above, wear tests are still conducted on nearly every size and width but at less frequency. Therefore acceptance into the program at this time is not solely dependent upon a tester's shoe length or width.

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What junior sizes get tested?
The junior sizes are categorized as infants, preschool and grade school. Like the adults, we test the junior sizes at different stages in a shoe's product lifecycle. In early stages of development, we only use our junior sample sizes. The sample sizes for an infant is a 3 length, preschool 13 length and grade school is a 4 length, all in a medium width. As a shoe moves forward and closer to production in the development lifecycle, we test a wider range of sizes called our extremes. The junior extreme sizes most commonly tested are: for infants 3, 6, 9 lengths, preschool 11, 13, 1, 3 lengths and grade school 2, 4, 6 lengths with all widths in medium, wide or extra wide. Don’t be discouraged if you child is not one of the sizes listed above, wear tests are still conducted on nearly every size and width but at less frequency. Therefore acceptance into the program at this time is not solely dependent upon a child's shoe length or width.

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Can I keep the products that I test?
You cannot keep the test products beyond the end of the test period because all tested products must undergo a visual inspection by the NB Wear Test team and may be submitted to laboratories for more tests. We store tested products for several years for reference and research purposes.

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How can adult testers with smaller feet (wearing grade school size 6 or smaller) participate in the program?
We welcome and encourage adult testers who wear smaller shoes to participate in the program by completing and submitting a Junior application, which will make them eligible to test in the Kid's category. The Junior application process is geared around parents/guardians and their minor children, and as a result, some application questions will not be directly relevant to an adult joining the program. In these instances, adult applicants should answer the questions as logically as possible. When asked for Birth Date, adult applicants should choice the oldest possible option presented in the list. When matching test shoes to adult testers, we generally try select models with more 'mature' styling and colors.

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Does it cost anything to be a wear tester?
No, it should not cost anything to be a wear tester. New Balance covers all shipping charges if you follow the instructions for returning products. If you lose the pre-paid return-shipping label, contact the Wear Test team and a new label will be sent to you.

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How often will I get products to test?
There is no way to determine how often you will get products to test. There are many reasons why people are chosen to test a particular product. Obvious criteria include shoe size, and athletic profile. However, we may also take into consideration a potential tester's shoe preferences, age, geographic location or the quality of past tests. Many factors are considered when selecting testers. Once selected, be sure to be a thorough and communicative tester and you may increase your likelihood for test assignment. Calling the New Balance Test Center will not have an impact on the frequency of your test assignments.

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What types/categories of products get tested?
The New Balance Wear Test team manages testing for all products within the New Balance brand family. For more information, see the Products section of this site.

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What does NB do with my personal information?
The information New Balance collects on applications and through test feedback is confidential and used only to assist in the research and product development process. We never share or sell your confidential information without your prior consent.

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Has my application been accepted?
Applications are reviewed and accepted on an 'as-needed' rolling basis. When we have a need for a tester with your profile, we activate your account and send you an e-mail announcing your acceptance into the program along with your user ID and password. Occasionally, some applications are declined but by-in-large pending applications are kept on file for future consideration. Remember, if you are notified that your account has been activated, there is no guarantee that you will be selected for a test.

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What do I do now that I have received product to test?
Log In to your New Balance Wear Test account and verify that the test information on the Test Verification sheet that accompanied the test product matches the information online. If it does not, or you are unable to participate in this test for any reason, please contact us immediately.

Log In to your NB Wear Test Account

  1. Go to: http://weartest.newbalance.com.
  2. Select Log In in the upper right corner of the screen above the Wear Test banner.
  3. Enter your Tester ID and password.

Starting a Test

Once logged in, the resulting page will display your New Balance Wear Test homepage, with two primary sections visible - Announcements and Current Tests.

  1. For each Current Test, there are Special Instructions that apply specifically to this test and will vary from test-to-test. Follow these instructions.
  2. There are also three opportunities to provide feedback at specified dates: Initial Feedback, Mid-Test Feedback, and Final Feedback. Note - Not all tests will require feedback at each phase.
  3. Selecting a Date in each column will open a new window/tab and link you to the appropriate feedback form.
  4. Complete and submit the feedback forms on the specified dates. Note - You can complete a feedback form at any time during the test, but we ask that you adhere to the specified dates as closely as possible.

Ending a Test

On the Product Return Date:

  1. Print your name in the spaces provided at the top of Test Verification sheet that came with your test product.
  2. On the label on the shoe box, print your name, total usage information (circle the appropriate descriptor - miles, hours, games, etc.) and your shoe size in the appropriate spaces.
  3. Put the test product and the Test Verification form back into the original shipping box (or any appropriate box if you have lost the original).
  4. Place the provided pre-paid return-shipping label over the original shipping label on the front of the box; and ship the package using the United Parcel Service (UPS). It is your responsibility to get the package to UPS.

See 'FAQ - How do I return products' for further instructions. To find a drop-off shipping location near you, visit: http://www.ups.com

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How do I return test products?
To return the test products at the end of the test period, please follow these instructions:
  1. Put the product and any associated paperwork back into the original shipping box (or any appropriate box if you have lost the original);
  2. Place the enclosed pre-paid return-shipping label over the original shipping label on the front of the original box (or any appropriate box if you have lost the original); and
  3. Ship the package using United Parcel Service (UPS).
To ship products via UPS, you may:
  • Give the package to any UPS driver;
  • Take it to any UPS Store or shipping center;
  • Take it to your place of work if UPS provides daily pick-up/drop-off service at that location; or
  • Call 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877) to arrange for a pick-up at your home (if you choose this option you will likely be charged a $10.00 fee by UPS; you will NOT be reimbursed by New Balance).
UPS will also pick up packages from many Staples stores. For more information, go to www.ups.com to find a drop-off shipping location near you.

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How are testers selected?
There are many reasons why a tester is selected to test a particular product. Obvious criteria include size, age or weight. However, we may also take into consideration a potential tester's shoe preferences, athletic profile or the quality of past tests. Once selected, be sure to be a thorough and communicative tester and you may increase your likelihood for test assignment.

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What do I do if the product does not fit or isn't right for my activity?
If the product cannot be used as expected for any reason, do NOT keep it until the end of the test period and return it unused. Instead, if the product is truly inappropriate for you to test, please contact us. We will advise you on how we would like you to proceed. If you do not follow this procedure properly, you may be removed from the program.

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Is it OK to replace the inserts that come with the test shoes and use my own?
Unless you are being asked to test inserts and/or unless the test instructions specifically direct you to not replace the inserts that come with the test shoes, it is indeed OK for you to use any insert you desire with your test shoes. Just remember to indicate on your feedback form that you used aftermarket inserts on your test.

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Do I need to return the hang tags with the shoes?
No, you do not need to return the hang tags, shoe stuffing, plastic bags or any generic paperwork. The only items that need to be returned at the end of the test are the test product and any test-specific paperwork. Everything else should be thrown away or recycled as appropriate.

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I just received a new test but it is a style that I have already tested. Do I still need to complete this new test?
While shoes from two different tests may appear to be identical, no two tests are ever the same! Shoes may have the same style number and be the same color, etc. but every test is unique in some way. The differences between seemingly identical shoes from separate tests can be subtle (ex. slightly different meshes, or lining materials) or even invisible (ex. different density midsole foams or different cements used to bond the upper to the midsole). For these and other reasons, treat every test with a open mind!

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