New Balance ABZORB 2010 Sizing: Do They Run Big, Small or True to Size?

The New Balance ABZORB 2010 runs true to size, and the toe box length is accurate, so there is no need to size up for length. Buy the size you normally wear in New Balance models made in Asia or the UK. The one thing to expect is a snug midfoot out of the box, which loosens with wear.

Do not size down. Wearers who tried half a size smaller reported a cramped toe box, and the heel already holds well at true size.

Where it fits snug and where it does not

The 2010 is not a uniformly tight shoe, which is why the reviews seem to disagree. Break it into zones:

• Toe length: accurate. You get normal room in front of your longest toe.
• Toe box sides: a big toe may lightly brush the inner wall at true size. It is noticeable, not painful.
• Midfoot: narrow and snug in a new pair.
• Heel: locked in, with no slipping reported.

The midfoot is the part that decides whether the shoe works for you. If your arch and instep are on the higher side, or your foot is wide across the middle, expect pressure there in the first few wears. That is where wide-footed buyers feel the shoe most.

Our size advice by foot type

• Average feet: true to size.
• Narrow feet: true to size. Do not go down, because the toe box is the tight part.
• Slightly wide feet: true to size, and expect the midfoot to relax.
• Very wide feet: half a size up is possible, but it adds length and leaves the toe area loose, so consider a roomier model first.

Why you should skip the 992 and 1000 habit

Many New Balance fans have trained themselves to go half a size down because the 992, the 1000, the 993 and most of the 990 series run larger. The 2010 does not belong to that group. Its toe box is not oversized, so the old habit just makes it cramped.

The 2010 sizes closest to the 860v2, the 2002R, the 1906R, the 1500 and the 991. If you are a 9 in those, you are a 9 in the 2010. If you are a 9 only after dropping from 9.5 in the 992, you should be back at 9.5 in the 2010.

Design lineage and what it means for fit

The 2010 borrows from the 990 v4, the 2002R and the 1906R in its design, which helps explain why it fits like the latter two. It lacks the dense, premium feel of the 992, and that difference is part of why it does not run large. Think of it as a lightweight runner-style shoe with a firm, fitted cut, not a cushy, roomy cruiser.

New Balance does not publish a separate fit note for each release, so these comparisons come from wearers and from the related models. Treat them as a strong guide, not a measurement.

Wide feet: what to do

The 2010 is not the easiest shoe for wide feet. The midfoot is narrow, so a wide foot has to work around it. Widths for New Balance models include D and 2E for men, with wider codes such as 4E and 6E available on some models. We cannot confirm that the 2010 is offered in each of them, and availability changes by colorway and retailer, so check the product page for a width selector.

If you wear a wide width and cannot find one, the choices are: stay at true size and give the midfoot time to relax, go half a size up only if your toes also need room, or pick a roomier New Balance model. Our wide feet guide and shoe width chart go further.

Collaborations

The WTAPS, Joe Freshgoods, Rich Paul and Kith collaborations are reported to fit the same as the regular 2010. Use the same size, and note that different materials can make the midfoot feel firmer at first.

Break-in

The midfoot tightness is the main break-in issue, and it generally eases with wear. Give the shoe several outings before judging it. Wear it for short walks first, then longer ones. If the pressure sits at one point, test a different lacing pattern, and avoid aggressive stretching, since it can damage the upper.

If the toe box irritates the big toe rather than the midfoot, break-in will not help much, and that is the sign the pair is the wrong size.

If you are between sizes

Between sizes is where most 2010 mistakes happen, so use the zone logic from above. The toe box has no spare room and the midfoot is the tight area, which means the two possible fixes pull in different directions.

When your foot sits between two sizes, take the larger one if your foot is wide across the middle, because the extra length is minor compared with the relief at the midfoot. Take the smaller one only if your foot is narrow and you are sure your toes have room, which is rare in this model. When you are unsure, the larger size is the safer error, as long as the heel still holds.

Thinking about the 2010 against your other shoes

Look at how you size in other brands before you order. Because the 2010 follows a true-to-size pattern, your measured size from the chart below is a good starting point, and your Nike or Adidas size is only a rough guide since those brands use different scales. Our brand size comparison shows how the labels line up, and the Nike sizing guide and Adidas sizing guide explain the differences.

The usual rule is that a New Balance size is close to your foot length, while Nike and Adidas labels sit a little longer than the foot. That means a person who takes a 9 in Nike often takes a 9 in New Balance too, but it is not guaranteed, so compare your measured foot length to the chart instead of trusting the number alone.

Who the 2010 suits

The 2010 suits people who like a fitted, runner-style look and have average or slightly wide feet that can handle a snug midfoot. It is also a good choice if you already wear a true size in the 2002R or 1906R and want something with a similar fit. It is a harder sell for very wide feet or high insteps, who will probably be happier in a roomier model.

If you are still undecided, order your measured size, wear the pair around the house for an hour, and make the call on the midfoot. That one test saves most returns.

Men's and women's conversion

New Balance women's sizes sit 1.5 above men's on the same row, so a men's 8 is a women's 9.5. Men's width is D at standard and women's is B, so a woman with a wider foot may prefer the men's size. See our men's to women's guide for more.

New Balance size chart

The charts are based on the New Balance size guide, copied on 2026-11-13. New Balance lists length as the foot length, so the Foot length and CM (JP) columns match.

A foot that measures 27.0 cm is a men's 9 and a women's 10.5. If your foot sits between sizes, take the larger one, because the toe box is the area where the 2010 has no extra room. For a reliable measurement, follow our foot measuring guide.

Quick checks before you keep a pair

1. Stand in the shoe and check that there is about a thumb's width in front of your longest toe.
2. Try a loose lacing over the instep. If the midfoot pressure goes away, the size is fine.
3. Walk around for a few minutes and test the heel. It should stay put.
4. Check the big toe. A gentle brush against the side is common. Pressure or numbness is not.

Mistakes to avoid

• Sizing down out of habit. The 2010 does not run large.
• Sizing up for a snug midfoot. That makes the shoe longer, not wider, and loosens the toe box.
• Judging in the first few minutes. The midfoot needs wear.

Our recommendation

Order your usual size, the one you wear in the 2002R or 1906R, and give the midfoot a few wears to settle. Go up only for very wide feet, and never down. For more on the brand, read the New Balance sizing guide or use the shoe size calculator.