Hi there reader, at the moment I’m the biggest of the big guys. I’m Damien, and I’m 6’6″ and 375 lbs. Despite these facts, I also have tiny little size 12.5 feet holding it all off the ground. Needless to say, after years of wearing good looking shoes, shoes that were too tight, shoes that were too loose, twelve year old boots, and countless pairs of sandles, the bones in my feet slowly disintegrated into a loose amalgamation of dry spaghetti noodles.
This led me to the local orthopedic specialists, their digital x-ray machines, and multiple recommendations that I lose weight. Luckily, it also came with a doctor’s note to head over to New Balance and buy some supportive shoes, with supportive inserts.
Behold the New Balance 1540v2 sneaker, which comes in the snazzy grey and blue configuration pictured right, or in a black and grey configuration that I generously call my “dress shoes.” Combined with New Balance’s diabetic support inserts, they are quite simply the most supportive, comfortable and stable shoes I’ve ever owned, even if the sole is just one giant rubber snow ski.
These shoes have some definite advantages, mostly that the perforated fabric breathes, and is a straight shot through into your shoe. Stinky feet just don’t happen with these shoes, which is great. The fact that that sliver of fabric is the only thing that protects you from the elements, however, means that if you step in a deep enough puddle, you might as well not be wearing shoes at all.
Overall, I’ve been living with these shoes for six months. I liked them enough to buy both the silver and black configurations, and my feet, knees, and back have been thanking me ever since.
Pros:
- Comfortable and supportive, perfect for diabetics and people with Charcot Antropathy.
- They look pretty good, though you won’t win any crazy sneaker contests.
- Reasonable price, considering, and cheaper if you buy from New Balance and bring your doctor’s note.
Cons:
- Big and flat sole can result in poor grip in slippery conditions.
- Heavy shoes that can actually wear you out on longer walks.
- No weather protection
Verdict:
- I bought two pairs!
Updated August 2026: the New Balance 1540v2 Damien reviews above is discontinued, and it left some literally big shoes to fill. The 1540 line itself is still very much alive. Below are five current picks that cover the same ground, starting with the shoe that actually replaced his.
The New Balance 1540v2 Damien wore above is gone, and so is the 1540v3 that followed it. The line did not die with them. New Balance still sells the Fresh Foam X 1540v4, and that is the real one-for-one replacement: same 1540 motion-control idea, still Made in USA, still A5500 diabetic-coded, still available in 6E. Start there. If you want more cushion for standing on concrete all day instead, look at the Hoka Bondi 9.
The 1540v2 Is Gone. The 1540 Line Is Not.
A few readers have written in over the years asking where to find this exact shoe. Here is the answer, including the part we got wrong on the first pass at this update: we assumed New Balance had retired the whole 1540 family. Wrong. The v2 Damien bought is discontinued and the v3 that succeeded it has cleared out of most retailers, but the current model, the Fresh Foam X 1540v4, is on shelves right now at $149.95.
Part of why it looks dead is the name. The shoe lives under the Fresh Foam X banner these days, so a search for a bare “1540” can come back looking like a graveyard when the shoe is sitting in stock two clicks away.
So here are five current models that cover the same ground: wide or extra-wide sizing, enough support under a heavier frame, and a diabetic-insert-friendly fit where that matters. Nobody at Big Guy on Stuff has worn these specific pairs, so treat this as research pulled from manufacturer specs, retailer listings, and independent lab reviews, not a field test. If Damien or Tommy buys a pair, we will come back and rewrite this section around the real story.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1540v4
Price: $149.95 at Holabird Sports, up to $199.95 at specialty orthopedic retailers | Widths: D, 2E, 4E, and 6E
This is the direct descendant of Damien’s shoe and the first one you should look at. Still Made in USA. Still A5500 coded, which is the billing code that matters if you are going through Medicare’s Therapeutic Shoe Program. Still extra depth with a removable footbed, so a custom orthotic or a foot that swells by 4pm has somewhere to go.
New Balance moved it onto a Fresh Foam X midsole and kept ROLLBAR rearfoot posting for overpronation, which is roughly the job the old 1540 sole was doing when Damien called it a giant rubber snow ski. Widths run D, 2E, 4E, and 6E. That 6E is the part almost nothing else on this list can touch.
Wait, why did the 1540v2 vanish if the line is still going?
Because New Balance renumbers. The v2 became the v3, the v3 became the v4, and each time that happens the old version sells through and disappears from search results. Nothing sinister, just a product cycle that outlives most blog posts.
Worth knowing before you order, though: the v4 is not a carbon copy. Its upper is engineered knit, not the perforated mesh Damien describes above, so do not count on the exact “straight shot through into your shoe” airflow he liked. Whether that is a downgrade depends on how you felt about the puddle problem he also describes.
New Balance 990v6
Price: $199.95 | Widths: medium, wide, and extra-wide depending on retailer
Let’s be clear about what this one is not. The 990v6 is a neutral cushioned lifestyle sneaker. It is not motion control, it is not A5500 coded, and if either of those is what your doctor sent you out for, go back up to the 1540v4.
What it does well is be a properly wide, well-cushioned shoe that does not announce itself as a medical device. The Made in USA 990 line has run in wide and extra-wide for years. If I’m being honest, that matters more than we usually admit around here. A shoe you feel dorky wearing is a shoe that stays in the closet, and a shoe in the closet supports nobody’s knees.
Hoka Bondi 9
Price: $175 | Widths: wide and extra-wide for men
Hoka’s Bondi line is the maximalist-cushion option, and the 9 carries the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance, the kind of clinical sign-off that made Damien’s own doctor comfortable pointing him toward supportive shoes in the first place. It’s also HSA/FSA eligible if you’re managing a diagnosed foot condition. If your day involves standing or walking on concrete for hours, start here.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24
Price: $140 list, and widely discounted below that now | Widths: up to 4E (extra wide)
Straight talk about the generation here, because it changes what you should pay. The GTS 24 is the outgoing model. Brooks has already shipped the Adrenaline GTS 25 at $154.95, and the GTS 26 is due in the back half of 2026, which is exactly why retailers are dumping 24s well under list.
That closeout window is the reason it earns a slot. Mechanically it uses Brooks’ GuideRails system, built to stop your foot rolling side to side under load, and that stability matters more the heavier you are, since more weight means more force trying to shove your ankle around on every step. If you would rather have the current generation, the GTS 25 is the same shoe with a newer upper and about fifteen more dollars on the tag.
Topo Athletic Atmos 2
Price: $170 | Widths: standard and wide, 7.0 Wide through 15.0 Wide
Topo builds its whole line around a roomier toe box, and this shoe also comes in an actual wide on top of that. The Wide run on Topo’s product page goes from 7.0 all the way up to 15.0, so you are not stuck choosing between the width and the shape.
The toe box holds up in the lab, too. RunRepeat measured the Atmos 2 toebox at 82.0 mm against a 73.2 mm average across the 334 running shoes they’ve cut in half. Call it a centimeter of extra room right where your toes want to splay, and that is in the standard width before you go up to the Wide. This is the pick if your toes specifically feel crushed in normal shoes, separate from needing more room through the midfoot or heel.
Quick Comparison
| Shoe | Price | Widths | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Balance Fresh Foam X 1540v4 | $149.95 to $199.95 | D, 2E, 4E, 6E | The direct replacement for Damien’s 1540v2 |
| New Balance 990v6 | $199.95 | Medium to extra-wide | A wide shoe that doesn’t look orthopedic |
| Hoka Bondi 9 | $175 | Wide, extra-wide | Standing or walking all day |
| Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 | $140 list, often less | Up to 4E extra-wide | Ankle stability on a closeout budget |
| Topo Athletic Atmos 2 | $170 | Standard and wide, roomy toe box either way | Cramped toes specifically |
Diabetic and Wide-Foot Shoe Basics for Big Guys
Damien’s path to the 1540v2 went through an orthopedic specialist and a doctor’s note, and that’s still how this works for most people. A few things worth knowing if you’re starting down that road:
- The doctor’s note isn’t just a formality. If you have diagnosed diabetes with a related foot condition (neuropathy, a history of ulcers, poor circulation) and you’re on Medicare, the Therapeutic Shoe Program covers one pair of shoes and up to three pairs of inserts a year, with Part B picking up 80 percent of the cost. Your doctor has to certify the need and you have to use a Medicare-enrolled supplier.
- Look for the A5500 code on the listing. That code is how a retailer signals the shoe is built and documented to qualify as diabetic footwear. The 1540v4 above carries it. Plenty of otherwise excellent wide shoes do not, so check before you assume a claim will go through.
- Extra depth matters as much as extra width. A shoe that’s wide across the ball of the foot but shallow in the toe box will still crush a custom insert or a swollen foot. Look for “extra depth” or “diabetic” in the product description, not just “wide.”
- Break them in slowly. Damien’s cons list above mentions the flat sole wearing him out on long walks. That’s common with supportive shoes generally: the same stiffness that protects your feet also means your calves and lower back do more adjusting than they’re used to for the first couple of weeks.
Sources
- New Balance Fresh Foam X 1540v4 Made in USA – current-model confirmation, Made in USA, ROLLBAR
- Holabird Sports: New Balance 1540v4 Men’s – $149.95 price, D/2E/4E/6E widths, in-stock confirmation, engineered knit upper
- Healthy Feet Store: New Balance 1540v4 Men’s – A5500 coding, removable footbed, extra depth
- New Balance Made in USA 990v6 – product page, price and widths
- L.L.Bean New Balance 990v6 – width availability confirmation
- Hoka Bondi 9 – product specs, APMA seal, HSA/FSA eligibility
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 – product specs and width options
- RunRepeat: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 review – current-generation status
- Dick Pond Athletics: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 – $154.95 MSRP
- Topo Athletic Atmos 2 – product page, $170.00 pricing, and standard plus Wide (7.0 to 15.0) sizing
- RunRepeat: Topo Atmos 2 lab review – 82.0 mm toebox measurement vs 73.2 mm average
- Medicare.gov: Therapeutic shoes and inserts – Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Program coverage details
Got a Shoe That’s Actually Working for You?
Damien found his answer in 2017 and it lasted him years, right up until the version number rolled over and the exact shoe he loved stopped existing. If you’ve found something that holds up for your size and your feet, drop it in the comments. We’d rather build this list from real reports than spec sheets alone. And if you’ve already tried any of the five above, tell us how they actually fit. A size chart and a real heavy-set foot don’t always agree.
I have fat feet and discovered a few years ago that New Balance seems to have the best selections, wide actually means wide and is actually measured at different levels. 12 4E for me!