You know that feeling when you find a pair of 990s for eighty bucks? It feels like you've cheated the system. Honestly, in a world where "sneaker culture" has turned buying a pair of shoes into a high-stakes stock market gamble, finding a reliable spot for a discount is a relief. That’s basically the entire appeal of Joe's New Balance Outlet. It isn't some flashy boutique in SoHo. It’s the digital equivalent of digging through a dusty clearance rack, but the rack is actually full of high-quality pigskin suede and ENCAP midsoles.
Is Joe's New Balance Outlet Actually Legit?
Let's address the elephant in the room immediately. People always ask if it’s a scam. I get it. The website looks a bit like it was designed in 2012 and never quite left. But here is the reality: Joe's New Balance Outlet is the official authorized outlet for New Balance. It’s operated by New Balance Athletics, Inc. This isn't a third-party reseller or a "gray market" site shipping knockoffs from a basement. It is the direct pipeline for overstock, end-of-season colorways, and "seconds."
Why does the name sound so casual? "Joe" is likely just a marketing persona—a friendly, everyman figure meant to represent the "average Joe" looking for a deal. It works. It feels less corporate than "New Balance Global Clearance Division."
Most of what you find there is just last year's models. If New Balance releases the Fresh Foam 1080v13, the v12s are going to end up at Joe's. That is the cycle. You aren't getting inferior quality; you’re just getting the stuff that the hypebeasts have moved on from. Occasionally, you’ll see "Factory Seconds." These are shoes with tiny cosmetic flaws. Maybe a stitch is slightly crooked or there’s a small smudge on the "N" logo. Most people can't even find the defect.
The Strategy for Finding the Best Deals
Don't just go to the site and buy the first thing you see. That’s a rookie move.
The real magic happens in the "Daily Deal" section. Every single day, they pick one specific shoe and slash the price to something borderline ridiculous. Sometimes it’s a pair of trail runners for $35. Other times, it’s a lifestyle silhouette like the 574 for half off. If you’re a runner who burns through shoes every 300 miles, this is your bread and butter.
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Why the inventory is always weird
One thing you'll notice about Joe's New Balance Outlet is that the sizing is... chaotic. You’ll find a beautiful pair of 2002Rs in size 4 and size 15, but nothing in between. That’s the nature of an outlet. They are selling what didn't sell elsewhere. If you have average-sized feet (like a Men's 9.5 or 10), you have to move fast. The popular sizes disappear within hours of a restock.
If you have wide feet, though? This is your paradise. New Balance is famous for their width options—2E, 4E, even 6E. Traditional retailers rarely stock these in bulk. Joe's often ends up with the surplus of these specialty widths. If you’ve spent your life squeezing into standard shoes, Joe's is probably the only place where you can find a performance runner that actually fits your foot without paying the full $160 MSRP.
Beyond the Shoes: The Apparel Goldmine
Everyone focuses on the sneakers. Big mistake.
The apparel section at Joe's New Balance Outlet is where the real value hides. New Balance makes some of the best running tights, heat-regulating jackets, and moisture-wicking shirts in the industry. But because people mostly care about the shoes, the clothes get marked down even more aggressively. You can often find "Heat" or "Cold" series base layers for $15 that would easily cost $50 at a big-box sporting goods store.
I’ve seen high-performance windbreakers that are perfectly fine for Chicago winters marked down to the price of a couple of burritos. It’s absurd. The styling might be a bit loud—expect a lot of neon yellows and bright teals—but if you’re just hitting the pavement at 6:00 AM, who cares what you look like?
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Navigating Shipping and Returns
Here is where the "outlet" part of the name matters. You aren't getting Amazon Prime levels of service here. Shipping isn't always free unless you hit a certain spending threshold, which is usually around $99, though they run promotions frequently.
The return policy is also a bit stricter than the main New Balance site. You generally have to pay for return shipping unless the item was defective. This is why you should know your New Balance size before ordering. If you’re a 10 in the 990v5, you’re almost certainly a 10 in the 990v6. If you’re guessing, you might end up eating $10 in shipping fees just to send them back.
The "Final Sale" Trap
Watch out for items marked "Final Sale." These are usually the rock-bottom priced items. You can't return them. Period. If you buy them and they don't fit, you’re now the proud owner of a very cheap pair of shoes that you’ll have to give to your cousin or sell on eBay. Only pull the trigger on Final Sale items if you are 100% sure about your size in that specific last.
Comparing Joe's to Other Discount Sites
You might see New Balance on sites like 6pm, Rack Room Shoes, or even Amazon. How does Joe's stack up?
- Selection: Joe's usually has the deepest inventory of "serious" running shoes (like the Vongo or the 860).
- Price: For the Daily Deal, Joe's is unbeatable. For general stock, it’s comparable to Nordstrom Rack.
- Exclusives: Occasionally, Joe's gets batches of "Made in USA" or "Made in UK" models. These are the premium, handcrafted shoes that usually retail for $200+. Finding these at an outlet is rare, but when Joe's has them, they are the best deal in the sneaker world.
How to Win at Joe's New Balance Outlet
If you want to actually save money and not just buy junk you don't need, follow a system.
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First, sign up for the email list. I know, your inbox is already full of garbage. But Joe's sends out "Flash Sale" alerts that aren't always advertised on the homepage. Sometimes it’s "Buy One Get One 50% Off" on all clearance. That is when you stock up for the year.
Second, use the filters. Don't browse the whole site. Filter by your size and your width immediately. There is nothing more heartbreaking than finding a pair of $40 Fresh Foams only to realize they only have them in size 13 Narrow.
Third, check the "Made in USA" category specifically. New Balance's domestic manufacturing is legendary for its durability. If you can find a pair of 993s or 990s on the outlet site, buy them. They will last you three times longer than a standard sneaker made with cheaper synthetic materials.
The Reality of "Seconds"
I mentioned "Factory Seconds" earlier. Don't be scared of them. In my experience, the "flaw" is often a tiny drop of glue on the midsole or a slight discoloration on the tongue that is hidden by the laces. New Balance has very high Quality Control (QC) standards. A shoe that fails their QC for a flagship store is still better than most "Grade A" shoes from cheaper brands.
If you're a "sneakerhead" who wants to display shoes in a glass case, maybe skip the seconds. But if you’re actually going to wear them? You’re going to get them dirty anyway. Why pay a $60 premium for a perfect stitch you can only see with a magnifying glass?
Actionable Steps for Your Next Order
Don't just browse aimlessly. Do this:
- Check your current runners: Look at the tag on your most comfortable pair of New Balances. Note the size, the width (D is standard, 2E is wide), and the model number.
- Sort by "Percentage Off": The site allows you to sort by the deepest discounts. Start there.
- Check the "Daily Deal": Do this every morning if you’re in the market for new kicks. It resets at midnight.
- Verify the return status: Before you hit "Checkout," double-check if any item is "Final Sale."
- Look for a coupon code: Even though it’s an outlet, third-party coupon sites sometimes have "free shipping" codes that work. It’s worth thirty seconds of Googling.
Shopping at Joe's New Balance Outlet is a bit of a hunt. It requires patience and a lack of ego regarding "this season's" colors. But for anyone who values function over fashion—or who just wants high-end lifestyle sneakers without the resale markups—it’s the most consistent value in the industry. Stop paying full price for shoes that are going to be "old" in six months anyway. The pavement doesn't care what color your shoes are.