Our verdict

We believe that the TWO WXY V4 from New Balance is a safe pick because it satisfactorily checks all of the hoop shoe essentials. While it does not excel in any performance aspects aside from durability during our tests, it leaves no room for complaints. It works for us, and it's all that matters.

Pros

  • Sturdy outsole
  • Lighter than average
  • Resistance to toe drags
  • Fairly supportive structure
  • Well-balanced midsole
  • Suitable for outdoor use
  • Protection from painful twists
  • Stable platform

Cons

  • Not breathable at all
  • Not for wide-footers

Audience verdict

82
Good!
  • Top 29% most popular basketball shoes

Who should buy

Given all its highlights, we recommend the New Balance TWO WXY to the following:

  • basketball players who play both indoors and outdoors
  • ballers who want shoes that are durable and can last long
  • athletes who prefer a more balanced cushioning system

New Balance TWO WXY V4 buy

Who should NOT buy

Breathability was a problem for the New Balance Two WXY V4 during our test games. If you want a shoe with better ventilation at the same price point, you can go for the Jordan Zion 2 or the Nike Zoom Freak 4. If you have more dollars to spare, going for the Curry Flow 10 from Under Armour is the perfect move!

Though we don't consider the cushioning of this shoe a problem, some players might prefer their shoes to feel softer underfoot. They might be better off with shoes like the Harden Vol. 7 or the Trae Young 2, which are both from Adidas. The Harden Vol. 7, being a shoe for a big guy like James Harden, is also a wide-feet friendly pick.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 spread out

Breathability

There are visible perforations in the upper of the New Balance TWO WXY V4; however, they did not translate to breathability that we could appreciate. We felt the heat, and our feet started to feel uncomfortable as our games dragged on.

This shoe is visibly not of the same level as the Under Armour Curry 10, which scored a 5 out of 5 on our smoke test. We could only give it a 2 out of 5 simply because the smoke that we pumped into the shoe found it hard to escape through the upper material. If not for the spaces on the sides of the tongue, there would have been no escape! Yikes!

The results of our light test were also not that notable. The holes and vents did not let a lot of light pass.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 micro upper

We examined the upper material under our in-lab microscope, and we saw that there was still another layer of material underneath the visible holes. Because of this obstruction, both smoke and light were not able to easily pass through.

Are the holes just there for aesthetics? It surely felt like it!

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Breathability
Test results
TWO WXY V4 2
Average 2.5
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

During our test games, our shoes got stepped on several times. We also even dragged the toebox against the floor when we were dribbling, trying to get past our defender. Fortunately, the toebox successfully weathered all that pressure.

In the lab, even the Dremel was not able to cause significant damage. It fared better than the budget-friendly Nike Precision 6,  which did not even put up any form of resistance AT ALL (hence its score of 1 out of 5). The TWO WXY V4 truly deserved the 4 out of 5 for durability that the shoe got from us.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Toebox durability
Test results
TWO WXY V4 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 51 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

The heel padding was even more impressive. It did not only feel comfortable and secure, it felt incredibly durable as well. We could say goodbye to blisters without feeling too flimsy in the process.

Our Dremel test only confirmed our initial observations. Our high-pressure Dremel drilling did not even leave any visible mark on the heel padding. If we could give more than a perfect 5, we definitely would!

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Heel padding durability
Test results
TWO WXY V4 5
Average 3.7
Compared to 48 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

The outsole of the New Balance TWO WXY V4 did not feel too soft or too firm. Our HC durometer gave it a rating of 83.5 and it felt just right. It was firm enough to resist abrasion and it was malleable enough to enhance its bite on the floor.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Outsole hardness
Test results
TWO WXY V4 83.5 HC
Average 81.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
58.4 HC
Outsole hardness
91.0 HC

Outsole durability

Durability-wise, the outsole of this New Balance basketball shoe was truly a bomb. None of the rubbing and quick changes in direction that we did on both indoor and outdoor courts eroded the outsole. 

We subjected the outsole to our Dremel test, and we are pleased to see that it incurred a dent that was only 0.7 mm deep. This is a lot shallower than the dent we'd seen on the average basketball shoe outsole.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Outsole durability
Test results
TWO WXY V4 0.7 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 39 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Aside from being durable, the outsole was also thicker than average at 5.1 mm.

Because of these observations, we are confident to recommend this shoe for outdoor use. Its performance is even comparable to the Nike Cosmic Unity 3, which currently is among the best for outdoor use in our inventory.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Outsole thickness
Test results
TWO WXY V4 5.1 mm
Average 4.1 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
8.5 mm

Weight

Given its durability, we expected the New Balance TWO WXY V4 to be on the heavier side. We were pleasantly surprised when we saw that it was even slightly lighter than average at 13.1 ounces or 370 grams.

For sure, this shoe was never a chore to wear.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Weight
Test results
TWO WXY V4 13.05 oz (370g)
Average 13.83 oz (392g)
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.29 oz (320g)
Weight
17.46 oz (495g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

The thickness of the heel felt like the usual. True enough, our caliper measured it to be just around the average at 31.2 mm. 

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Heel stack
Test results
TWO WXY V4 31.2 mm
Average 29.3 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
23.6 mm
Heel stack
38.4 mm

Forefoot stack

Just like the heel, the forefoot did not feel extraordinary. True enough, our caliper measured its thickness to be 21.3, a figure that does not deviate significantly from the average.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Forefoot stack
Test results
TWO WXY V4 21.3 mm
Average 21.7 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
29.2 mm

Drop

Given that both the heel and the forefoot were of average thickness, we expected the drop to be just around the average, too. We were proven right when our calculations revealed that the upper is 9.9 mm. 

Now did we have problems with the average thickness of the midsole? Not at all! Quite on the contrary, we appreciated that this kind of cushioning setup gave us the right balance between compression and court feel. We gained control over our steps and got protected from impact all at the same time.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Drop
Test results
TWO WXY V4 9.9 mm
Average 7.6 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
4.0 mm
Drop
14.8 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Though it felt nowhere near the softness delivered by the Adidas Harden Vol. 7, we still did not have problems with the softness of the New Balance TWO WXY V4's midsole.

It was enough to keep us protected and pain-free as we ran up and down the court and attempted to score with multiple jump shots. Our HA durometer gave it a rating of 25.0.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Midsole softness
Test results
TWO WXY V4 25.0 HA
Average 24.8 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
11.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.6 HA

Insole thickness

The insole was removable, and it was just as thick as the average at 4.9 mm.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Insole thickness
Test results
TWO WXY V4 4.9 mm
Average 4.8 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
20.8 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

We had issues with the lateral hold that this shoe had on our feet. The medial side seemed to lack some stiffness, and our feet tended to sway a bit too far in that direction. Fortunately, this did not result in slips but it sure did lead to some wobbliness especially when we executed quick sidesteps.

Torsional rigidity

The mild flimsiness of the medial sidewalls was well compensated by the stiffness of the base. Aside from contributing a great deal to the stability of our steps, the stiff base also successfully prevented painful slips.

We manually assessed the torsional rigidity of the New Balance TWO WXY V4 in our lab, and we were just so happy to give it a well-deserved 5 out of 5.

Test results
TWO WXY V4 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Our manual lab assessments revealed that the heel had moderate stiffness. This was a good thing because it gave a secure clasp around the rearfoot without being too restrictive. We still had enough flexibility to position our feet appropriately when we had to catch the ball at unique angles. And we  still had enough stiffness to prevent ankle twisting.

Test results
TWO WXY V4 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

The width of the forefoot part of the platform is greater than usual at 119.5 mm. The above-average width of this part contributed to this shoe's stability.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
TWO WXY V4 119.5 mm
Average 114.6 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
106.2 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
122.2 mm

Midsole width in the heel

The heel part of the platform was just around the average at 91.6 mm wide.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
TWO WXY V4 91.6 mm
Average 90.2 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
80.0 mm
Midsole width in the heel
105.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

The New Balance TWO WXY V4 felt like it had the usual flexibility. We measured how much force was needed for it to bend at 90 degrees, and we saw that it needed 44.4N, which is just slightly greater than the force needed by the typical basketball shoe.

The reduced flexibility definitely helped with this shoe's stability and lockdown. If this shoe were a cage, we were sure that our feet were not going anywhere once they were placed inside the New Balance TWO WXY V4!

Test results
TWO WXY V4 44.4N
Average 39.0N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
17.6N
Stiffness
67.2N

Grip / Traction

The unique pattern etched in the outsole of this New Balance hoop shoe delivered just the right amount of grip that we needed: not too grippy that it was difficult to move, and not too smooth either that friction was reduced and slipping was likely.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 traction

Size and fit

Toebox width at the widest part

Using a caliper, we learned that the New Balance TWO WXY V4 measures 101.7 mm at the widest part of its toebox. This number is almost equal to the measurement of the typical basketball shoe. 

Given this, we can safely say that this basketball shoe is not for those with unusually wide or narrow feet. Both types of players must be willing to make size adjustments so that they can enjoy the full potential of this NB hoop shoe.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
TWO WXY V4 101.7 mm
Average 101.7 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
92.6 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
113.2 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

At the big toe, the measurement of the New Balance TWO WXY V4 did not deviate from the average. Our caliper measured this part of the shoe to be 75.9 mm wide.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
TWO WXY V4 75.9 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 54 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
71.2 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
85.1 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The TWO WXY V4 has fully gusseted construction. This design helped in ensuring a more secure foot containment. We appreciated it so much when our games became a bit more intense and our movements became more aggressive than usual.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Tongue: gusset type
Test results
TWO WXY V4 Both sides (full)

Comfort

Tongue padding

The tongue has the usual amount of padding. Through our caliper measurements, we learned that the tongue is 9.9 mm thick.

Not only did the tongue help with fit, but it also enhanced our experience of in-shoe comfort.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Tongue padding
Test results
TWO WXY V4 9.9 mm
Average 9.4 mm
Compared to 60 basketball shoes
Number of shoes
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
15.9 mm

Heel tab

The TWO WXY V4 does not have a heel tab. We also do not think it's necessary because the shoe itself was so easy to put on and take off.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Heel tab
Test results
TWO WXY V4 None

Removable insole

Because the insole was removable, it was easy for us to make space for orthotics and outer inserts that helped us perform better.

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Removable insole
Test results
TWO WXY V4 Yes