New Balance 574 Core
Men’s lifestyle sneaker · Grey/White listing · 574 Core family
More documented width choicesENCAP foam and polyurethane-rim midsole, suede/mesh upper and a rubber outsole.
New Balance 574 vs Adidas Samba
A comparison of the men’s New Balance 574 Core and adidas Samba Indoor, based on documented fit choices, construction, underfoot features and intended use. These are the versions associated with the supplied product listings, not every shoe sold under either name.
adidas Samba Indoor
Unisex indoor soccer shoe · Cloud White/Core Black/Vivid Red · IH6001
Purpose-built indoor outsoleLeather upper with suede overlays, EVA insole and a rubber outsole specified for indoor surfaces.
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Decision summary
Conditional recommendation
Different strengths, no trustworthy all-round score winner
The 574 Core offers explicitly listed standard, wide and extra-wide fits, along with a specified ENCAP midsole. The Samba Indoor has the clearer use-specific advantage if you need a shoe with an outsole designed for indoor soccer surfaces. Neither construction sheet establishes which will feel better for a particular foot.
574 Core scoreNot scored
Samba Indoor scoreNot scored
Score differenceNot applicable
Recommendation confidenceInsufficient for an overall winner
Common Verified Coverage and Ranking Stability are not reported because no aggregate scoring model was used. Important real-world outcomes cannot be inferred reliably from the available construction details.
Strongest documented 574 advantage
Multiple manufacturer-listed widths, which can matter more than any material difference when a standard fit does not work.
Strongest documented Samba advantage
An indoor-specific rubber outsole and manufacturer-described indoor-soccer purpose.
Quick decision table
| Decision area | New Balance 574 Core | adidas Samba Indoor | Practical edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width selection | Standard D, Wide 2E, X-Wide 4E on cited men’s model | Regular fit stated; no separate width selector on cited product page | 574 for documented fit options |
| Shoe purpose | Lifestyle shoe with hybrid road/trail roots | Indoor soccer shoe designed for flat indoor surfaces | Depends on activity |
| Underfoot build | ENCAP foam midsole with polyurethane rim | EVA insole; midsole construction not directly comparable from cited information | No proven comfort winner |
| Upper | Suede and mesh | Leather with suede overlays | Depends on material preference |
| Outsole | Rubber, with 5% recycled rubber documented | Rubber specified for indoor surfaces | Samba for its stated indoor purpose |
| Published shoe mass | 380 g on the cited men’s 574 Core page, reference size not stated | Comparable manufacturer figure not found | Unknown, not scored |
Why the evidence does not support one winner
The deciding differences concern different needs. Multiple width options are useful when fit is the main constraint. An indoor-specific outsole matters when indoor soccer is the requirement. Neither benefit can be given a universal importance for someone choosing a casual sneaker without knowing their fit and intended activity.
Also, ENCAP describes the 574’s midsole while the Samba’s listed EVA component is an insole. These are not interchangeable measurements of cushioning. There is no matching, verified mass figure for the Samba, and neither listing supplies controlled comfort, traction or durability test results. A numerical gap would depend more on invented assumptions than documented differences.
1. Fit options and sizing
Fit is a practical requirement rather than a bonus specification. The available widths and the manufacturer’s sizing advice are more informative than the shape of the shoe alone.
| Specification | New Balance 574 Core | adidas Samba Indoor | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit options shown | Standard D, Wide 2E and X-Wide 4E | Regular fit; width-specific alternatives not shown on the cited listing | 574 has more documented ways to select width. |
| Men’s size labels shown | US 4 through 18 on cited style listing | Paired men’s/women’s US labels, approximately M 4 through M 13.5 on cited listing | Check the exact selected variant; a listed size is not a stock guarantee. |
| Sizing advice | Manufacturer notes this model runs small and suggests considering a size up | Manufacturer recommends usual size | Guidance differs; it does not predict an individual's fit. |
| Closure | Laces | Laces | Effectively tied for adjustment method. |
Documented edge: New Balance 574 Core for width selection.
The official 574 width menu is a tangible advantage for someone needing a nonstandard width. It does not prove that every person with wide feet will find it more comfortable, nor that the Samba cannot fit them.
2. Intended activity and outsole
The sole’s stated purpose matters most when the shoes will be used on a specific surface.
| Specification | New Balance 574 Core | adidas Samba Indoor | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model positioning | Versatile lifestyle shoe; the 574 design traces to hybrid road/trail use | Indoor soccer model in the Samba family | Different documented roles, not a direct quality ranking. |
| Outsole material | Rubber | Rubber | Same broad material category; compound and grip performance unverified. |
| Surface-specific description | No dedicated indoor-court outsole designation on cited product page | Rubber outsole specified for indoor surfaces | Samba is the documented purpose-specific option for indoor courts. |
| Outsole recycled content | 5% recycled rubber stated | Not established by cited sources | One confirmed material claim versus unknown, not a scored absence. |
Conditional edge: adidas Samba Indoor when indoor soccer is required; neither shoe has a proven all-surface traction advantage.
An indoor-specific design indicates intended suitability, but it does not establish superior real-world grip without comparable testing. The 574’s road/trail heritage should not be confused with a current technical trail-running specification.
3. Underfoot construction
Midsole and insole features describe different layers beneath the foot. Their names cannot reliably tell you which feels softer or more supportive.
| Specification | New Balance 574 Core | adidas Samba Indoor | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midsole specification | ENCAP: soft foam with a durable polyurethane rim | Comparable midsole structure not detailed in cited IH6001 specifications | ENCAP is verified for the 574, but the undocumented counterpart is not a zero. |
| Insole specification | Specific insole construction not established | EVA insole documented | One known component does not prove a superior feel. |
| Independent lab measures | Not established here | Not established here | No verified hardness, energy return or comparable cushioning readings. |
Result: No defensible cushioning winner.
The 574 provides clearer detail about its midsole construction. The Samba lists an EVA insole. Both facts are useful, but comparing separate layers as if they were a single performance test would be misleading.
4. Upper materials and construction
Upper materials affect care needs and design, but material names alone cannot prove comfort, airflow or long-term wear.
| Specification | New Balance 574 Core | adidas Samba Indoor | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper materials | Suede and mesh; New Balance states that this style contains cow leather | Leather upper with suede overlays | Mesh panels versus predominantly leather construction may guide personal preference. |
| Lining | Exact lining composition not verified for cited men’s style | Synthetic lining | Missing detail is not evidence of inferior materials. |
| Shoe mass | 380 g stated for cited men’s ML574EVG page; reference size not specified | Comparable verified figure unavailable | No valid lighter-shoe determination. |
| Waterproof rating | Not established | Not established | Neither should be presented as waterproof on this evidence. |
Result: Materials differ, but the specifications do not show an overall quality winner.
Suede requires care on either model. The presence of mesh on the 574 should not be treated as a measured breathability advantage, just as leather on the Samba does not prove higher durability.
Which should you choose?
Choose New Balance 574 Core if...
- You want to select from documented D, 2E and 4E width options.
- You want a lifestyle shoe with a specified ENCAP midsole structure.
- You prefer its suede-and-mesh upper construction.
Choose adidas Samba Indoor if...
- You specifically need an outsole described for flat indoor soccer surfaces.
- You prefer the Samba Indoor’s low-profile, soccer-oriented design.
- You want a leather upper with suede overlays and a documented EVA insole.
If neither purpose is decisive, the best next step is to try the correct size and width of both shoes. Physical fit can outweigh construction differences for everyday use.
What could change the decision?
An indoor-soccer requirement makes the Samba Indoor the purpose-matched option. A need for a listed wide or extra-wide fit moves the choice toward the 574 Core. If both pass your fit check and the use is simply casual wear, personal preferences become important, and the available specifications alone cannot resolve them.
No weight-sensitivity percentage is reported because scoring construction details that lack comparable measurements would create an artificial winner.
How we calculated the scores
No numerical SpecFit Scores were calculated for this comparison. The verified differences describe separate fit options, shoe components and intended activities, but they do not provide common measurements of comfort, fit quality, durability or traction. Assigning percentage weights to those unmatched attributes would give a misleading impression of precision. Documented suitability is therefore presented as a conditional decision rather than a point total.
Our scoring approach generally considers practical usefulness, thresholds and diminishing returns instead of simply counting specifications. Where evidence cannot support comparable utility scores, a numerical result is withheld. Read more here.
What the specifications cannot tell you
The cited information cannot establish individual comfort, a secure fit on your foot, measured cushioning, comparative grip on wet floors, long-term outsole wear or material aging. A shoe’s specified construction does not guarantee these outcomes. Size guidance and inventory can also vary by region, color and selected listing. This comparison concerns the 574 Core and Samba Indoor identified above, not the Samba OG, Samba XLG or every 574 variant.
Sources
- New Balance: 574 Core, men’s style ML574EVGManufacturer details for fit widths, sizing note, ENCAP, materials, rubber outsole and listed mass.
- adidas: Samba Indoor Soccer Shoes, IH6001Exact white, black and red model, official fit guidance and size labeling.
- AuthenticSoccer: adidas Samba Indoor IH6001 product specificationsSame model’s leather/suede upper, synthetic lining, EVA insole and indoor rubber outsole.
- Ubuy: New Balance men’s 574 Core listingConfirms the supplied New Balance ASIN is associated with a men’s 574 Core listing; the manufacturer's specifications take precedence.
- Amazon: adidas unisex Samba Indoor listingIdentifies the supplied adidas ASIN as Samba Indoor rather than Samba OG; used for identity only.