I picked up a pair last month thinking they'd stay looking fresh, but the leather is already creasing like crazy around the toe box. It's not even from heavy wear - mostly just casual walking around town. Are these supposed to crease like this or did I get a bad pair? Should I be using some kind of shoe stretcher or cedar inserts to prevent it?
The 990v6 uses a pretty soft leather on the toe box, and that's actually kind of by design - it's meant to be comfortable right out of the box rather than needing a break-in period. The downside is that softer leather creases more easily, especially in that area where your foot naturally flexes when you walk. You're not getting a bad pair; this is just how the shoe ages. Most people's 990v6s look like that after a few weeks of regular wear.
The good news is creasing on leather sneakers is pretty much cosmetic and doesn't affect how the shoe functions. If you really want to minimize it, cedar shoe trees or even just basic plastic ones can help maintain the shape when you're not wearing them. Stuff them in while the shoe is still slightly damp after wear, and it'll help slow down how pronounced the creases get. You can also try leather conditioners made for sneakers - they won't stop creasing entirely, but they can keep the leather looking less dry and cracked over time. That said, honestly most people just accept it as part of owning these shoes. They're designed to be worn and lived in, not preserved in a display case.
That soft leather is doing exactly what it's designed to do - prioritize immediate comfort over looking pristine forever. You're not getting a bad pair; this is just the trade-off New Balance made with that model. The leather on the toe box is genuinely thin and supple, which means it breaks in fast and feels great right away, but it also creases readily with any flex.
Cedar inserts and shoe stretchers won't really help here because the creasing isn't about moisture or fit - it's about the material itself giving way as the shoe bends naturally when you walk. That's just leather aging. Some people embrace it as character; others prefer stiffer materials that hold their shape longer. If you hate the look, honestly, the 990v6 just might not be the shoe for you. There are other New Balance models with thicker, more structured leather that resists creasing way better, though they'll feel stiffer initially.
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