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New Balance

FuelCell speed, Fresh Foam comfort, and the best width range in the sport

New Balance splits cleanly: Fresh Foam X for cushioned daily miles, FuelCell for anything fast. The SuperComp racing family is genuinely competitive with Nike, and almost everything comes in multiple widths.

How they stack up

Medians across the 41 current New Balance models we track, measured against every currently-available shoe in the catalog.

Median drop

6 mm

1 mm below the catalog median

Median stack

36 mm

Level with the catalog median

Median weight

272 g

3 g below the catalog median

Median price

$145

15 below the catalog median

Plated models

16 of 41

Carbon, nylon or rock plate

Wide toe-box

16 of 41

Wide or very-wide forefoot

Trail models

15

Off-road platforms

Price range

$75–$280

Current line

The technology

FuelCell
The PEBA-blend performance foam in Rebel and SuperComp. Very high energy return with a lively, sometimes unstable feel.
Fresh Foam X
The data-designed daily foam under the 1080 and More. Soft, wide-based and forgiving over long distances.
Energy Arc
A carbon plate combined with a hollowed void in the midsole, so the plate can flex and rebound more freely than in a solid foam block.

Fit & sizing

True to size with the widest range of actual widths (2A to 4E) available. Toe-boxes are generally accommodating.

Who it suits

Runners with hard-to-fit feet, and anyone who wants one very fast shoe (Rebel) that still handles daily miles.

Worth knowing

Quality can vary between models built in different lines, and FuelCell outsoles wear quickly.

Best New Balance for each run

Picked from the current line by the same spec-based scoring the matcher uses — no sponsorships, no commissions.

Race day

SuperComp Elite v6

Maximum return, minimum weight — for the day it counts.

New Balance SuperComp Elite v6: 40 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 190 g — specs from independent lab testing.

Weight
190 g
Drop
8 mm
Stack
40 mm
Plate
Carbon
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
5 / 5
Price
$280

Tempo

SuperComp Elite v6

Fast enough to sharpen, forgiving enough to repeat.

New Balance SuperComp Elite v6: 40 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 190 g — specs from independent lab testing.

Weight
190 g
Drop
8 mm
Stack
40 mm
Plate
Carbon
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
5 / 5
Price
$280

Long run

FuelCell Balos

Protection that holds up when the legs stop cooperating.

Big, bouncy PEBA-blend daily with a playful rocker.

Weight
270 g
Drop
6 mm
Stack
44 mm
Plate
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Response
4 / 5
Price
$170

Daily

1540 v3

The workhorse: comfortable, durable, unremarkable in the best way.

Maximum motion-control trainer with a huge, stable platform.

Weight
335 g
Drop
10 mm
Stack
32 mm
Plate
Toe-box
Wide
Sizing
True to size
Response
1 / 5
Price
$180

Recovery

Fresh Foam More v5(2024)

Soft and low-effort for the days after hard ones.

Max-stack, wide-platform cruiser for the softest possible easy miles.

Weight
298 g
Drop
4 mm
Stack
46 mm
Plate
Toe-box
Wide
Sizing
True to size
Response
2 / 5
Price
$165

Trail

Fresh Foam Hierro v9(2024)

Grip and protection once the road runs out.

Cushioned, wide-fitting trail shoe for long, moderate terrain days.

Weight
298 g
Drop
4 mm
Stack
40 mm
Plate
Rock
Toe-box
Wide
Sizing
True to size
Response
2 / 5
Price
$165

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