In production · road · Daily / Long run · $145
Broad, medial-post-free stability for runners who need structure and width.
Built for daily, long run, at a target pace of 8:30–11:30 /mi on road.
The midsole is Fresh Foam, tuned soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 38 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
A nylon (or PEBA-blend) plate adds structure without the harsh stiffness of carbon. You get a firmer, more propulsive toe-off that still flexes at slower paces, which is why nylon-plated shoes double as workout and long-run shoes rather than race-day-only tools.
A 8 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. It offers real guidance through the gait cycle — useful for runners whose form collapses when tired.
The toe-box is wide, with space for the toes to spread late in long runs. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 500 miles from the outsole, about $0.29 per mile at $145.
For the foams and plates New Balance uses across its line, read the New Balance brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
298 g / 10.5 oz
23 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
38 mm
2 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
8 mm
2 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$145
15 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~500 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the New Balance line it is heavier than the brand's median (278 g / 9.8 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (36 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v15
329 g / 11.6 oz · 40 mm · 6 mm drop · Nylon · $145
Stability daily with a wide, planted platform.
Asics Gel Kayano 33
298 g / 10.5 oz · 39 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $200
Asics Gel Kayano 33: 39 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 298 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Saucony Echelon 10
305 g / 10.8 oz · 36 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $150
Neutral trainer with a wide, accommodating last for tricky feet.
Mizuno Wave Rider 29(2025)
265 g / 9.3 oz · 39 mm · 10 mm drop · Nylon · $145
Enerzy foam with a mild Wave plate — a firm-but-friendly classic daily.