In production · road · Daily / Long run · $145
The dependable neutral trainer with genuine width options and long outsole life.
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. At 40 mm of heel stack this sits in max-cushion territory; legs stay fresher on long efforts, but the platform is tall. Combined, the ride reads as calm at 2/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 6 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. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
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
281 g / 9.9 oz
6 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
40 mm
4 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$145
15 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
2 / 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.
Adidas Adistar 4
272 g / 9.6 oz · 40 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $140
Adidas Adistar 4: 40 mm heel stack, 5 mm drop, 275 g — specs from independent lab testing.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v16(2026)
280 g / 9.9 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Dependable neutral trainer with genuine width options.
Hoka Constant
285 g / 10.1 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Accessible support trainer with a broad, 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.