In production · road · Daily / Long run · $145
Stability daily with a wide, planted platform.
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 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 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. 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
329 g / 11.6 oz
54 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
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 860 v14(2024)
298 g / 10.5 oz · 38 mm · 8 mm drop · Nylon · $145
Broad, medial-post-free stability for runners who need structure and width.
Mizuno Wave Horizon 7
334 g / 11.8 oz · 41 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $180
Mizuno Wave Horizon 7: 41 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 329 g — specs from independent lab testing.
New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v15(2025)
281 g / 9.9 oz · 40 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $145
The dependable neutral trainer with genuine width options and long outsole life.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6
303 g / 10.7 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $165
Stability daily trainer using a guidance film instead of a hard post.