In production · trail · Trail / Daily · $130
Comfortable mid-price trail trainer with a roomy fit.
Built for trail, daily, at a target pace of 9:30–12:30 /mi on trail.
New Balance tuned this midsole soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 36 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.
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 rocker is moderate — enough curve to smooth the roll-through without dictating your footstrike. 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 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.29 per mile at $130.
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
300 g / 10.6 oz
25 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
36 mm
Level with the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$130
30 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
~450 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.
Saucony Canyon TR 3
275 g / 9.7 oz · 36 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Road-to-trail cruiser with moderate lugs and a soft ride.
Hoka Challenger 8 Low GTX
285 g / 10.1 oz · 36 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $170
Gore-Tex road-to-trail all-rounder for shoulder-season miles.
Saucony Guide TR
315 g / 11.1 oz · 41 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Max-cushion Guide platform ruggedized with PWRTRAC lugs for light trail.
On Cloudsurfer Trail 2
287 g / 10.1 oz · 34 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $170
Cushioned, road-friendly trail shoe for mixed terrain.