In production · trail · Trail / Daily · $90
Budget trail shoe for packed paths and light terrain.
Built for trail, daily, at a target pace of 9:00–12:30 /mi on trail.
New Balance tuned this midsole balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 30 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. 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 geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot flexes easily, so the shoe adapts to slower, shorter strides. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.20 per mile at $90.
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
285 g / 10.1 oz
10 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
30 mm
6 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$90
70 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
3 / 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 lower than its median stack (36 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Salomon Pulsar
289 g / 10.2 oz · 29 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $140
Do-it-all daily trail trainer on optiFOAM at a friendlier price.
Skechers Premier Trail 2.0
290 g / 10.2 oz · 32 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $110
Cushioned budget trail shoe with Goodyear rubber traction.
Topo Athletic Pursuit 3(2025)
278 g / 9.8 oz · 32 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $160
Roomy, natural-feeling trail trainer for door-to-dirt mileage.
New Balance Shando
295 g / 10.4 oz · 30 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $100
Aggressive-lugged trail shoe with a hiking-boot attitude.