In production · road · Daily / Tempo · $110
Budget-friendly FuelCell daily with a lively, rockered ride.
Built for daily, tempo, at a target pace of 7:30–10:00 /mi on road.
The midsole is FuelCell, tuned soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is above average: the midsole rebounds well without feeling unstable. 37 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 snappy at 4/5 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 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 standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 400 miles from the outsole, about $0.28 per mile at $110.
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
275 g / 9.7 oz
Level with the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
37 mm
1 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$110
50 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~400 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the New Balance line it is lighter 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 Adizero Boston 14(2025)
245 g / 8.6 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · Nylon · $165
Rod-stiffened tempo trainer that likes workouts more than easy days.
Salomon Aero Volt 2
235 g / 8.3 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · Nylon · $180
Plated road tempo shoe with a light, energetic Energy Foam midsole.
Under Armour Velociti Pro 2
252 g / 8.9 oz · 37 mm · 8 mm drop · Nylon · $160
Beaded HTPU speed trainer with a plated snap at a friendly price.
Adidas Adizero EVO SL ATR
287 g / 10.1 oz · 39 mm · 6 mm drop · Nylon · $160
Adidas Adizero EVO SL ATR: 39 mm heel stack, 6 mm drop, 264 g — specs from independent lab testing.