In production · trail · Trail / Tempo / Daily · $130
Agile door-to-trail shoe with a protective rock plate.
Built for trail, tempo, daily, at a target pace of 8:30–11:30 /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. 32 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.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
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 $0.33 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
280 g / 9.9 oz
5 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
32 mm
4 mm lower than 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
3 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~400 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.
Brooks High Point 2
270 g / 9.5 oz · 33 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $160
Nimble mountain shoe with grippy lugs and a protective plate.
On Cloudventure 3
290 g / 10.2 oz · 34 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $160
Versatile trail shoe with Missiongrip and a rock plate.
On Cloudultra 3
295 g / 10.4 oz · 32 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $190
Long-haul trail shoe with adjustable Flip-Release lacing.
Brooks Catamount 4
270 g / 9.5 oz · 34 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $180
Light trail racer with SkyVault plate propulsion.