In production · trail · Trail · $100
New Balance DynaSoft Nitrel v6: 27 mm heel stack, 6 mm drop, 291 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for trail, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on trail.
The midsole is Fresh Foam X, tuned very firm (1/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 27 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.
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 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. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 300 miles from the outsole, about $0.33 per mile at $100.
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
27 mm
9 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$100
60 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
1 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~300 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 Divide 5 GTX
295 g / 10.4 oz · 24 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $130
Brooks Divide 5 GTX: 24 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 286 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Salomon Pulsar Trail
280 g / 9.9 oz · 33 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $150
Salomon Pulsar Trail: 31 mm heel stack, 6 mm drop, 281 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Nike Kiger 10
263 g / 9.3 oz · 29 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $160
Nike Kiger 10: 29 mm heel stack, 5 mm drop, 261 g — specs from independent lab testing.
New Balance Tektrel
282 g / 9.9 oz · 32 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $110
New Balance Tektrel: 32 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 302 g — specs from independent lab testing.