In production · road · Daily / Long run · $130
New Balance Fresh Foam X Evoz v4: 32 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 286 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for daily, long run, at a target pace of 7:30–10:00 /mi on road.
The midsole is Fresh Foam, tuned firm (2/5 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.
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 8 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. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. 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 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
301 g / 10.6 oz
26 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
32 mm
4 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
8 mm
2 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$130
30 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
2 / 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.
Adidas Duramo 10
292 g / 10.3 oz · 32 mm · 9 mm drop · — · $60
Adidas Duramo 10: 32 mm heel stack, 9 mm drop, 292 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Adidas Response 2
301 g / 10.6 oz · 32 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $70
Adidas Response 2: 32 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 298 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Asics Jolt 4
268 g / 9.5 oz · 32 mm · 9 mm drop · — · $60
Asics Jolt 4: 32 mm heel stack, 9 mm drop, 259 g — specs from independent lab testing.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX
257 g / 9.1 oz · 31 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $180
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX: 31 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 261 g — specs from independent lab testing.