Discontinued · trail · Trail · $160
New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8: 37 mm heel stack, 6 mm drop, 298 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for trail, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on trail.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v9.
New Balance tuned this midsole balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 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 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 aggressive: the sole is curved and stiff enough to tip you into the next stride on its own, which saves the calf on long runs but feels strange when you slow right down. 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 runs small; most runners size up a half. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.36 per mile at $160.
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
311 g / 11.0 oz
36 g heavier than 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
$160
Level with 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 taller than its median stack (36 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 GTX
295 g / 10.4 oz · 37 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $180
Hoka Speedgoat 6 GTX: 37 mm heel stack, 5 mm drop, 289 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Asics Gel Excite Trail 2
296 g / 10.4 oz · 36 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $90
Asics Gel Excite Trail 2: 36 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 292 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Saucony Endorphin Trail
295 g / 10.4 oz · 36 mm · 4 mm drop · Rock · $180
Saucony Endorphin Trail: 36 mm heel stack, 4 mm drop, 312 g — specs from independent lab testing.
On Cloudventure 3
290 g / 10.2 oz · 34 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $160
Versatile trail shoe with Missiongrip and a rock plate.