In production · trail · Trail · $110
New Balance Tektrel: 32 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 302 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 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.
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 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 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.24 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
282 g / 9.9 oz
7 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
$110
50 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
~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 lower than its median stack (36 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
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.
Asics Gel-Trabuco 13
283 g / 10.0 oz · 34 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $140
Do-it-all trail trainer with a rock plate and grippy Asicsgrip outsole.
Salomon Thundercross 2(2025)
275 g / 9.7 oz · 35 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $145
Mud-and-mixed-terrain shoe with a modern, roomier Speedcross-style fit.
Salomon S/Lab Genesis(2024)
258 g / 9.1 oz · 33 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $200
Technical-terrain racer with class-leading ground feel and grip.