Editor rating:
10/10 on
MICHAEL MASON-D'CROZ
User's rating:

PROS

  • Tons of cushion
  • Responsive ride
  • Supremely comfortable upper
  • Wide toebox design
  • Light for the amount of cushion

CONS

  • Outsole shows wear quickly
  • The price tag

OUR VERDICT

The New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 is super plush runner that offers a lot of features you want in a daily and high-mileage trainer. The ride is soft and quick.
SHOE INFO
Brand
Fresh Foam More v2
Model
Type
9.4 oz. (266 gr.)
Weight
165 US$
MSRP
4 mm
Heel Drop
Previous model
WHO IS IT FOR
This shoe is for any runner looking for high cushion and is tackling long miles. With only a 4mm heel-toe drop, it might be a tough shoe for beginners.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 Intro

It has become the norm for running shoe companies to offer a maximal trainer for those who want more cushion.

As long-distance racing shoes get higher and higher stacks, so too do some of the offerings from each company.

The New Balance Fresh Foam More is in line with those maximal trainers, and offers a lot to like.

At this level, the Mores will compete against the likes of Altra Paradigm, Nike Vapormax and the new React Miler, Hoka Bondi, ASICS Novablast and Skechers MaxRoad 4 Hyper.

The popularity of the higher stack daily trainer has opened things up, and allowed for greater innovation in the plush offerings.

In this case, you will find a maximal cushion shoe with a soft, breathable upper that weighs less than 10oz.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 First Impressions

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 - Pair

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 – Pair

I was very excited when I was informed that I’d be getting the More v2. I really enjoyed the v1 and still use them as a walking shoe for when I go on walks with my daughter in her stroller.

When the showed up I pulled them out and was very happy with the look. The only issue was my wife pointed out that the blue colorway looks very similar to the 880v10s I just reviewed.

But seeing as they are in the same family, I’m OK with that. The blue is vibrant and has a nice blending with black. The other colorway is the traditional black/white/gray.

When I put them on, I was impressed with the amount of cushion for just walking around, and even more so the responsiveness of the foam on my first run.

I was excited to receive them, and was still excited when I got home from that first run.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 Sole Unit

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 - Medial Side

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 – Medial Side

The first thing you’ll notice when looking at the Mores is the sole unit. It is obvious to see that it is a maximally cushioned shoe just based off the stack (33mm in the heel, 29 in the forefoot).

However, even with this amount of material New Balance was able to keep the weight of the shoe below 10oz.

The biggest savings of weight came from the outsole, where the traditional daily trainer uses a rubber material of some sort (usually blown rubber at this point), they decided to use a layer of “ground contact foam” instead.

This foam is abrasive and give good traction, although not nearly as good as a rubber material. The other drawback from this material is that this foam shows wear fairly quickly.

Now, this comes with a caveat: the wear shown did not affect the performance of the shoe at all. However, since I was only able to log 60 miles prior to writing the review, I wonder about the durability.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 - Sole

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 – Sole

The More v1 outsole lasted around 200 miles before I felt grip loss on runs, and these seemed to have better grip than the v1s, which leads me to believe they’ll last longer.

The use of the ground contact foam also give the benefit of added flexibility, which in a maximal shoe is a great feeling as you run. Above the outsole is a very thick layer of Fresh Foam X material.

This material is light, responsive and with great cushion.

With the addition of engravings on the lateral landing zone and flex grooves, the shoe is soft upon landing and flexes with your foot to transition you through your foot strike to toe-off.

The curve of the sole unit ensures an efficient foot transition and propels you forward.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 Upper Unit

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 - Close up

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 – Close up

The redesigned upper is soft and breathable. Using a double jacquard mesh, the upper gives structure to the foot while moving with your foot.

Instead of using a wire lacing system or overlays to lock your midfoot, they have designed the upper with a “Tongue Wing” cradle between the heel cup and the forefoot.

This design really your foot in, however it is also the portion of the shoe that needs the longest time to break in. For the first few runs, it was stiff and irritated my midfoot, but was great after about 10-15 miles.

The heel cup is a new design that New Balance had previously debuted with the 1080s, and it has quickly become one of my favorite heel cup designs.

Using their “Ultra Heel”, it locks the heel in using a structured heel cup, but then flaring the cup away from the achilles added comfort and ankle flexibility.

This means there was less irritation to the ankle and achilles, no matter which sock I used. As someone coming off of Achilles Tendonitis, it is something I noticed right away, and loved.

The design of the upper uses a very structured heel that locks in, then opens to a medium width midfoot and splays into a very roomy toebox.

This shape allows for a locked-in feel, while letting your toes spread to a natural position. That truly shines as you go for longer runs, as your foot is allowed to relax and spread the pain of the run out further.

For sizing, the shoe fits length true to size for my size 13s.

However, with the width of the toebox and structure of the shoe, if you have a narrow foot you may want to size down or at least try on some sizes before committing to buying them.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 Conclusion

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 - Heel

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 – Heel

The Fresh Foam More v1 was one of my favorite shoes from last year, and New Balance is quickly becoming one of my favorite running brands (if not THE favorite) at the moment.

Their Fresh Foam material is winning me over more and more with each offering they have, not to mention FuelCell. But really, what is setting them apart for me is the combination of sole unit materials and great uppers.

These technologies have separated the More v2 from other maximal offerings I’ve tried.

The update to the More v2 is a game changer for this type of shoe in my mind, and it will continue to be a shoe I’ll keep in rotation until they wear out.

When compared to the Hoka maximals I’ve tried, these are less soft, but more responsive, and have a much better upper. The width of the toebox and softness and flexbility of the upper are a step above.

To me, the biggest issue with the NB FF More v2 is the price tag. I understand why the price is set where it is, $165, due to all the material and technology going into them. However, that is a steep price to pay.

I will point out that New Balance is known for letting their shoes go on sale at different stores (on the day of writing this review Running Warehouse has them for $120), but the price can be off-putting.

I’ll say, if you are looking for a shoe that will give you all the cushion you can handle while maintaining responsiveness and a comfortable upper.

Perhaps for your marathon long runs, or you’re just wanting more protection from the road, I’d suggest these. In this case, the price is worth the pay out.

We purchased a pair of New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 from runningwarehouse using our own money. This did not influence the outcome of this review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 Price Comparison

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