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Best New Balance Running Shoes (August 2024)

Written on 29th August by Brandon Law Marathon Runner and Shoe Expert
175 other reviews
New Balance running shoes definitive guide 2018
New Balance Athletics, best known as simply New Balance, is one of the world's major sports footwear and apparel manufacturers. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the multinational corporation was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company. Today, the company is privately held and totaled $5.3 billion in revenue in 2022.

It's not always easy for runners to choose the best New Balance running shoe for them. Here is New balance's lineup, with our selection of the best shoes for different runners and usage.

The 6 Best New Balance Running Shoes

Keep scrolling or click on a shoe to find out why we chose it and what other shoes you should consider.

New Balance FuelCell Propel v5

Best for Daily Training
Weight: 9.7oz Drop: 6mm Carbon plate
Our Rating
8.0
Users Rating
0.0
The New Balance FuelCell Propel V5 is a daily trainer that can handle those easy runs and those long runs. And at the price of $120 USD, you are getting easily one of the best daily trainers in the...
MSRP $119.95 $119 Best price today this will redirect you to RunningWarehouse.Com

New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14

Best for Support
Weight: 10.5oz Drop: 8mm Carbon plate
Our Rating
9.0
Users Rating
0.0
The New Balance 860v14 is a moderate stability shoe built to be a daily trainer. With a rebuilt midsole that provides a stable and comfortable ride. It has become one of the leaders in the crowded...
MSRP $139.95 $139 Best price today this will redirect you to RunningWarehouse.Com

New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13

Best Max Cushioned
Weight: 9.2oz Drop: 6mm
Our Rating
9.0
Users Rating
9.0
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13 is a highly cushioned daily trainer that will feel soft and bouncy on your feet. It’s a great all-around shoe that can handle high mileage along with the...
MSRP $164.95 $129 Best price today this will redirect you to RunningWarehouse.Com

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4

Best Lightweight Trainer
Weight: 7.5oz Drop: 6mm
Our Rating
9.0
Users Rating
10
The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 is an excellent lightweight speed trainer which is perfect for any run faster than easy pace. Its new midsole which is a blend of PEBA & EVA delivers an energetic,...
MSRP $139.95 $139 Best price today this will redirect you to RunningWarehouse.Com

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8

Best for the Trails
Weight: 9.9oz Drop: 6mm
Our Rating
8.0
Users Rating
0.0
The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 is one of the most comfortable trail shoes I have tested out. They remind me of my suede worn-in work gloves that fit perfectly. I would recommend these to...
MSRP $149.95 $149 Best price today this will redirect you to RunningWarehouse.Com

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4

Best Racing Shoes
Weight: 8.1oz Drop: 4mm Carbon plate
Our Rating
8.0
Users Rating
9.3
The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 is a fun, stable long-distance racer. It has one of the softest and most cushioned rides of any super shoe but it lacks a high level propulsion. This is due...
MSRP $249.95 $249 Best price today this will redirect you to RunningWarehouse.Com

Table of content

  Our Top 6 picks for all categories
 
 
What to consider
 
 
Best for Daily Training
 
 
Best for Support
 
 
Best Max Cushioned
 
 
Best Lightweight Trainer
 
 
Best for the Trails
 
 
Best Racing Shoes
 
 
Quick questions you might have
 
 
Comments
 

An overview of New Balance technologies

While looking into New Balance running shoes, you’ll bump into a series of materials and technologies with bold but unclear sounding names. Here are the most important ones for you to know:

FuelCell
The highest energy returning performance foam, delivering a propulsive feel to help drive you forward.

Fresh Foam
A revolutionary advancement in the material that cushions the high impact foot strikes that occur on roads, tracks, courts, and fields. Informed by 3D motion captured pressure mapping and force application data gathered from real athletes.

Fresh Foam X
A midsole foam with approximately 3% bio-based content delivers the most cushioned Fresh Foam experience for incredible comfort. Bio-based content is made from renewable resources to help reduce carbon footprint.

Energy Arc
Pairs sport-specific carbon fibre plate geometry with strategic midsole voids, designed to increase stored energy to deliver a higher amount of total energy returned.

Best for Daily Training

New Balance FuelCell Propel v5

merchant logo
$120.00
$119.00
See deal   >
In short
The New Balance FuelCell Propel V5 is a daily trainer that can handle those easy runs and those long runs. And at the price of $120 USD, you are getting easily one of the best daily trainers in the market within that price range.
Pros
  • Affordable daily trainer
  • FuelCell midsole
  • Durable outsole
  • Good traction with the outsole
Cons
  • TPU plate doesn't give you the responsiveness it proclaims
  • Rocks can get stuck in between the canyon designs of the outsole
Who should buy it

If you are looking for a daily trainer that will protect your feet underfoot, the FuelCell midsole could be ideally for you because of how soft it is. And at $120 USD this is one of the few affordable shoes out there with this much quality.

Who should not buy it

This is not a shoe I would not recommend using for any particular speed workout. Although the Propel V5 has a plate within the midsole the weight of the shoe itself and the softness underfoot will not give the quality workout you need. I would highly suggest looking for a lighter and more responsive shoe instead.

Main Specs
Type
Cushioning
Weight
9.7 oz
Heel
37 mm
Carbon plate
Plate in other materials
Heel drop
6 mm
Toe
31 mm
Rating breakdown
Comfort
9.0
Build quality
8.0
Upper
7.0
Sole unit
9.0
Landing
8.0
Transition
7.0
Toe-off
7.0
Traction
8.0
Durability
8.0
Value / Price
10
Team review
Read full review

Best for Support

New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14

merchant logo
$140.00
$139.00
See deal   >
In short
The New Balance 860v14 is a moderate stability shoe built to be a daily trainer. With a rebuilt midsole that provides a stable and comfortable ride. It has become one of the leaders in the crowded stability shoe field.
Pros
  • EVA Film Technology
  • Comfort
  • Round Fit
  • Adaptive Stability
Cons
  • Can feel bulky occasionally
Who should buy it

A runner who needs a stability trainer built for everyday training

Who should not buy it

A runner who lives by the medial post when it comes to stability.

Main Specs
Type
Stability
Weight
10.5 oz
Heel
38 mm
Carbon plate
Plate in other materials
Heel drop
8 mm
Toe
30 mm
Rating breakdown
Comfort
10
Build quality
8.0
Upper
8.0
Sole unit
9.0
Landing
9.0
Transition
8.0
Toe-off
8.0
Traction
9.0
Durability
9.0
Value / Price
10
Team review
Read full review

Best Max Cushioned

New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13

merchant logo
$165.00
$129.00
See deal   >
In short
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13 is a highly cushioned daily trainer that will feel soft and bouncy on your feet. It’s a great all-around shoe that can handle high mileage along with the occasional speedier runs.
Pros
  • High cushioning
  • Comfortable and bouncy ride
  • Soft upper
Cons
  • Not stable
Who should buy it

This is a shoe for just about any runner. If you’re looking for a daily trainer that can handle just about any kind of run than look no further.

Who should not buy it

The only person that might not like this shoe is someone who is looking for a some stability. This is a shoe that has very little stability to it so it can make you feel a little unsettled on uneven terrain or tight turns.

Main Specs
Type
Cushioning
Weight
9.2 oz
Heel
37 mm
Carbon plate
No plate
Heel drop
6 mm
Toe
31 mm
Rating breakdown
Comfort
10
Build quality
10
Upper
10
Sole unit
10
Landing
9.0
Transition
9.0
Toe-off
9.0
Traction
10
Durability
9.0
Value / Price
8.0
Team review
Read full review

Best Lightweight Trainer

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4

merchant logo
$140.00
$139.00
See deal   >
In short
The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 is an excellent lightweight speed trainer which is perfect for any run faster than easy pace. Its new midsole which is a blend of PEBA & EVA delivers an energetic, engaging ride which makes it want to pick up the pace. Version 4 feels more like a speed trainer than version 3 which was slower and felt more like a daily trainer. V4 is firmer and more enjoyable for uptempo running.
Pros
  • Firmer, faster ride with significantly more energy return
  • Feels more like a speed trainer
  • Great value for money
  • Excellent breathability
Cons
  • Upper is too voluminous
  • Price increase of $10
Who should buy it

If you enjoy doing speedwork in trainers without a plate, the Rebel v4 is a great choice. If you want a similar ride to the SuperComp Elite v4 but with natural transitions and more ground feel, the Rebel v4 is also a great choice.

Who should not buy it

If you’re looking for a workhorse daily trainer for mostly easy runs, the Rebel v4 is not the shoe for you. If you want a stiff, plated speed trainer for long runs, the Rebel v4 is also not for you.

Main Specs
Type
Lightweight
Weight
7.5 oz
Heel
999 mm
Carbon plate
No plate
Heel drop
6 mm
Toe
999 mm
Rating breakdown
Comfort
9.0
Build quality
9.0
Upper
6.0
Sole unit
9.0
Landing
9.0
Transition
9.0
Toe-off
9.0
Traction
9.0
Durability
7.0
Value / Price
10
Team review
Read full review

Best for the Trails

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8

merchant logo
$150.00
$149.00
See deal   >
In short
The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 is one of the most comfortable trail shoes I have tested out. They remind me of my suede worn-in work gloves that fit perfectly. I would recommend these to anyone, from the trail runner looking for a daily trainer, to the trail runner and also to the hiker that needs a good overall comfortable shoe. It's one of those shoes that will please many.
Pros
  • Comfortable
  • Great traction
  • Stable
Cons
  • Long laces
  • Upper absorbs water
Who should buy it

The ideal situation for this shoe is a hard one to pinpoint. I can honestly say it could work for anyone. The perfect scenario would be, for the runner who takes them out on various terrains. These terrains would include dirt paths, gravel paths, roots, and technical downhills.

Who should not buy it

It’s not for the individual with a wider foot. The upper material makes them snug but does offer some room for breathability. I would not recommend them for very rocky terrains.

Main Specs
Type
Trail
Weight
9.9 oz
Heel
38 mm
Carbon plate
No plate
Heel drop
6 mm
Toe
32 mm
Rating breakdown
Comfort
8.0
Build quality
8.0
Upper
9.0
Sole unit
7.0
Landing
8.0
Transition
8.0
Toe-off
9.0
Traction
9.0
Durability
8.0
Value / Price
8.0
Team review
Read full review

Best Racing Shoes

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4

merchant logo
$250.00
$249.00
See deal   >
In short
The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 is a fun, stable long-distance racer. It has one of the softest and most cushioned rides of any super shoe but it lacks a high level propulsion. This is due to its cushioning still being too soft and its gentle forefoot rocker which doesn't give you a big forward tipping sensation.
Pros
  • Much better, more comfortable upper than v3
  • Improved heel lockdown
  • Increased cushioning
  • Faster ride than v3
  • Durable outsole
Cons
  • Not as propulsive as other super shoes
  • Too similar to the SC Trainer
  • Heavier than v3
Who should buy it

If you’re looking for a super soft, long-distance racer with good durability, the SC Elite v4 is an option. If you want something less aggressive than other super shoes which is easier on the legs, it’s also a good option.

Who should not buy it

If you want a really stiff, aggressive and firm-riding racer, the SC Elite v4 is not the shoe for you. If you want a super lightweight racer, it’s also not for you.

Main Specs
Type
Racing
Weight
8.1 oz
Heel
40 mm
Carbon plate
Full length carbon plate
Heel drop
4 mm
Toe
36 mm
Rating breakdown
Comfort
8.0
Build quality
8.0
Upper
8.0
Sole unit
8.0
Landing
8.0
Transition
8.0
Toe-off
8.0
Traction
8.0
Durability
8.0
Value / Price
7.0
Team review
Read full review

Quick Questions you might have

Are New Balance good running shoes?

Short answer: definitely. NB is innovating every single year in all of their ranges. Their cushioning in particular is soft and liked by many runners.

Who are some famous New Balance athletes?

In running/athletics in particular, New Balance sponsors Gabby Thomas, Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone