New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5 Review: 6 Comparisons

Article by Jeff Beck

New Steadiness Recent Foam X Extra v5 ($155)

Introduction

New Steadiness’s largest highway shoe’s fifth iteration reclaims its spot as an actual max cushion shoe amongst a sea of max cushion footwear available on the market. I personally missed out on the v4, however reviewed the v3 a couple of years in the past, and whereas it was an enormous 29/33 stack peak in 2021, that’s borderline racing flat standing now. The behemoth v5 has gained about an oz., although it’s additionally considerably wider and taller (+6mm front and back), now driving a full 40mm beneath the forefoot and 44mm beneath the heel. Even if you happen to don’t like tremendous tender and cozy footwear, if you happen to’d like one thing that makes you virtually two inches taller, look no additional.

Professionals:

This model of Recent Foam X is extremely tender.Additional large platform retains the shoe surprisingly secure.Engineered mesh higher has a relaxed match with out being sloppy.Rocker geometry helps the shoe from feeling too sluggish, regardless of its cushioning.These of us 5’11” of us can legitimately hit 6’ tall.Outsole provides sufficient sturdiness and grip.Toebox width is ample.

Cons:

Not a lot flex or give with that thick of a midsole.The legal guidelines of physics exist, so a shoe with this a lot girth goes to tip the scales fairly onerous.I’m a sucker for a heel pull tab, and there isn’t one.Makes an odd squishing noise on some tougher surfaces.

Stats

Spec Weight: 11.3 oz / 321g US9.5

Pattern Weight: males’s 11.74 oz / 333g US 10.5,

Prior Model Weight: males’s 10.86 oz / 308g US 10.5

Stack Peak: males’s 44mm heel / 40mm forefoot ( 4mm drop spec)

Platform Width: 107mm heel / 94mm midfoot / 130mm forefoot (v3 103mm heel / 88mm midfoot / 121mm forefoot)

$155 out there now US

First Impressions, Match and Higher

The Recent Foam Extra v5 virtually seems like a photoshopped picture in actual life – it seems like a standard shoe, simply greater proportions. The general quantity of the midsole places nearly every part else available on the market to disgrace, and photos actually don’t do it justice. Step in really feel is excellent, as this model of Recent Foam X is among the many softest midsoles round, or not less than it’s when there’s this a lot of it.

The match isn’t fairly performance-centric tremendous dialed in, neither is it free and sloppy for a devoted straightforward day shoe, although I’ve slightly-wider-than-average width ft, so narrow-footed runners could discover them just a little free. The toebox has just a little little bit of give, but it surely’s large sufficient by itself deserves that almost all runners will most likely have zero consideration both method.

The engineered mesh higher is borderline plush. It’s received a tender really feel to the contact, and never a lot give to it, so it holds the foot properly regardless of a scarcity of overlays. The tongue is gusseted so it isn’t going anyplace, and it’s received loads of tender thickness to stop any form of lace chew. You possibly can crank down on the laces with out feeling particular person strain, and the laces have good grip on themselves. There’s not a lot of a heel counter to talk of, just a bit inside reinforcement, however the shoe doesn’t really feel flimsy. The collar has some delicate padding to assist maintain the foot planted, and it does it’s job with out digging into the ankle. I wouldn’t thoughts a heel pull tab, however the shoe opens up sufficient it’s not onerous to get on with out one.

In the end it’s a kind of uppers that’s like a prime notch offensive lineman within the NFL. In case you aren’t excited about it and it doesn’t stand out in any method, that’s the hidden indication it’s truly nice. However finally this shoe is all concerning the midsole.

Midsole & Platform

I haven’t taken a math class in about 20 years so I can’t run the numbers to calculate the precise quantity of the midsole, but it surely’s secure to say that if it isn’t the only largest general midsole of any highway shoe available on the market, it’s within the prime 5. There’s a lot cushioning underfoot, and it’s extremely tender cushioning as properly, if it wasn’t for the supremely large platform they’d be some stage of unstable. Fortuitously, New Steadiness did make the shoe wider than earlier than, so whereas there’s loads of give, I didn’t discover I used to be terrified of rolling an ankle or one thing comparable.

There’s just a little chart/diorama on the insole detailing the icon change for Recent Foam, exhibiting the 5 iterations relationship again to its inception, together with the caption “Reshaping cushioning since 2014”. New Steadiness hasn’t given any info on what modifications have been made to Recent Foam/Recent Foam X over time, however that is undoubtedly the softest taste they’ve made.

The forefoot rocker helps the shoe’s efficiency fairly a bit, maintaining it from feeling like operating in sand. It’s not as pronounced as others, however there’s just a bit little bit of geometry to assist your ft get via the gait cycle – however extra on that beneath.

Outsole

New Steadiness cut up the outsole into two massive patches, leaving loads of uncovered midsole in an try to attempt to avoid wasting weight. They stored practically full protection alongside the medial and lateral sides, which I respect as a supinator. Sturdiness of the rubber is ok, and even the sturdiness of the uncovered midsole is healthier than anticipated. It’s been exceptionally dry so I haven’t had a chance to attempt them in moist situations, however the kind of rubber looks as if traction could be enough within the moist.

Trip, Conclusions and Suggestions

With a lot extremely tender Recent Foam X, you doubtless have an concept of precisely how the shoe rides, and also you most likely aren’t fallacious. The extremely tender and secure platform has an exceptionally tender touchdown, however there’s not an excessive amount of vitality return to talk of. The rocker geometry helps just a little, as I discussed above it’s not a sluggish shoe, but it surely’s doubtless too far on the tender aspect of the spectrum to be a daily each day coach for almost anybody. I respect an extremely plush journey as a lot as anybody else, however there’s a time and place for it when there’s simply a lot plush available, making this solely a straightforward day or all day kind of shoe. I may additionally see of us who spend all day engaged on their ft gravitate towards the Recent Foam Extra v5, or because the goto journey/run shoe. No matter intention, you’re going to want to need final cushioning otherwise you’re lacking the power of the shoe. It’s not remotely the quickest shoe round, but it surely may very well be probably the most comfy on the market.

Jeff’s Rating: 9.55/10

Trip (50%): 9.5 Match (30%): 10 Worth (15%): 9 Model (5%): 9

Smiles Rating: 😊😊😊😊😊

6 Comparisons

Index to all RTR critiques: HERE

New Steadiness Recent Foam Extra v3 (RTR Evaluation)

The v3 is sort of comical; its platform is a lot decrease, narrower, and firmer – and solely 3 years in the past it was fairly beefy and tender. The Recent Foam X variance is noticeably completely different as properly. The v3 is a bit more versatile than the v5, however finally I’ll take the extremely cush v5, regardless of the 25g weight bounce.

New Steadiness 1080v13 (RTR Evaluation)

Simply the clearest Large Brother/Little Brother pairing of a shoe I’ve seen, these two have tons in widespread – apart from the stack. It feels prefer it’s the identical, or not less than very comparable, execution of Recent Foam X, there’s simply rather more within the Extra. Higher match is about the identical, with the 1080 having just a little extra stretch to it. In case you just like the 1080 however desire a staggering quantity of additional squish, the FFMv5 is precisely what you need. Strong each day coach/straightforward day mixture.

Saucony Triumph 22 (RTR Evaluation)

Main paradigm shift, the Triumph 22 used to really feel tender and large, however when worn A/B towards the FFMv5, it feels virtually agency and low slung. I’m nonetheless a giant fan of the Triumph, and with PWRRUN PB it’s way more efficiency centered than the Triumph has been in a decade, however for pure consolation the New Steadiness takes the cake. Every single day coach? Triumph no query.

Brooks Ghost Max 2 (RTR Video Evaluation)

Comparable stack heights, the FFMv5 is noticeably softer and wider underfoot, with a way more dialed in match higher. The GM2 does not have practically the sink in, but it surely does have rather more bounce, and though the platform is rather more slim (virtually a centimeter on the forefoot and midfoot) it suits a lot wider and is barely 8g lighter. Comparable rocker geometry on every shoe. DNA Loft v3 continues to be a extra efficiency primarily based midsole, making the GM2 rather more versatile, however the FFMv5 is rather more comfy.

Mizuno Neo Vista (RTR Evaluation)

About the one factor that looks like the same stack peak, the Neo Vista is rather more efficiency centered with an embedded plate, narrower platform, and extra energetic journey. They’ve very comparable extremely tender landings, however the plate (and practically 2 ounces of much less weight) make for a way more energetic response than the New Steadiness. In case you’ve tried the Mizuno and would really like the simpler day model of it, the FFMv5 may very well be your shoe.

Hoka Bondi 8 (RTR Evaluation)

The king is lifeless, lengthy reside the king. Whereas the Hoka is comparable in stack and platform width, the distinction in midsole really feel is substantial. The Hoka is borderline agency, whereas additionally having some very unflattering slim elements across the arch and midfoot, simply begging to offer you some blisters after only some miles – and it’s greater than a full ounce heavier than the New Steadiness. The Bondi was the pioneer on this house, however the FFM is the significantly better execution.

Tester Profiles

Jeff Beck is the token gradual runner of the RTR lineup, and as such his viewpoints on shoe and equipment can differ from those that routinely end marathons in three hours or much less. Jeff runs 20 miles per week on roads and trails round Denver, CO (and typically on the treadmill when the climate will get an excessive amount of for a Phoenix native). Jeff solely received into operating in his 30s, consequently his profession PR’s are 4:07 for the marathon and 5K at 23:39. Jeff has completed a number of extremely marathons, from 50K as much as 50 miles, and continues to be debating if he needs to go down that highway once more.

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