New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2

The New Balance Fresh Foam Zante V2 is a neutral cushioning running shoe with a 6mm heel to toe drop. As it says on the tin, these come with New Balance's Fresh Foam midsole cushioning technology.

The description from New Balance UK is as follows;

Engineered mesh on the upper of this neutral running shoe for men eliminates the need for overlays, providing softer support, while the Fresh Foam Zante v2's bootle-like fit gives you a second skin-like feeling that's streamlined for speed.

• 6mm drop: due to variances created during the development and manufacturing processes, all references to 6mm drop are approximate
• Blown rubber outsole
• Bootie construction
• Breathable air mesh
• Engineered mesh
• No-sew material application

Mens
Weight: 244 grams / 8.6oz
Colours (UK): Black/Silver, Red/White, Black/Lime, Blue/Orange

Womens
Weight: 204 grams / 7.2oz
Colours (UK): Black/Silver, Toxic/Azalea, Azalea/Black, Dragonfly/Silver


The first thing I said when I took these shoes out of the box was 'ooooh..... pretty'. And I still stand by that. They are very good looking. So from an appearance point of view New Balance have come up with a winner. There are a few reflective elements on the shoe so that should assist a little with being seen in the dark. They have also produced a children's version of the shoe which my daughter has been testing, read about it here - New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v2 (kids).

The upper feels nice around the foot and the laces hold everything in place nicely. Incidentally the material of the laces feels different to what I have been used to in the past. They have a slight stretchy, elastic quality to them and it feel like this might assist in stopping them from undoing mid-run. Saying that I stuck with my usual method of tying double knots.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the inclusion of the Fresh Foam midsole would mean that this is a shoe with a plush, bouncy feel to it. However the Fresh Foam in this shoe differs to that found in other Fresh Foam models on offer by using convex hexagons rather than concave in some areas of the midsole. This gives the shoe a firmer and snappier response than it would have otherwise had.

For anyone used to running in a shoe like the New Balance 1080, these will feel firmer and less cosy on the foot. However, during testing I have found that as my run progresses the fresh foam retains a greater level of comfort than I would have expected with a pair of shoes that are marketed as being 'for speed'. This made me feel more comfortable about going a little further in training than I might have if they didn't have the Fresh Foam.

I was a little concerned when I had read about the mid-foot and arch on the V1 of this shoe being a little uncomfortable, but it appears that New Balance have made some adjustments to the updated version and I have had absolutely no issues with any elements of the fit.

I've also been over to my local athletics track in these shoes and I was impressed with their performance. They are nice and light so I could put in some good interval training, and I'd like to note that I didn't once think about my shoes during the track session. This is a good thing.

I found the undersole looks and feels like the rubber you'd find on a tyre and I have found this to give me a great level of grip on the roads. However, if you take it off-road, especially onto wet grass or muddy trails (like I did for a brief section during the Darent Valley 10k 2016) it will not give you the same level of grip. Quite simply, the Zante is a road shoe and that's what it does best.

So, this is a shoe that performs well on the road/track but not made for off-road running on wet grass or muddy paths. New Balance seem to have found a nice medium between a racing shoe and a standard road shoe. With this shoe I felt snappy when I needed to push the speed, while still feeling more comfortable underfoot than I would have expected from this type of shoe.

Update: 24 June2016

So two months on and I absolutely love the Zante V2. I've been using it for all of my training and racing on the roads and on the track, and I have no complaints whatsoever. As I'm still nervous about a long-term knee injury I haven't done any more than about 11km in one go, so I can't really offer any insight into what these are like on a proper long run. I very strongly suspect that when these wear out I'll be replacing these with an identical pair. Great job New Balance!

New Balance SS15 Press Day

I was lucky enough to be invited to the New Balance UK Spring-Summer 2015 press launch event at Hoxton Arches in the trendy part of the east end of London. As the title suggests, the event was held to showcase their new products for the upcoming spring and summer, it contained all of their new 'lifestyle' shoes and of course, their running shoes.

hoxton arches

I finished work and because I didn't fancy taking the tube, I ran the 6km from Westminster. Upon arrival I was greeted and then introduced to one of New Balance's professional athletes - Mark Draper and he talked me through the new updated ranges.

The standard lines

My main interest was with the update of the 1080 range and I must say that the shocking green/yellow of the V5 is one that I'd like to get my hands on when they are released.

If you have read my 1080v3 and 1080v4 blog posts you'll know that I love the v3 but I wasn't entirely happy with the changes that were made to fit around the heel of the v4. While at the event I had a chance to talk about this and discovered that the v5 is built on the same last as the v4 which means that, sadly, this particular issue will probably still exist.

The other road shoes that were of interest to me were the M1500, which is a racier shoe than I usually wear but one that I am keen to try at some point.

1080v5 mens

1080v5 womens

860v5 (stability shoe)

880v4

m1500 (sorry about the blurriness)

Fresh Foam

The updated versions of the 'Fresh Foam' range were also on show. This range is made up of the 'soft and smooth' 'Boracay' and its lower profiled and racier 'Zante' which comes with the tagline 'smooth just got fast'. They also had the updated Fresh Foam 980 trail shoes.

large fresh foam molecules

fresh foam

fresh foam boracay

fresh foam zante

fresh foam 980 trail

fresh foam 980 trail

Others

While on the subject of trail shoes, I also had a peak at the new version of the 'Leadville' 1210. I had previously tried the original on and found that they are A LOT of shoe which put me in an unusually elevated position. With the word Leadville in the name, you can tell that this is a shoe that is designed for very long runs.

1210 'leadville' (grey and green)

The last few shoes looked like they were the children's range - although this is just my assumption going by the small size of the shoes. There were options for road and trail.

636

610v4

So that's about it. I think I photographed pretty much all of the running shoes that were there. New Balance UK no longer stock the minimus range (which I understand is still produced and going strong elsewhere) so there were none of these on show.

With that done, I headed back out onto the road to continue my evening's running with a short 3km trot down to Cannon Street to catch the train home.

[7t]

New Balance 1080v4

Being such a big fan of the New Balance 1080v3, I was very happy when recieved a pair of the next generation 1080s, the v4, for review. In order to be transparent, these shoes were provided free of charge. However, all opinions expressed in this post are completely my own.

new balance 1080v4 white, blue and yellow colourway [photo:7t]

The description from the New Balance UK website is as follows:

Men's Road - New Balance 1080v4

Make running a luxurious ride with the 1080v4, a men’s shoe that combines the deluxe fit of a FantomFit upper with the stability of T-Beam and an asymmetrical heel counter. The premium cushioning of N2 in the heel and N2 Burst in the forefoot gives you exceptional response as you push off, and the no-sew material application means a snug, firm fit. The 1080v4: the stuff runners' dreams are made of.

Type: Cushioning

Weight: 292 grams (10.2 oz)

Features

• 8mm drop: due to variances created during the development and manufacturing processes, all references to 8mm drop are approximate
• ABZORB® Crash Pad allows enhanced motion control and stability within the heel
• Abzorb® Strobel Board runs full length of shoe to maximize shock absorption and comfort
• Blown rubber outsole
• No-sew material application
• Synthetic/Mesh upper

Tech Information

ACTEVA™ LITE premium lightweight midsole provides optimal resistance to compression set - 24% lighter than standard foam

N2 low-to-the-ground cushioning technology is a responsive, durable, sustainable cushioning system in a low profile execution

T-beam is a lightweight, flexible TPU shank engineered to deliver optimum torsional stability and arch support through a unique center beam design.

Essentially that all sounds very similar to the v3. The shoe retains its 8mm heel to toe drop, which seems to work well for me.

I have been wearing the New Balance 1080v3 as my main running shoe for over a year and I have had no complaints about it. The problem with liking the v3 so much is that it was going to be a hard act to follow.

The first thing I noticed with the v4 is that the tongue felt much thicker than the previous model. To me, this is neither good nor bad, just different. It is all part of the overall cosy feel of the shoe.

The second and more important change that I was immediately aware of was the fit around the heel. The v3 hugged my heel perfectly, but the v4 is a little wider. In fact it is so wide that I had to go away and do some research on different lacing methods before I could get them to fit well enough to actually go out and run in them.

So in order to make the shoe fit properly, I had to use the extra eyelets at the very top of the shoe. Once using this method of lacing I was finally able to run in them. I'm happy to say that with this issue out of the way the shoe started to feel similar to the v3, but possibly just a tad firmer underfoot.

However, I understand from reviews and other information on the internet, the v4 is not made on the same last as the v3. So it is really a different shoe rather than just an updated aesthetic design.

I sometimes feel like I'm floating on air as I run along the road. And with that in mind, I'd liken the 1080 model to a plush family car with lots of comfy suspension. They are great for a long distances, but not the greatest at negotiating tight corners at a fast pace. Don't get me wrong, I haven't lost traction, but the spongy feel isn't best suited to tight corners - For this type of course I'd maybe look for something little firmer (or stop being so picky). However, this doesn't take away the fact that I am still a huge fan of the 1080 model.

Being a good, comfy, longer distance shoe, when I do finally enter a marathon I suspect the New Balance 1080 shoes will play a huge part in my training and of course be my shoes of choice for the big day. For me the 1080v3 still has a slight edge, but once I had resolved the issue with the fit around the heel, I really got used to to feel of these shoes and really do like them.

[as I put more miles on these shoe I will probably add updates to this post]

New Balance 1080v3

The New Balance 1080v3 road shoe (part of the Autumn-Winter 2013 collection)

Before I get on with my review, here is what New Balance have to say about them -

“The 1080v3 is our premium neutral shoe offering runners comfort and protection in a lightweight frame. With N2 cushioning, ABZORB crash pad and a thin, light arch-securing FantomFit quarter the 1080v3 is a very high mileage neutral shoe.”

So what do all these fancy names mean?

ABZORB crash pad and Forefoot (“Our top of line foam. A superior blend of cushioning and compression set features with DuPont^TM Engage® and Isoprene Rubber for the ultimate ride.”)

FantomFit upper (“A skeletally engineered upper that provides ultralight support and fit. Created by fusing two extremely thin materials with a no-sew process.”)

‘T-Beam’ (“A lightweight, flexible, TPU shank engineered to deliver optimum torsional stability and arch support through a unique centre beam design.”)

N2 cushioning ("Nitrogen infused N2 technology in the heel provides premium shock absorption and smooth transition into the mid-stance")

And the rest of the spec looks like this -

Weight: Men’s - 288g, Women’s – 225g
Last: PL-1 Natural 
8mm Drop (20mm-12mm)

Price: expect to pay around £100 on the high street

When I went to the New Balance press day for the launch of their new range, the rep from NB did say that the current trend for colour schemes is for them to be on the louder side. While not the most garish shoe you'll see in this year's ranges, the blue/orange colour scheme that I have been sent certainly does stand out, and I have to admit that I am a big fan of this particular combination of colours. There are a number of other colour options including a much more discreet and primarily white shoe with touches of blue, a grey with red and a grey with orange (see below for this last one). For the ladies, the colourways are fairly similar but use shades more commonly found in the women's ranges, such as purples, pinks and lighter blues.

The shoe itself feels nice and light, and at 288g are a tad lighter than my current road shoes - the Adidas Boston 2. The sole is quite firm, but unless you're really into minimalist shoes you probably wouldn't even notice. Then again, if you were into minimalist shoes you probably wouldn't be considering these anyway. I'd say the stiffness of the sole is similar to other shoes that I have tried in this category.

Putting the shoes on, they feel cosy. Even though the sole is firm, the shoe itself is very comfortable - nice and soft. Possibly even a little bouncy. The upper is nice and soft and hugs the top of the foot nicely without being too tight. At first I thought the toe box felt a tad narrow, but then I realised I had been wearing my New Balance MT10's all day, which have a wider toe box. Now I've spent some time in the shoe, the toe box feels fine and is actually a much better fit than the Adidas Boston 2's that I had been wearing previously.

The heel-to-toe drop is something that interests me, and these come in at 8mm, which is right in-between the standard road shoe, usually around 12mm, and the minimal shoes, which tend to be 4mm right the way down to zero drop. Over the last couple of years I have tried various different drops and thicknesses of soles and my feet feel happiest at around 8mm with some cushioning, which makes these pretty much perfect.

I've been running in these since May 2013 and I absolutely love them. I can safely say that these are the best running shoes that I have owned to date. If it wasn't for the £100 price tag I would go out and buy a second pair this instant. The test pair that I was sent is in a size 9, which is probably slightly on the large side for me, however I have managed fine with them (I just wear thick socks). I have subsequently tried on an 8.5 in a running shop and I find that is a better fit for me. In standard everyday shoes I usually buy an 8, so you might find you have to go up half-a-size larger in order to get the best fit.

After two months of using these shoes they have become my go-to shoe. I haven't even considered wearing anything else for any of my road runs - My Adidas Boston 2's have been sat in the back of the cupboard ever since the 1080's arrived. I haven't had a huge amount of running shoes over the relatively short period of time I've been running, but these are without doubt my favourite.

Update January 2014: I like them so much that I have wanted to buy a second pair for ages, and it just so happens that they were reduced from £100 down to £69 in Sweatshop's January 2014 sale, so I finally picked up that second pair (in an 8.5). These are a slightly different colourway which I like even more than the original pair!

-----

Disclaimer: These shoes (the first pair) were received free of charge and I can confirm that the views here are entirely my own.
 



 

New Balance Minimus Trail Shoes

Way back at the start of the year, I received a pair of New Balance Minimus Trail shoes (MT10) to review - for the record the shoes were provided free of charge and I can confirm that the views here are purely my own.

I have had an injury that has prevented me from running for the last few months so haven't had the opportunity to really test them out. In the meantime I have been wearing them instead of my normal trainers to see how they feel in everyday life.

I'm not completely new to the world of minimal running shoes. I currently have the road version of the New Balance minimus shoe (MR10) and also the Nike Free 3.0 V3. The MT10's are the first minimal trail shoe that I have tried. Usually on trail runs I use my Adidas Kanadia TR3 shoes.

I've always liked the appearance of the MT10s and I was happy to open the box and find the colour scheme was (as above) black and yellow. If was buying these this is the exact combo I would have chosen. They feel very light (201 grams / 7oz.) and they have a 4mm heel to toe drop.

The upper has a slight stretchiness about it which helps the shoe to fit like a glove around the rear and middle areas. The toe box is slightly wider and gives my toes plenty of space to move. The one part of the upper that seems to attract a lot of attention in other reviews is the piece of rubber that goes across the forefoot. Some reviewers have reported that this section is too tight. My feeling on this is that yes, it is certainly noticeable and with thicker socks I would say it is tight. I have found the comfort level is much better if I wear a thin pair of socks with them - for the record I haven't gone as far as going sock-less because it's not something that appeals to me. After wearing them a few times it does seem less noticeable and I find the shoes really comfortable.

As you'd expect from a minimal sole (made by Vibram), it is much thinner than a normal run-of-the-mill running shoe. The tread pattern is a lot less agressive than my only other pair of trail shoes (Adidas Kanadia TR3). This doesn't mean that they won't perform as well once I get onto the muddy and stony terrain at a few different parkrun courses to test them properly.

My initial feelings on the shoe are that I like it. I've been wearing them around the centre of London - so not quite on their intended terrain, but they are very comfortable - sometimes when I get home I just leave them on because I can't bear to take them off. I hope that I'm nearing the end of my break from running so I will hopefully be able to let you know how they feel during a run soon.

Update 8 June 2013:

After finally running in the shoes I can report that they performed well and I certainly noticed the difference to wearing my other trail shoes - The minimal sole made me much more aware of the variations in the surface underfoot. I ran on an all-grass/dirt path route, and as the weather had been dry the ground was firm. The piece of rubber across the forefoot did not cause me any discomfort, so that is good news.

I think the choice to run in a pair of shoes like these ultimately comes down to what the individual runner wants out of their footwear. If you are looking for better ground feel than a standard shoe but still want a certain amount of protection from objects that could hurt your foot these should certainly be on your list of shoes to try. I'm still on the fence about whether I prefer minimal shoes or those with more cushioning.

I'll continue to wear these shoes when I run off-road and hopefully I'll come across some muddier conditions at some point in the next few months.

(there may be another update once I find the muddy conditions)

New Balance Minimus Road (MR10)

After months of reading about minimalist and barefoot running, I have finally coughed up the cash and bought a pair of running trainers that fall somewhere between the standard everyday running shoe that we are all used to and the more extreme barefoot-style running shoe.

My choice was New Balance Minimus Road. They certainly feel different to my first running shoes (Adidas Adistar Ride 2). The big thing for me, rather than the minimalist/barefoot aspect, has been to find a shoe that doesn't have a large heel-to-toe drop. My current Adidas trainers have a whopping 14mm difference between the height of the heel and the forefoot/toes. These shoes have 4mm difference, I'm interested to see the difference.

New Balance Minimus Road (MR10)

Update June 2013:

These shoes have a nice wide toe-box and give a firm ride. If you like your foot strike to be accompanied by some nice cushioning, these shoes are not going to be for you. If you want to try a minimal shoe but would like a softer ride, one of the Nike Free shoes might be a sensible alternative.

Saying that, I think they are a very nice looking pair of shoes and although they are not really my go to shoe, I do occasionally slip them on for a bit of firm semi-minimalistic running.

Adidas Kanadia TR3 Trail Shoes

These were my first pair of trail shoes. I chose them because Adidas shoes seem to fit me feet pretty well and I liked the aggressive tread pattern and the design. I have to admit that in order to get the sizing right I did try a pair on in a running shop and then ordered them online because I specifically wanted this colour scheme and I couldn't find a shop that stocked them.


The photo above is from the day they arrived in the post and from about an hour after this photo was taken they were covered in mud - a state that they've been in ever since. They helped me really get stuck into running on the trails and mud without worrying about the after effects.

I have a 'no wash' policy with these shoes. In my view trail shoes were never destined to be shiny and clean.

They apparently weigh in at about 340grams, but I'm guessing mine mostly weigh more due to the selection of mud they permanently carry around with them - However I do knock most of it off before it dries. The only time they are ever anywhere near clean is straight after running in the snow.

As of June 2013, they now have 523 kilometres on them - most of those kilometres have been run at Riddlesdown parkrun, where I also ran my current 5k personal best in these shoes. I see quite a lot of runners at trail races or at muddy parkruns wearing these, so they are obviously a very popular shoe.

This is another shoe that I absolutely love - They have kept me upright on even the worst slippery, muddy runs and I would gladly buy another pair of these without hesitation. At time of writing, Adidas are on version 5 of this shoe. However, they feel different and not in a good way.

Adidas Ride 2

This post was originally posted in 2011 but I have re-written it as I am trying to keep a record of my views on the shoes I have owned. This update is from June 2013.

These were the first pair of running shoes I bought (back in 2010 - it's flown by!) after deciding to take up this running lark. During my shopping trip I tried some other brands but the Adidas Ride 2 felt like the most natural fit for me, so without much dithering I happily handed over the dosh and continued with my running journey.


I think Adidas are now (June 2013) on version 5 of this shoe, so this post is very outdated. But I wanted to have record of the shoe that helped me towards my first series of races.

They weigh in at a whopping 344 grams, not something I had thought about when I first bought them but now when compared against some of my newer acquisitions they seem incredibly heavy.

I'm not entirely sure of the exact heel-to-toe drop, but it must be somewhere around the 12mm mark.

I have never had any reason to complain about these shoes, they have served me well and if it wasn't for the weight and heel-to-toe drop I'd happily buy another pair.

They have lasted very well. After putting 1250km's on them, they still feel very comfortable. I officially retired them last year but every now and I bring them out of retirement for a little nostalgic run.

Being my first pair of running shoes, they will always have a special place in my heart. They still feel quite comfortable and I quite often wear them as everyday shoes.