New Balance Fresh Foam Evoz V2 Running Shoes (2E Width) - AW22

Product Information

Some New Balance road and trail running shoes have waterproof features. These shoe models are equipped with a GTX membrane that keeps the feet dry in wet and rainy running conditions. But think of a budget New Balance running shoe that’s been consistently updated over the years, and there’s none. Sure, one could argue that the 680 is such a shoe, but is it the highlight of New Balance’s budget catalog? Not really. 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. The upper fits snug and short, so that’s something to bear in mind while purchasing the Nitrel V4. The fused toe bumper, while protective, makes the ceiling narrower and the sizing at least a half size small.

Our speed running shoes are just as innovative, and are powered by REVlite cushioning and lightweight solid rubber outsoles. New Balance Running Shoes: The History After miles of sweating it out during runs, and hours of intensive tests in our lab, the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v12 has emerged as the best daily trainer in the New Balance roster. The luxurious cushion of the midsole, its unrivaled fit, and its grippy outsole make it the perfect running ally—day in and day out. It’s not very soft though; the Dynasoft foam has a tinge of firmness – this is no Fresh Foam. And that’s not a bad thing for a trail shoe; a firmer ride equates to better stability over uneven terrain. Its ample and soft midsole foam made our variety of runs enjoyable and therapeutic—10/10 for plushness. In the lab, durometer measurements verified that at 15.5 HA, the Fresh Foam X More v4 is 37.8% softer than the average. It's definitely the king of soft cushioning.

New Balance Running Shoes: The History

Despite the tall and soft midsole, we were pleased with how stable and planted our landings felt. In the lab, we found out that it has a wider-than-average base—12.5 mm wider at the heel and 7 mm wider at the forefoot. At the same time, the upper also gave us a snug and secure fit. The last two digits of the number used to indicate the level of cushioning: a “60” being a stability shoe while a “80” a neutral shoe. This is the actual list: 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.

For example, adidas’s most popular budget shoe is the Duramo. Nike has its Winflo, and Saucony sells the Cohesion. The Asics Gel-Contend is a well-known running shoe model that has been around for a while.MR”: The first two letters identify the gender and the sport activity. “M” is for MEN, “W” for WOMEN. “R” is for Running. “WW” will be Women’s Walking, “MX” will be Men’s Cross-Training and so on. Some New Balance running shoe models have numbers on their names, which can be confusing for those who are not familiar with the brand’s numbering system. After vigorous lab tests and spirited runs, we crown the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 as the best overall running shoe in the New Balance line. With the plump midsole foam, an incredibly stable platform, and a grippy but robust outsole—this shoe lives up to its “More” moniker. While the Nitrel V3 was more of a ‘regular’ trail runner with a please-all character, the V4 is quirky in comparison. Instead of the Nitrel v3’s full-length Revlite midsole (of the 1500 fame), the V4 uses a Dynasoft midsole and a high toe-spring that promotes a forward-rolling motion.

A running shoe that fits well will be comfortable and snug without being too tight. Ideally, there should be about ½ to a full thumb width of space from the front of the shoe to your big toe, offering enough space to wiggle your toes freely without feeling too restricted or too loose. The right running shoe should feel like a natural extension of your body. How do you best wash running shoes? To give credit where it’s due, New Balance offers multiple widths on their entry-level products – a benefit that most brands do not offer. When we ran on different terrains, the grippy nature of the Hierro v7’s outsole definitely stood out. The combination of this reliable outsole rubber and an updated lug pattern resulted in this very grippy shoe—perfect for conquering light to moderate trails while remaining unscathed. The redesigned upper is soft and breathable. Using a double jacquard mesh, the upper gives structure to the foot while moving with your foot. The V7 has been updated with a dual-density Fresh Foam midsole, so the ride is smoother than the V6. The articulated outsole complements the EVA midsole to produce a cushioned yet supportive ride for daily runs. Its 9.5-ounce (270 gram) weight is respectable for a shoe with an EVA midsole.

Size guide

At an insanely low price of 85 USD, the Fresh Foam Roav v2 is leagues below the average price of road running shoes (130 USD). Yet, it punches above its class with some of its premium features. of New Balance shoes are made for neutral pronation, meaning they have no added arch support. Example: the popular 1080 series . New Balance numbering system While this is not strictly the case anymore, the concept stays: you can expect the cost (and features) of the shoe to go up when moving from a “8” model to a “10” or a “12”. Ready to elevate your run? New Balance is proud to present a line of carefully cultivated and mindfully crafted running shoes that are designed to protect, conform, endure, and outperform. No matter the run, no matter the terrain, no matter the goal, New Balance makes a running shoe that's guaranteed to provide lasting comfort and stability.

The ‘Fresh Foam’ midsole unit on the Roav v2 is the highlight of this shoe as it is both comfortable and responsive. We measured the midsole to be 8.1% firmer at 26.5HA using our durometer test, but it never felt overly firm. In fact, it felt soft enough to provide ample protection and responsiveness for our feet during our runs. The outsole features a balanced 70.3 HC rubber — tougher than most race shoes for durability and softer than the average daily trainer for better grip. Among its racer counterparts, its 2.8 mm outsole gives more than enough rubber to last long. Weighing in at just 238g (8.4 oz), the New Balance Fresh Foam Roav v2 is definitely a lightweight shoe. It is far below the average weight of road running shoes 268g (9.45 oz) and we were absolutely amazed by how it felt so light on our feet.If you’re not aware of New Balance’s legacy nomenclature, the XX80 suffix meant that it was a neutral shoe. For example, there’s the higher-priced 1080V11, the mid-tier 880V11, and finally the budget 680. Instead, what we have is a hodge podge of different shoe models that are vaguely inspired by the more expensive models. The Fresh Foam Evoz bears a passing resemblance to the 1080, and there’s a glimpse of the Fuelcell Rebel in the New Balance Breaza. These numbers were not exactly customer friendly – but I have to admit that once you know the logic, it actually makes a lot of sense. Running Shoes Buying Guides