- Weight: 260g (M), 206g (W)
- Stack height: 33mm (heel), 27mm (forefoot)
- Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm
- Type: Neutral/road
- Tester: It feels like its been a while since
The shoe
Last November, I visited New Balance’s headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, to learn more about their design and innovation processes. During the tour, we passed through the brand’s prototype room, where I spotted a running shoe, unlike anything I’d seen from the brand before, sitting on a desk in the corner. At the time, the team wouldn't give much away about this mysterious new trainer, but I remember being particularly intrigued by its prominent rocker geometry.
Fast forward eight months, and the Fresh Foam X Balos has arrived. Designed ‘to take you seamlessly from training to race day’, it features a PEBA-blended midsole foam — the first PEBA foam to debut in a Fresh Foam package — with a pronounced rocker for a propulsive and fast underfoot experience.
The Balos is being described as a 'premium daily trainer' rather than a super trainer — which typically features a carbon plate — joining the likes of the best overpronation running shoes, expert-tested Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3: A featherweight force. It feels like it's been a while since New Balance released a totally new shoe out into the world. So, could the Balos provide the perfect blend of performance and comfort? On paper, the formula sounds fantastic. But how does it translates into practice? Here's my verdict.
How does the Balos v1 fit?
I actually got the Balos half a size up from my regular running shoe size, opting for a UK size 9 (I usually wear an 8.5), and I'm glad I did because I've got just the right amount of room in the toe box in terms of length. Width wise, the toe box is definitely on the wider side compared to other shoes from the brand, with a slightly lower volume (or 'ceiling'). I didn't have any problems with irritation during longer runs (26k+), but I know some people with higher volume feet have struggled with these, so that's something to bear in mind.
Everything about the Balos' upper has a premium feel. The knit tongue is fully gusseted and stretches over the foot — in fact, it's probably my favourite NB tongue so far — the heel collar is well padded, and the engineered mesh material offers great breathability, with a strong and durable feel. The laces are a good length and getting a good lockdown is easy.
What's the Balos v1 like to run in?
Published: 02 August 2024 incredibly soft, with the word 'squishy' feeling applicable to the PEBA/EVA blended midsole. On the move, the extreme forefoot rocker kicks into action, doing a good job at turning your legs over more effortlessly.
The Balos is being described as a premium daily trainer rather than a easy runs, long runs and even uptempo efforts, it's a bit too much for anything faster and I'd question how much energy return you're getting from it, particularly given the shoe's width and flexibility, too. At those easier paces, however, the wide platform feel stable, and the extreme heel bevel — which extends almost into the midfoot — helps to smooth the ride.
The severe rocker geometry and heel bevel won't be for everyone, though, particularly if you're a midfoot or forefoot striker, as it'll roll you faster through the transition from initial contact to push off. Heel strikers like myself will benefit most from these shoes.
The outsole features a soft rubber compound, with a more durable compound in higher wear areas like the heel and forefoot. It's still early days, but durability feels good so far and I reckon you'll have no trouble clocking up several miles in these.
RW verdict
With an impressive upper, soft underfoot feel and springy ride, the Fresh Foam X Balos is a very good daily trainer that offers a premium feel. But can it take you 'seamlessly from training to race day' as the brand suggests? I'm not so sure.
The squishiness of the foam along with the rocker geometry makes for a smooth and comfortable ride, making this a shoe that works well for easy, daily mileage, long runs and recovery runs where your tired legs need a bit of a push. But I'm not convinced the width and flexibility allow for faster workouts. The Balos feels like it sits somewhere in the middle between the light and snappy Rebel v4 mm heel, 27mm forefoot SC Trainer in New Balance's line-up — but so does the 1080 v13 for £40 less.
And that's my main contention with the Balos. At £200, it's not a cheap investment for what is essentially a daily trainer, despite the PEBA midsole. And it's not necessarily bouncier or more fun than the cheaper 1080 either.
Moreover, how much you benefit from that extreme rocker really is going to depend on the type of runner you are.
In a way, it feels like what New Balance was going for here was its own spin on the versatile Asics Superblast. But dare I say, perhaps its made the Balos too squishy Will super shoes change your running form.
The Balos gets a lot of things right, but I think this is going to be a shoe that divides a lot of runners.
Published: 02 August 2024
