New Balance makes some of the best running shoes for runners who value comfort, fit, and accessibility, and it has a broad lineup ranging from daily trainers to plated racing shoes. That focus on accessibility goes back to the brand's roots and still shapes the lineup today, even as New Balance has expanded into more modern performance categories, from cushioned trainers to racing shoes.
With so many New Balance running shoes now available across different categories, it can be hard to know where to start. We've bought and tested more than 300 running shoes overall (take a look at our top picks), including 17 New Balance models, so we can help narrow the lineup and point you toward the best option for your needs and budget. Below are our recommendations for the best New Balance running shoes you can buy.
Updates
- 10/16/2026 New Balance AC Runner reviewed
- 08/20/2026 New Balance SuperComp Rebel reviewed
- 08/14/2026 New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 reviewed
- 08/11/2026 New Balance Fresh Foam 520v9 reviewed
- 06/19/2026 New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15 updated
We've bought and tested more than 300 running shoes. Every pair purchased with our own money, never supplied or sponsored by brands. Our data-driven tests are designed to go beyond marketing claims, and since every shoe goes through the exact same methodology, you can directly compare results to find the right pair for your needs.
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Best New Balance Running Shoes
Daily TrainingLong RunHalf/Full Marathon RacingEnergy ReturnStabilityCushioningTrue To SizeWeight:250.3 g (8.83 oz)Heel Stack Height:38.4 mmHeel-To-Toe Drop:7.8 mmSee all our test resultsPlate:NoneThe best New Balance running shoes we've tested are the New Balance 1080v15. It's a comfort-oriented daily trainer with enough bounce to give you a little help as you push off. Its foam provides very good cushioning without becoming mushy, and its stable, easygoing ride makes it a shoe you can confidently reach for day after day. It's also available in narrow, standard, wide, and extra-wide widths for both men and women, giving you more options to find the right fit.
Some New Balance models are lighter and faster, but the 1080v15 offers the best overall balance of weight, cushioning, bounce, and stability for everyday training. However, its cushioning becomes less protective on long runs, so it can feel harsher as the miles add up.
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Best Budget New Balance Running Shoes
Daily TrainingLong RunHalf/Full Marathon RacingEnergy ReturnStabilityCushioningTrue To SizeWeight:256.1 g (9.03 oz)Heel Stack Height:36.8 mmHeel-To-Toe Drop:6.5 mmSee all our test resultsPlate:NoneIf you're looking for a low-cost shoe for short, easy runs, the New Balance Fresh Foam 520v9 is the best budget New Balance running shoe we've tested. Its firm, stable platform feels reassuring underfoot, making it a practical option for occasional runs, sessions that mix running and walking, and everyday wear. It also comes in standard, wide, and extra-wide versions for both men and women, giving runners with wider feet more options to nail the fit, which is very uncommon at this price point.
Compared with our top pick, the New Balance 1080v15, it absorbs much less impact and provides little spring as you push off. This can make longer runs feel harsher and more tiring, so saving money with the 520v9 makes more sense if you mainly stick to shorter distances at relaxed paces.
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Best New Balance Running Shoes For Stability
Daily TrainingLong RunHalf/Full Marathon RacingEnergy ReturnStabilityCushioningTrue To SizeWeight:329.3 g (11.62 oz)Heel Stack Height:40.6 mmHeel-To-Toe Drop:6.0 mmSee all our test resultsPlate:PlasticIf you need extra guidance to help limit excessive inward rolling as you land, the New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15 is the best New Balance running shoe for stability we've tested. It uses firmer foam in specific areas with a plastic plate to guide the foot and help keep it centered through each stride. It delivers that support without the overly corrective feel of some older stability shoes, making it a more modern and approachable option within that category.
The foam also provides ample cushioning to protect your legs and stays even more protective over long runs than our top pick, the New Balance 1080v15. However, the shoe is much heavier and provides less spring as you push off, making it feel cumbersome when you try to pick up the pace. It's best suited to easy runs and long days on your feet where support matters more than speed.
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Best New Balance Running Shoes For Experienced Runners
Daily TrainingLong RunHalf/Full Marathon RacingEnergy ReturnStabilityCushioningTrue To SizeWeight:213.3 g (7.52 oz)Heel Stack Height:40.2 mmHeel-To-Toe Drop:7.5 mmSee all our test resultsPlate:PlasticIf you're an experienced runner, the New Balance SuperComp Rebel is our pick for the longer runs and faster workouts in your routine. Our top pick, the New Balance 1080v15, is better suited to shorter daily runs at relaxed paces. However, the Rebel is lighter, gives you more spring as you push off, and provides more cushioning, including better impact protection throughout long runs.
Its softer platform is less stable, though, especially on turns or when fatigue affects your stride. That said, its plastic plate helps stabilize the soft foam and adds some stiffness to support your push-off at faster paces. Still, it requires more controlled landings, making it better suited to experienced runners who can maintain consistent form as the pace or distance increases.
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Best New Balance Running Shoes For Racing
Daily TrainingLong RunHalf/Full Marathon RacingEnergy ReturnStabilityCushioningTrue To SizeWeight:187.1 g (6.60 oz)Heel Stack Height:39.2 mmHeel-To-Toe Drop:8.9 mmSee all our test resultsPlate:Carbon FiberIf you're chasing faster race times, the New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 is the best New Balance racing shoe we've tested. This lightweight super shoe combines a carbon plate with an energetic foam to help you sustain faster paces. It's also one of the few racing shoes available in a wide version for both men and women.
Compared with the New Balance SuperComp Rebel, our pick above, it's lighter and has a stiffer, more aggressive feel built for racing. The Rebel is a more practical option for fast training and the occasional race, while the Elite makes more sense as a separate pair for chasing personal bests on race day. It's also a lot less stable than a daily trainer like the New Balance 1080v15, so it requires more controlled landings. Its aggressive geometry can also feel uncomfortable at easy paces, so it's not a practical shoe to wear regularly for training.
For even more options outside of New Balance, check out our picks for the best marathon racing shoes.
Compared To Other Brands
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Widest range of widths.
New Balance was the first running shoe brand to offer shoes in multiple widths, and the brand remains an industry leader in this regard. Their most popular models are usually available in Wide (2E for Men, D for Women) and Extra Wide (4E for Men, 2E for Women) sizes. Their racing shoes are also one of the very few on the market to come in a Wide version. At the other end of the spectrum, New Balance also makes Narrow versions (2A for Women and B for Men) of their daily trainers.
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Very approachable fit and geometry.
New Balance's running shoes are designed to accommodate a broad range of runners, and their fit and geometry are very beginner-friendly. While some of the brand's shoes do incorporate a curved midsole (called a rocker), it's usually much less pronounced than that of other brands, resulting in a more natural ride. New Balance's running shoes also tend to feature an inherently stable design, which further inspires confidence among less experienced runners.
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Lack of innovation between iterations.
While consistency is key in running, New Balance sometimes plays it a little safe. Although they do make tweaks between iterations, the changes are often slow and not necessarily improvements. The brand has also been known to launch products that bear new names but appear to be rebranded versions of older product lines; the New Balance Ellipse, for example, was launched with clever marketing but ultimately seems similar to the discontinued Fresh Foam X 1080v14.
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Foams feel stale.
New Balance uses several different foams. The foam used in many of New Balance's daily trainers, called FreshFoam, is notorious for sinking underfoot, and the feeling is often described as running on quicksand. This is fine if you just want soft cushioning, but it feels sluggish when you try to pick up the pace. The FuelCell foam used in the brand's performance-oriented shoes is livelier than FreshFoam, but it still trails well behind most other brands' premium race foams.
vs HOKA
New Balance and HOKA are two brands that are popular in large part because of the everyday comfort of their running shoes. Both brands have models that straddle the line between walking and running shoes, though the numbering system of some New Balance models (e.g., 880, 1080) makes it a bit easier to determine which shoe is most appropriate for which goals. New Balance's sizing tends to be more accommodating, as some HOKA models run narrow, and New Balance offers more models in Extra Wide sizes. Although both brands are very comfort-oriented, HOKA's cushioning in its running shoes is usually better than that of its closest equivalent in New Balance's lineup.
vs PUMA
New Balance and PUMA are two brands that come from opposite sides of the ocean and, in many ways, approach running shoes from opposite directions. New Balance's running shoes reflect a clear emphasis on comfort. PUMA, on the other hand, has a long history of making track racing shoes, and those influences are still clear, from the snug fit of many of its road-running shoes to the more aggressive geometry in their performance-oriented models. PUMA's running shoes are also known for their excellent outsole traction. If you have wider feet or just prioritize softness, you'll find more options in New Balance's lineup. If you want faster options, PUMA is generally the better brand.
vs Nike
Nike and New Balance are two of the most iconic and immediately recognizable American running shoe brands. Nike has staked much of its reputation on its elite performance shoes, while New Balance is much more focused on the middle of the pack. Unsurprisingly, Nike offers much better options for racing and speed training shoes, and each of the 'Flys' (Vaporfly, Alphafly, Streakfly) is much more specialized than New Balance's generalist SuperComp Elite series. Both brands have a robust selection of daily trainers and comfortable shoes that can double as walking and running shoes. New Balances often feel softer when you first step in, but the cushioning doesn't hold up as well as Nike's over long distances.
vs Skechers
New Balance and Skechers are two stereotypical 'dad shoe' brands, but they both make shoes you can actually run in! New Balance has been making running shoes for much longer, so its lineup is much more comprehensive and offers many more options. Because Skechers is still trying to establish itself in the running shoe game, its shoes tend to be more competitively priced. Skechers' running shoes usually have good grip, but this can also make them a bit heavier. The ArchFit in some Skechers models is nice if you need arch support, but it can pinch if you have wider feet, whereas New Balance's shoes are generally wider through the heel and arch.
New Balance has built a loyal following not because their running shoes are the most innovative or the most original, but because they're consistently comfortable. Their models tend to have lower heel-to-toe drops than other brands', and although virtually every running shoe's stack height has increased in recent years, New Balance's aren't quite as high-stacked as those of many other brands.
Lineup
New Balance organizes its road-running shoes into distinct categories: support shoes, daily trainers, plated super trainers, and race-day super shoes. As a general rule of thumb, models using Fresh Foam, New Balance’s cushioned foam, sit on the comfort-first side of the lineup. FuelCell models usually cover the lighter, more energetic side, while SuperComp marks the plated performance range. Newer models like the Ellipse try to break away from that naming structure, but it feels more like a marketing strategy, since all shoes ultimately fit naturally into the categories outlined here.
Support Shoes
New Balance's support shoes are designed to help manage overpronation through guidance, while still offering some comfort and multiple width options.
- Fresh Foam 860: The main stability daily trainer. It combines the foam called Fresh Foam with support features to keep your foot centered, so it's the go-to option if you want dependable support for regular mileage.
- Fresh Foam 1540: The support shoe with the highest level of structure that makes the most sense for runners or walkers who want maximum rearfoot guidance and a very secure platform.
Daily Trainers
This part of New Balance's lineup is quite crowded, with several shoes overlapping in role. Most fall under either the Fresh Foam or FuelCell umbrella, though there are now a few exceptions, like the 1080 dropping the Fresh Foam for its newer Infinion midsole and the Ellipse not carrying Fresh Foam branding despite still using it in the midsole.
- Fresh Foam 520: The budget option for short runs and lifestyle wear. It prioritizes low cost and a stable ride, with less cushioning and bounce than the brand's more expensive trainers.
- Fresh Foam 880: The more classic daily trainer. Recent versions lean more toward actual running than older 880s, but it still suits runners who want a straightforward, stable workhorse rather than anything really exciting underfoot.
- 1080: The premium daily trainer and the main anchor of the lineup, sitting as an intuitive all-around pick for comfortable daily mileage.
- Fresh Foam More: The max-cushion cruiser. It's taller and more cushioned than the 1080, so it makes the most sense for easy runs, recovery days, and runners who want as much protection as possible.
- Fresh Foam Balos: A premium, rocker-driven option that offers a cushioned and enjoyable ride for daily training.
- Ellipse: The newest comfort-focused daily trainer. New Balance positions it as a soft, welcoming option for everyday running and all-day wear.
- FuelCell Rebel: Historically, this is New Balance's lightweight trainer line with a lower profile and more exciting ride. Recent versions have become heavier and more cushioned, so it now feels more mainstream and a lot less rebellious than before.
- FuelCell Propel: A daily trainer that includes a plastic plate to provide great stability. It's a more affordable take on the plated trainer concept, but it feels less performance-oriented than a true super trainer and is still mainly built for easy miles.
Performance Models
New Balance's performance-oriented models cover plated training and racing shoes built around energetic FuelCell foam, with a stronger focus on speed, propulsion, and efficiency than the long-term durability expected from the rest of the lineup.
- SuperComp Rebel: A lightweight, plated trainer for long workouts and faster runs. It offers more cushioning and bounce than the regular FuelCell Rebel, with a more forgiving ride than the race-focused SuperComp Elite.
- FuelCell SuperComp Trainer: The steady long run and workout companion to the SuperComp Elite super shoe. It borrows plated tech from the race lineup, but with more structure and durability, so it can handle repeated training use more comfortably.
- FuelCell SuperComp Elite: The brand's main racing super shoe. It's very lightweight and responsive, but it still feels more approachable than most rivals and even comes in a wide version, which is uncommon in this category.
- FuelCell SuperComp Pacer: A modern take on the racing flat, built for shorter races if you prefer something minimal, snappy, and closer to the ground.
Recent Updates
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Oct 16, 2026 at 02:53 pm:
We've replaced the New Balance FuelCell Propel v5 with the New Balance 520v9 as our budget pick since it's much cheaper overall. We've also replaced the FuelCell Rebel v5 with the FuelCell SuperComp Rebel, reframing the category from tempo training to experienced runners because it's a better shoe for those use cases. Finally, we've updated our racing pick to the recently released SuperComp Elite v6.
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Jun 29, 2026 at 04:23 pm:
We've updated this article to replace the pricing-based recommendations with usage-based ones. The article now includes six main picks instead of five, with the New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15 added, and links to relevant recommendations added where necessary. We also tweaked wording in the relevant boxes to reflect these changes.
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May 27, 2026 at 09:06 am:
We updated this article to clarify our recommendations, better explain the top pick and its tradeoffs, and make it easier to understand which shoe is best for each type of runner.
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Apr 27, 2026 at 10:56 am:
We've included the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 as the upper mid-range pick, and we've added a full New Balance lineup section to the article.
Conclusion
New Balance has an extensive lineup of running shoes that caters to a wide range of runners. Their shoes are not necessarily the most innovative, but they're almost always comfortable. If there's a New Balance model you want us to test, you can vote for it to help decide what we buy next. To learn more about each model, check our full list of New Balance running shoes in the table below.