New Balance - Fresh Foam X Hierro v9

I normally wear SG wide size. Went with NB Hierro 9, it’s a much softer ride but a bit heavier.

I have always worn Speedgoats in wide (2e) the past but moved to a NB Hierro 9 this year. It’s a softer, more comfortable ride. Gonna try the Norda 005 when they arrive in a few days.

5'10 and 210 and I dig the New Balance Hierro series, my 8s are going strong at 250 miles and 9s are quite nice in the rotation as well.

Great review, and I fully agree with basically everything you said. I ran the Grand Ballon Trail (50K, 2500 altimeters) in them and I was very pleased with the level of comfort they gave me.

***1. Introduction*** **About me**: I'm a 46-year-old male, 6'3" and 188 lbs (85 kg) — a self-described “bigger” triathlete. Think of me as your odd ex-pro swimmer: strong in the water, pretty awful on the bike, and solid on the run. Most of my running is on concrete, but in the hot summer months, I switch things up with hiking and the occasional trail run. I'm primarily a forefoot/midfoot runner. I don't know how relevant my PBs are, but just for context: I can run a sub-3-hour marathon, a 1:20 half marathon, and a 35-36-minute 10K and I haven't run a 5K in ages. I mostly run in Asics and Saucony (check my comments in r/AskRunningShoeGeeks for more), so I like to switch brands for hiking and trail running. In the past, I’ve used Salomon, Mammut, and Scarpa. Last year, I got a pair of Merrell Agility Peak 5s, which I absolutely loved. I picked up the New Balance Hierro v9 after reading positive online reviews (e.g., The Run Testers et al.) I’d never owned or run in New Balance shoes before, so I figured, “Why not?” I was specifically looking for a max-cushioned trail shoe, and I snagged a 30% off deal online that felt too good to pass up. ***2. Shoe Details & First Impressions*** **Size**: I typically wear an 11.5/12 in running shoes and went with a size 12 in the Hierro v9. It's not the roomiest shoe, though; it honestly fits more like an 11.5. **Specs (Size 12)**: 11 oz (311g), 4mm drop, 33mm heel / 29mm forefoot stack height **First Impressions**: I really dig this Dark Juniper colorway. Right out of the box, they felt super comfortable and plush. You can immediately feel the max cushioning, and that Fresh Foam stack really stands out. The Vibram outsole also looked impressively grippy. ***3. The Ride & Performance*** I've taken the Hierros on three runs across technical trails with lots of climbing. Most recently, I did a 10+ mile trail run (~3000 ft / 900m of vertical gain) on muddy, wet, and technical terrain. Initial impressions confirmed - the Hierro v9 is a super comfy, well-cushioned shoe with excellent grip. It protects your legs on long outings, and the low-drop setup is great for forefoot/midfoot strikers like me. The ride feels smooth, efficient, and easy on the joints. It’s a pretty heavy shoe, so you don’t get that “disappears-on-the-foot” feeling you might with lighter, nimbler options. **Midsole**: The Fresh Foam X midsole is soft yet responsive and offers great protection. It handled rocky, rooty, and smooth dirt trails — and even the odd paved section — without a hitch. One thing to note: it’s not very flexible; it actually reminds me of a carbon-plated road shoe in terms of stiffness. I enjoy that feeling, but others might find it too rigid. **Outsole**: The Vibram Megagrip is just awesome. Even on steep mud and slick rocks, I felt secure the entire time. **Upper & Fit**: The upper is breathable and supportive. There’s lots of padding in the heel, and the tongue gusseting adds to the plush feel. Toe protection is solid. The lacing is up to snuff. ***4. Stability & Protection*** **Stability**: This is perhaps the only area where I found the Hierro falls slightly short. I found that the thick cushioning compromises a tad the stability on highly technical terrain. Compared to the Merrell Agility Peak 5, I did miss some ground feel, which I value. That’s why I’ll be rotating these depending on the run and terrain. **Protection**: No complaints here. The Hierros provide excellent protection from debris and strong underfoot shielding from rocks and roots. **Durability**: with just 50+ miles, it’s too early to say. Anything I write now would be speculative. ***5. Pros & Cons*** **Pros**: - Really comfortable and plush ride - High-quality materials - Exceptional traction on all terrain - Ideal for forefoot/midfoot runners like myself - Great energy return - Significant leg protection on long runs **Cons**: - Slightly unstable on highly technical terrain - A bit on the heavier side - Reduced ground feel - Might be too stiff for some ***6. Conclusion & Recommendations*** As you've probably gathered, I'm really enjoying the Hierro v9. I feel like it could be a great choice for bigger runners who value comfort and cushioning (one of my all-time favorite road shoes is the Asics Superblast 2). It delivers a plush ride and outstanding traction. I’ve never owned a trail shoe quite like this; my previous pairs have been nimbler with more ground feel. But as I get older, I’m leaning more into the extra protection this shoe offers. As I mentioned earlier, this was my first-ever pair of New Balance shoes in over 20 years of running — and I’ve been so impressed, I’ll probably grab out one of their road models soon. If you have any questions, ask away!

I bought these 3 months ago after struggling to find a trail shoe I could wear for long miles. I am IN LOVE with these shoes. I am used to a lot less shoe but long runs and ultra made me need more protection for long days. I'm an older runner so my feet require more than my old Lone Peaks could offer. I have tried several brands and was not happy until these. The toe box doesn't look roomy but it is! Buying another pair for AC100 in August. :)

I'm on the heavier side as well at 6'1" & 180ish lbs. I've really enjoyed these for all my trail runs lately in Forest Park, Portland. For sizing I'm normally 11.5 but I bought these in 11.5 wide. The wide fits perfect for me in the toebox.

I was also looking for an "all-rounder." Like the other person said, having a shoe that does it all is hard. I ended up with the New Balance Hierros, which works for me. It has a 4 mm drop and is relatively wide, a little too much cushion for my taste, but it is alright. I have the v9 version now, the v7 lasted for 1000km+ with a little super glue :D

I just recently bought new trail runners and many of the reviews on Hokas speak to what you’re saying. Particularly the Speedgoat. Did you not read any reviews? I went with the New Balance Hierro about a month ago and am quite happy with them currently. I’ve put probably ~25 miles on them already and they show almost no wear.

I just recently got a fan of New Balance Hierro V9s and I’m impressed so far

Thanks for the review. I just picked up a pair. I was a little surprised by the fit after ready so many online reviews that said they are 1/2 size off. I almost always fit perfectly in 10.5 in almost every brand. I tried on a variety of Hokas, On Cloud, Altra... the Hierra's stood out as the best fit for me. Snug, comfy, perfect. I do have a foot that is perhaps a tad narrow... point is, they are probably 1/4 size small at best and may actually work for you in your usual size if you have a low-volume foot.

Great review - I completely agree with you, this shoe is impressive. I weigh 253 lbs (115 kg) and had been searching for a long time for a trail shoe with strong cushioning, suitable for forest and light path running. I tried the Asics Trabuco Max 3 and 4, but the fit wasn’t right - they were too wide for my narrow feet. The New Balance Hierro V9 fits perfectly and holds the foot very securely, so I decided to go with them. I usually run in Hoka road shoes, but when it comes to trail models, I couldn’t find any with both high cushioning and a sole that performs well even in muddy conditions. New Balance really filled that gap perfectly

The New Balance Hierro v9 trail runners are looking fire to me. Water resistant, earth tones, super comfortable due to the Fresh Foam midsole. Looks GORPy to me

Thanks, appreciate the advice. I decided to just go to the NB store and see what they had to offer and actually try the Hierro v9s as that’s the only way i’d know for sure. Turns out they were super comfortable, seem durable, and didn’t seem to heavy for me. Went for the ones with the drift red sole!

Second this— they’ve replaced my Speedgoats this season. Plush but responsive, stay comfy when going long. Love this shoe.

I have the Trabuco Max V3 and the Hierro V9 and also the NB More Trail V3. I'm also a heavy runner with shoe size US13 and of these 3 shoes I like the More Trail V3 the most!

Yes, I'd say so and although I find the trabuco max v3 quite ok the sizing is very odd. The more trail fits me perfect and I even bought another pair when it was on sale.

I used to wear Altras but now I wear new balance fresh foam hierro in double wide (2e) and they work pretty well.

I use the New Balance Hierro (non GTX) for all my UK hiking.

I've used them for typical Yorkshire summer/winter weather, they aren't bad and dry quickly... I found the soles wore out very quickly though (they're a very soft foam with pads of harder rubber on bits that would wear faster... but two pairs I've had the harder pads have peeled away from the softer foam). Might be worth looking at the Hoka website, they used (and might still do) offer a 30 day return even if they were worn during those 30 days. I do have a pair of good walking boots (Scarpa) but tend to wear trail running shoes most of the time for outdoor activities. Currently quite enthused by the New Balance Hierro Fresh Foam Xs (apart from the name anyway).

I used to use New Balance 4E Hierro which fit well, but I was really disappointed in their grip. I was sliding all over the place on anything remotely slick which isn't really good for a trail runner. I switched to the Topo Pursuit shoes and they are wide, comfortable, and very grippy. The Terraventure get great reviews but they were substantially narrower. They were similar in width as the Hoka Speedgoat so wouldn't work for me. Altra had wide shoes at some point, but they progressively narrowed them to the point that I could no longer fit into the Lone Peaks. Supposedly, they are making them wider again and migrating to a Vibram sole which hopefully will be a vast improvement with their shoddy proprietary sole. Their quality control in generally has been poor. Brooks were always too narrow. I could never fit into the Cascadia.

I have been wearing New Balance Hierros for a couple years. I trail run and run on/in the snow. I’ve found they’re durable and comfortable. Traction is fantastic. There is a Gore Tex version but I opt for the regular version. To save money I typically buy the previous year’s version when new models are released.

Came here to say this. I used mine for mixed road trail running all week and for walks around town. Very durable outsole

For affordable running shoes new balance Hierro are under appreciated. I put them through bearings and have had pairs hold up nearly to 1000 miles.

I find the higher the stack leads to more rolling ankles. Shoes that have not worked for me: Brooks Cascadia, New Balance Hierro Shoes that have worked for me: La Sportiva Bushido, Topo Terraventure. Also would like to find a more cushioned shoe but they have been directly correlated to rolled ankles for me and I'm sick of spending money on shoes for now. I'll see how far I can go in the Bushidos, I did a 50 miler in them and it was good, although I was definitely hurting at the end!! The more you do the more you adapt though!

Absolutely adored the OG-EUs. Also quite like this year's New Balance Hierros (I was a tester last summer).

I've done a few rounds of the 46 and race in the Adirondacks and Whites. Best for grip (and on the narrower side, so you might get a great fit): VJ Maxx Pretty bombproof, grippier, not the lightest: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor Comfortable, dependable all-arounder: Merrell Agility Peak Cadillac cushioning with a solid outsole: New Balance Hierro My favorite racer is the MTL Skyfire 2, but it doesn't offer a ton of protection for long days. My most recent Great Range Traverse was in the Saucony Endorphin Rifts. Not for everyone (the outsole isn't the best) but I find their midsoles the comfiest. I quit on Salomon years ago because they wrecked my toes on long days, but I have a medium foot and would have liked them more if I were a narrower guy.

Trail runners. New Balance Hierro I like a lot. If you have money, check out Norda

New Balance Hierro is what i use for trail running and / or hiking. I wear 4E wide so they'll have any size you need

I spent a day trying different shoes at different shops. The softer heal counter is a driving force - drop, cushioning and wide toebox are also important. The 3 I narrowed it down to were… in 3rd place Altra Olympus 6 (but no drop), in 2nd the New Balance Hierro - seemed good and 1, which surprised me, the Nike Zagama 2 (which was slightly more flexible than the Hierro - a good or bad thing, I’ll report back). The toebox for the Nike has sometimes been described as narrow, when I tried it on it was fine.

I use NB hierro love them for hiking and throwing

Hola, las que yo tengo para vestir son Hoka mafate speed 4, New balance hierro y te diría que cualquiera de On cloud.

Only 4mm drop though. The heel counter is well-cushioned but normally stiff. Agree they're plenty wide, especially in 2E. High stack does mean they're not the most stable shoes. Not for unstable terrain.

New Balance Hierros in a 4E. Been using them for 3 years now and just switched my road shoes to 1080s in 4E. Love em

New Balance Hierro are nice for this.

Really comfortable but at least in the size 14s I wear the sides blow out. Same issue with the Olympus. I've switched to New Balance Heiros which are a similar shape but at least they hold together until the bottoms are too thin to protect my feet. https://preview.redd.it/5cuixhpub69f1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=68150112f77175278b621fe7116f1721c057e8ea

I’ve really enjoyed the New Balance Hierro the past few winters. Fresh Foam X stays soft in freezing temps and the vibram outsole is great on snow and ice. Haven’t needed my spikes with them. The v8 is out, apparently they are even softer, closer to the 1080 v13/14 squish. The More Trail v3 was like running in mud, plodding around. They didn’t work for me. I loved the v1.

I've gone through so many shoes for this issue. I landed on new balance hiero and so far no pain. Hoka, asics, saucony and Salomon didn't work for me either. 

I just bought a pair of New Balance Hierro shoes. Regulars are already pretty wide, and there are wide options available.

I really like the Hierro as well. They are exceptional in winter because they are great on snow and ice. The heel flare on the v7s didn't work great for me as a heel striker but it looks like this has been minimized in the v8.

The trails we are running in my country mainly are humid tropical jungle with mountain slope and very muddy rice paddy with stream and I can say Nike outsole ATC outperform any vibram outsole and those Hoka speedgoat. I used Nike Kiger 8 and also owned a pair of NB Hierro. When the Wildhourse 10 released later this year, I will deffinitely grab one pair

New Balance Hierro, I really like mine and they make them in wides.

Do not do this with plantar fasciitis. Get a shoe with a high stack like the hola speedgoats or the NB fresh foam. PF is not something to mess around with because it will end your hike in a way that nothing else can by making every step agony.

I'm a die hard New Balance person (because they consistently have wide shoes that feel good for me) and I've been using the minimus trail and love them. The fresh foam shoes don't hold up super well with sharp/rocky terrain.