New Balance - Fresh Foam X More Trail v3

New balance makes some 4e trail runners . I have used the fresh foam more trail version though I don’t see that available now, not sure if it’s coming back. I haven’t tried the hierro, but if the fresh foam more doesn’t come back in the next few months that’s what I will try. I haven’t found the Alta’s wide enough for me. I’ve had little luck with any kind runners, trail or road if a 4e version isnt available.

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 sold my Speedgoat 6 after putting in about 60km, grip is good but overall quality is sub par. Have not run in Mafate but own two pair of Tecton x2, I like them but one pair blew out in the toe box after ca. 150km... I fixed them and they still go strong but I only use them on dry days and dry trails (Portugal and Colorado) for reference I am in Norway where the trails are super technical (rocks and roots) and often wet. Saucony... I love the Endorphin Speed for the road or treadmill but I have had two pair of Peregrine and not only do they run at least 1/2 size small for me they fell apart after less than 100km...and the grip was sub par to say the least. Never felt confident with them on wet trails. I have never ran in LaSportiva, I just don't like how they look or feel... same with Solomon. With all that said here is what I am currently running in: Tecton x2: again for dry trails only. 8/10 New Balance More Trail3: for the easy days and to have a little more cushion when running slow. Good grip, excellent comfort although the stack is a little high for technical terrain. 6/10 Scott Supertrac Ultra RC: A little on the heavy side but I use them with crampons in the snow. Good fit, good cushion and good traction after you break in the sole. 7/10 Speedland GS:RAR : very good shoe, very good quality... they pinch my pinky toe a bit but this has gotten better the more they break in also they were a little "slappy" at first when I was running slow but I trimmed some rubber at the heel and now they go smooth. 7/10 !!! Speedland GL:PDX : I fooking LOOOVE this shoe! So well built, such good traction... the velcro strap could be an inch longer but I am not complaining I have never had heel slippage, my toes have room to splay, the stack is low and I can add the carbon plate for extra fire! I have run almost exclusively in these since Christmas putting in at least 60km a week (~4,000m vertical) in wet technical trails and I have never felt insecure. Plus they are built to last! Tempted to buy another pair soon just to have as backup. 9/10 If you go Speedland put in Freetrail20 at checkout for 20% off 👌🏽

I've had my New Balance Fresh Foam shoes for over four years, and they're still holding up well. There's some wear but no tears, and I've had no issues despite using them for hiking, trail running, and daily street walking. I know this is subjective, but I've never had problems with Gore-Tex shoes, even in hot climates (30C/86F, 80% humidity). I prefer them because the area I live in is often wet. I also wear Darn Tough wool socks.

Beautiful fam! Have you had a chance to compare them to the More Trail V3? They seem to compare to one another (big ole stack trail runners). I have a More Trail but have been eyeballing the Trabuco Max since I'm a huge Asics fan.

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.

The Hierro v9 has a two-layer midsole and provides an excellent level of comfort, but the sole is made for trails with Vibram Megagrip, which means they grip really well but the caveat is that it is a soft rubber and if used on hard surfaces it will wear out quickly. If you can find the New Balance X More Trail v3, you'll be better served because the sole is still Vibram but with a more durable compound.

I've worn New Balance this century. My feet often don't fit in 4E shoes but I've always been able to find something in New Balance lines to fit. I'm running in the More v3 and 1080v13 at the moment. I have bought 6E shoes from New Balance and have a pair in the basement but those are usually vintage or stability.

I’m heavier than you and have gone through a few pairs. Here are some insights on the pairs I’ve used Altra Lone Peak 8s have held up really well. Altra Outroads not so much, version 1 compressed really fast and haven’t enjoyed the feel of version 2 as much but apparently they fixed some durability issues. New Balance Fresh Foam X More, really like these shoes but they are a lot of shoe despite feeling relatively light.

The New Balance More Trail v3 was pretty perfect and was easily found for $100 but they discontinued it. No plate but it was great energy return. The Hierro v9 is a cross between the v3 and the hierro v8 but they dropped some of the shock absorption. Go on RunRepeat, they now have a Shock Absorption (SA) and Energy Return metric, on the graphs they provide for the metric you can click on the column and see all the shoes. So you can click on the higher energy return shoes and cross reference them to the high shock absorption shoes and then look at the price. The biggest issue is that they have only tested a subset of shoes.