4 Best New Balance Trail Running Shoes
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It’s no surprise - New Balance creates some of the best road running shoes. And when it comes to trail running shoes, the brand doesn’t hold back.
New Balance trail shoes are plenty durable, and scream trail-ready, to say the least. They’re protective and grippy, you don’t have to worry about the rugged terrain.
There are a lot of New Balance trail models, and choosing can be a drag. With that, we came to your aid and purchased NB trail running shoes to wear and test them through and through. We have chosen the ones that truly impressed us and completely ascended our requirements. In this list, we got you the elites from across categories.
How we test trail running shoes
Here at RunRepeat, we don’t believe that there’s such a thing as “too trivial” in running shoes. We love to get into all the details - the minute ones included - to make sure you only get the best.
And to do so, we do the following without fail:
- We buy each shoe with our own money to test them in our independent shoe testing lab to avoid bias
- We run for at least 30-50 miles in each of them. We log the miles while getting the shoes exposed to different situations and conditions.
- We chop the shoe into pieces to see what’s inside of it, and measure everything up through 30 different parameters
Best New Balance trail running shoes overall
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What makes it the best?
The Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 stands as New Balance's leading trail running shoe, excelling in our outdoor runs and inside the lab. Blending flexibility and cushioning, it caters to trail enthusiasts seeking comfort and agility. Its performance is further solidified with the support of the Vibram Megagrip outsole ensuring reliable traction.
With a stack height of 32.2/24.1 mm and a 9.1 HA durometer rating, the Fresh Foam X offers remarkable protection and plushness. To maintain the balance between softness and support, the ultra-soft foam—60.4% softer than average to be exact—is nestled between the firmer insole and the thick outsole.
Its fluid midsole enhances agility, confirmed by a low 2/5 torsional rigidity score in our manual assessment and 47.5% greater flexibility than average in our bend test. Its loose build is further accentuated by outsole cutouts.
Underfoot, the Vibram Megagrip impresses with durability and grip. Despite a below-average 81.5 HC hardness, it displays resilience with only a 0.7 mm dent in our Dremel test. The 4-mm lugs also kept us stable as we traversed moderate terrain.
However, the dense upper lacks breathability, earning a 2/5 rating. We advise a different pair for summer activities and warmer climates.
Pros
- Superb Vibram outsole
- Exceptionally plush ride
- Remarkably flexible
- Luxuriously-soft Fresh Foam X
- Reasonably priced
- Excellent for winter
- Rare sustainable features
- Reliable grip on moderate trails
- Doubles as a great hiking shoe
Cons
- Poor ventilation
- Problematic non-gusseted tongue
- Durability concerns in toebox and heel
- Not suited for technical trails
New Balance trail running shoes with the best cushioning
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What makes it the best?
Fresh Foam X More Trail v3's max-cushion is immediately noticeable upon the first look and the first step. This shock absorber handles off the beaten paths easily with its excellent traction and unopposing midsole. Our lab testers and runners agree it’s New Balance’s best-cushioned trail shoe.
This is one of the softest trail shoes our durometer tested, standing 45.6% softer than average. This explains why our legs feel fresh after running long miles. It has a thick dual-density foam that rises 38.6/31.5 mm in the heel and forefoot. What’s surprising is how steady and bouncy it is despite the stack. It has high sidewalls and a wide base that prevents the ankles from rolling in.
The outsole delivers the perfect balance of grip and protection. Our durometer measurement is 84.6 HC, slightly below the 85.1 HC average. This means it’s soft enough to increase traction and hard enough for a shield. Its 5.0 mm lugs provide extra grip on loose dirt and muddy tracks.
Our flex test shows its midsole stands 11.4% more flexible than average. This improves our sense of control as we move through uneven terrains with less resistance.
As a highly cushioned shoe, there's little ground feel. This makes it less attractive for tackling more technical trails.
Pros
- Insanely protective even without a rock plate
- Soft cushioning without feeling mushy
- Solid amount of bounce
- Incredibly stable
- Plush and airy upper
- Good grip on mild to moderate trails
- Durable outsole
- Light on the run
- Really smooth ride
- Best for easy days and long runs
- Sustainable
Cons
- Upper could use more support
- Not great for technical trails
- Pointy toebox
Best budget New Balance trail running shoes
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What makes it the best?
DynaSoft Nitrel v6 is a reliable shoe with a non-intimidating price point. For only $75, it delivers smooth transitions and a steady ride from the streets to the trails. Light on foot and in the pocket, it’s remarkably 36.4% cheaper than the average New Balance trail running shoe, making it our best budget pick.
This shoe feels incredibly versatile for walks and hikes thanks to its flexibility and light weight. In our bend test, it's 31.4% more flexible than average, translating to less resistance to our natural motions. On top of this, its 2.7 mm lugs are well-balanced since they cling well to trails without feeling bulky on the road.
DynaSoft Nitrel v6 boasts remarkable lightness at 10.3 oz (291g), staying just under the average trail shoe’s weight, because of its grounded 22.7/20.2 mm cushioning that enhances our stability. Its midsole is a firm 26.1 HA to add more underfoot protection.
This shoe’s low configuration already makes for a stable ride and even includes midsole sidewalls to guide our foot alignment. No matter what path we traversed, we felt very stable, preventing leg fatigue and injuries.
However, we cannot recommend this pair to heavier runners or heel strikers because of its minimal cushioning. We recommend a thicker platform for extra comfort and protection.
Pros
- Comfortable for all-day wear
- Superbly stable
- Good as one-travel shoe
- Exceptional value
- Enhanced durability
- Great for hiking and walking
- Breathability
- Natural, low-to-the-ground experience
Cons
- Non-gusseted tongue
- Lacks cushioning
- Not for heel strikers
- Weight increase
New Balance trail running shoes with the best style
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What makes it the best?
Our confidence was at full blast while strutting the streets and off-the-beaten paths with the most stylish New Balance Trail running shoe, the Tektrel. Its midsole and outsole look one-of-a-kind while its upper shows immense breathability and solid durability in our lab. For such a comfy shoe, its $90 price is such a steal!
No matter how long we stayed under the sun’s scorching heat, our feet felt good thanks to the shoe’s seamless airflow. Testing in the lab, smoke flowed out freely, earning a 5/5 breathability score. On top of that, it showed undeniable strength against our Dremel, earning an impressive 4/5 score.
Beyond looks, the midsole is supportive and comfortable too! The moderate stack is a balanced 23.0 HA, ensuring our surefootedness. Meanwhile, it emerged 22.1% more flexible than average, enhancing comfort for prolonged wear.
However, we found that the stylish outsole lacks grip and resistance to wear. More serious terrain runners should consider shoes with better traction.
Pros
- Tough yet breathable upper
- Ideal for easy, non-technical trails
- Competitively priced
- Suitable for all footstrikes
- Versatile for hiking and walking
- Unique design
- Versatile
- Enough room for toe splay
Cons
- Bad weight/cushioning ratio
- Outsole durability concerns
- Unconventional lacing system
- Lacks reflective elements