5 Best New Balance Trail Running Shoes

The Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 stands as New Balance's leading trail running shoe, excelling in our mountain runs and lab tests. Blending soft with stiff elements, it caters to trail enthusiasts seeking comfort and support. Its performance is further solidified with the Vibram Megagrip outsole ensuring reliable traction and underfoot protection.

With a stack height of 37.3/33.1 mm and a 14.6 HA durometer rating, the Hierro v9 offers remarkable impact protection and plushness without being overly soft. The cushion is so thick, all foot strikers will feel protected even up to ultra distances.

Its stiff midsole enhances stability, confirmed by its perfect 5/5 torsional rigidity score in our manual assessment. In addition, it features a broad 116.9/94.1 mm base to safekeep our strides.

Underfoot, the Vibram Megagrip impresses with durability and grip. Despite an above-average 88.6 HC hardness, it displays resilience and a solid bite on mixed surfaces. The toothy 3.3 mm lugs kept us in control and boosted our confidence in our trail adventures.

However, it features a moderate 4.2 mm drop that suits mid to forefoot strikers only. We recommend heel strikers to find a higher drop to feel at home.

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.

The FuelCell SuperComp Trail delivers a thrilling yet comforting ride in our mountain runs. Our lab tests show it maintains a light build, features a plush yet stable ride, and offers reliable traction for high-speed action, making it our best super shoe among New Balance trail running shoes.

It’s amazing how weightless this shoe feels, even more so when we pick up the pace! Our scales reveal it’s only 8.8 oz (248g), 14.5% below average, allowing us to breeze through the trails.

The plush midsole blew us away with its bottomless comfort, especially since trail shoes tend to be firm. We recorded a durometer reading of 11.5 HA, a whopping 49.1% softer than the average! To keep our balance, this shoe has a forked plate to enhance its stability and propulsion.

Another feature that gave us the confidence to go flat out is its reliable Vibram Megagrip Litebase. True to its name, it offers mega grip even with its shallow 2.9 mm lugs. We like how it’s not bulky and is best suited for fast and easy trails.

However, this shoe features a steep 13.0 mm drop that heavily favors rear strikers. If otherwise, we recommend finding a more balanced shoe.

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.

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.