7 Best New Balance Running Shoes For Women, 100+ Shoes Tested in 2023

Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic on
| Reviewed using methodology 1.5
7 Best New Balance Running Shoes For Women, 100+ Shoes Tested in 2023

Women’s running shoes from New Balance are not just stylish. They’re also ready to fuel your runs with unmatched energy return and comfort. 

With hundreds of New Balance running shoes for women, it can be confusing. But because our mission is to help all runners, we took it upon ourselves to test and painstakingly select the ten best women’s running shoes from New Balance from five different categories.

Best overall
New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6 New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6
$135 $94 From Amazon
Best road
New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v11 New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v11
$130 $73 From Amazon
Best trail
New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1 New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1
$165 $120 From Amazon
Best stability
New Balance Fresh Foam 860 v12 New Balance Fresh Foam 860 v12
$130 $62 From Amazon
Best neutral
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11 New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11
$150 $89 From Amazon
Best value
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v12 New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v12
$160 From Zappos
Most popular
New Balance FuelCell Prism v2 New Balance FuelCell Prism v2
$120 $63 From Amazon
See all 121 women's new balance running shoes
Table of contents How we test running shoesBest overallBest roadBest trailBest stabilityBest neutralBest valueMost popularComparison
Overview

How we test running shoes

When we say “painstakingly,” we mean absolute thoroughness. As in, we buy them with our own money to avoid brand loyalty. Plus, we examine them carefully in our independent shoe testing facility. 

Those aside, we also go through the rigorous process of: 

  • Running in each New Balance women’s running shoes for at least 30 to 50 miles
  • Slicing them into pieces 
  • Measure and assess their parts via 30 parameters
  • Generate their Corescore using hundreds of comments from users and experts

Best women's New Balance running shoes overall

New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6
New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6
$94
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$100
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$140
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No stock  

CoreScore

90
Superb!
4.6 / 5 from 5,189 users
86 / 100 from 14 experts

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Super plush
  • Protective underfoot
  • Amazing lockdown
  • Easy to put on (heel loop!)
  • True to size
  • Heel rudder
  • Looks amazing
  • Value at $135

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Runs warm
  • Could be grippier

Verdict

A heavy-duty trail beast, the New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6 proves that it's more than capable of taking a beating from harsh elements! It crushes everything underfoot and will last plenty of miles. It works best as a road-to-trail transition shoe and a light to moderate dedicated trail shoe.
New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6 full review

Best New Balance road running shoes for women

New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v11
New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v11
$73
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$80
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$100
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$100
See deal  

CoreScore

89
Great!
4.4 / 5 from 5,535 users
94 / 100 from 11 experts

Pros

  • True to size
  • Secure foot lockdown
  • Responsive and cushioned
  • Very comfortable
  • No adaptation period
  • Impressive grip on wet surfaces
  • Minimal wear after 100km

Cons

  • Not for warm weather

Verdict

The 880 v11 is one of the best daily trainers that you can get from New Balance. Amazingly comfortable and well-cushioned, it will help you cover any distance up to a marathon. Straight from the box, you get an equally enjoyable experience in the upper and underfoot. And that's not to mention the beautiful aesthetics coming with it.
New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v11 full review

Best New Balance trail running shoes for women

New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1
New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1
$120
See deal  
No stock  
No stock  
No stock  

CoreScore

90
Superb!
4.5 / 5 from 696 users
89 / 100 from 9 experts

Pros

  • Soft cushioning
  • Generous toe box
  • Good grip
  • Comfortable on easy, long runs
  • Durable
  • Supportive upper
  • Supportive heel sections

Cons

  • Not protective
  • Not stable enough
  • Not for narrow feet
  • Tongue keeps on twisting

Verdict

Often compared to some Hoka trail shoes, the New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1 is loved for its highly-cushioned platform that feels at home on easy, long-distance runs. It is not a shoe for super technical terrains. So, if you are looking for an aggressive pair that can handle rough trail surfaces, consider a pair of Salomon trail running shoes.
New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v1 full review

Best New Balance stability running shoes for women

New Balance Fresh Foam 860 v12
New Balance Fresh Foam 860 v12
$62
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$70
See deal  
$77
See deal  
$80
See deal  

CoreScore

87
Great!
4.4 / 5 from 4,878 users
86 / 100 from 7 experts

Pros

  • Excellent stability shoe
  • Good lacing
  • Looks the part
  • Comfortable
  • Consistent ride in any condition
  • Good grip
  • Perfect daily runner

Cons

  • Runs half a size small
  • Heel counter is not for everyone
  • Quite heavy

Verdict

New Balance’s stability running shoe provides amazing support for overpronators. Ever improving, the v12 has brought some new technology into this shoe while bringing back some of the features of the old upper.
New Balance Fresh Foam 860 v12 full review

Best New Balance neutral running shoes for women

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11
$89
See deal  
$90
See deal  
$105
See deal  
$113
See deal  

CoreScore

89
Great!
4.5 / 5 from 25,846 users
87 / 100 from 23 experts

Pros

  • Extremely comfortable
  • Hugs your feet
  • Superb breathability
  • Tongue stays put
  • Flawless grip
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Upper too flexible
  • Wobbly
  • Need caution on sharp/quick turns

Verdict

We found the New Balance Fresh Foam More 1080 v11 a daily running shoe where comfort is paramount! So much so that it lags behind in performance. Where it shines, however, is in its grip and surprisingly light weight. The grip was just flawless - on cement, wet and icy sections, it kept our strides stable.
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11 full review

Best value New Balance running shoes for women

New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v12
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v12
$160
See deal  
$160
See deal  
$160
See deal  
$160
See deal  

CoreScore

88
Great!
4.4 / 5 from 2,815 users
86 / 100 from 11 experts

Pros

  • Protective cushion
  • Lively ride
  • Smooth transitions
  • Stable when cornering
  • Comfy upper
  • Durable outsole
  • Welcomes wide feet
  • For heavy runners
  • Grippy on snow, slush, and slick surfaces
  • No lace bites
  • Great heel hold
  • An eye-catcher

Cons

  • Not for narrow feet
  • Bottom-heavy for fast runs
  • Questionable breathability

Verdict

If you're looking for a great middle between the more traditional, lower-stacked NB 880 v11 and the uber cushy NB Fresh Foam More v3, that's where the Fresh Foam X 1080 v12 sits. It's a comfortable cruiser that's perfect for anything easy to moderate. And with the copious amount of foam it possesses, it's a gem in long-distance runs where protection and stability are at the forefront.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v12 full review

Most popular New Balance running shoes for women

New Balance FuelCell Prism v2
New Balance FuelCell Prism v2
$63
See deal  
$85
See deal  
$100
See deal  
$120
See deal  

CoreScore

84
Good!
4.3 / 5 from 244 users
89 / 100 from 4 experts

Pros

  • Spacious toebox
  • Cushioned upper
  • Durable
  • Responsive
  • Grips well on all surfaces

Cons

  • Not for severe overpronation
  • Runs large
  • Heavier than the first version

Verdict

Built for mild stability, the New Balance FuelCell Prism v2 is not for quick, fast-paced runs. It is more suitable for runners who need a lightweight everyday trainer. It also delivers a more stable platform, secure lockdown, and admirable grip. Those who have severe overpronation should look elsewhere.
New Balance FuelCell Prism v2 full review
Author
Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic

Whether it's a vertical kilometre or an ultra, climbing in the Alps or exploring local mountains, Jovana uses every opportunity to trade walls and concrete for forests and trails. She logs at least 10h/week on trails, with no off-season, and 4x more on research on running and running shoes. With a background in physics and engineering management, she prefers her running spiced with data.

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