Facts
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 9.1 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what runners think:
5 reasons to buy
- Offers nice aesthetics with cool highlights and bright colors.
- A comfortable running shoe that keeps the runners' feet dry and cool while running, according to several testers.
- The upper mesh of the New Balance 860 v6 perfectly molds the foot that result in a snug-like fit.
- With the presence of the ABZORB crash pad, a higher-density EVA foam and ACTEVA lite, this road running shoe provides great shock-absorbing features.
- Some runners love the 6th version of the New Balance 860 for long mileage.
3 reasons not to buy
- The New Balance 860 v6 is a bulky running shoe, which may not look good in runners who have slender feet.
- A couple of runners experience having blisters with this shoe during their first few uses.
- According to many runners, they had issues with the shoe's sizing.
Bottom line
The New Balance 860 v6 is a stability running shoe that casual runners can consider, especially those with moderate overpronation. This shoe is designed for terrains such as roads, and works extremely well as a sturdy training partner.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.
84 / 100 based on 6 expert reviews
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90 / 100 by RunRepeat • Mary Post • Level 2 expert
Perhaps, the number one reason I highly recommend New Balance because I've experienced no blisters and breaking them in was effortless.
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82 / 100 by Phidippides TV • Gregory • Level 4 expert
The New Balance 860, on its 6th version, has discovered that cushioning does not have to sacrifice support or stability.
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86 / 100 by Runner's World • Runner's World • Level 5 expert
It offers support yet is lightweight and durable.
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83 / 100 by Motion Control Running Shoes • Motion Control Running Shoes • Level 5 expert
However, if durability and a more secure fit is also on your wish list and you are a heel-striker, then the New Balance 860v6 might suit you better than the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 16.
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82 / 100 by Fleet Feet Sports • Fleet Feet Sports • Level 3 expert
To cushion and protect for the mileage hungry, the 860v6 is our proud go-to stability offering, and it’s ready to run.
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87 / 100 by Marathon Sports • James Fletcher • Level 1 expert
This shoe is perfect for a runner with a high volume foot (e.g. a high instep or wider midfoot) who needs stability, but it can definitely fit a wide variety of foot shapes.
Updates to New Balance 860 v6
- The 6th version of the New Balance 860 features an updated upper. It comes with an improved padded neoprene tongue that holds the lace in place while giving addition support and comfort. The midfoot and forefoot is a lot wider, giving a roomy toe box.
- The forefoot was also enhanced to increase toe spring. It also has added cushioning and improved dual density post for stability and support in the early stages of the running gait.
New Balance 860 v6 size and fit
The New Balance 860 v6 has a standard running shoe length. The midfoot, heel and forefoot are of standard measurements. This shoe is also available in both narrow and extra wide widths, accommodating a wide range of feet.
Outsole
The outsole unit utilizes the brand’s Ndurance Carbon Rubber technology that delivers reliable traction on both wet and dry surfaces while giving added cushioning and responsiveness. This carbon rubber is highly reliable and offers optimal durability in high wear areas.
Midsole
This shoe uses the ACTEVA LITE midsole foam that is extended to the entire midsole, giving a durable underfoot cushioning. This works impressively well with the shoe’s Medial Post that is strategically placed in the midfoot to correct overpronation.
The ABZORB Crash Pad is another midsole foam that delivers great durability and additional cushioning needed during heel strike. It efficiently absorbs impact for a more stable ride.
Upper
The upper of the New Balance 860 v6 uses an open mesh that is breathable and lightweight. It performs efficiently together with the TPU Skin Upper that gives second-skin fit while securing the foot for a much better performance.
The shoe uses the traditional sockliner that gives more underfoot cushioning while the Asymmetrical Heel Counter offers heel lockdown and aids in addressing overpronation.