New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 review

We believe the New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 is a standout choice for:

• Runners with moderate stability needs who want a versatile daily trainer that easily transitions into a supportive walking shoe.
• Those seeking plush cushioning without sacrificing support or durability in a stability shoe.
• Fans of the 880 or 1080 series looking for more stability while maintaining the familiar comfort and cloud-like feel of Fresh Foam X.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 has a dual-layer midsole and an overly complex design that might not appeal to runners who prefer a simpler setup. We think the ASICS Gel Kayano 31 or the ASICS GT 2000 13 are better options for those with moderate stability needs who want a more reliable, predictable ride.

In our lab tests, we found that the durability of the 860 v14 falls short, which is a concern. If that's a dealbreaker for you, the New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6 offers a similar midsole setup with a more durable knit upper.

The engineered mesh upper of the 860 is a simple design, free of thermoplastic or added elements that could obstruct airflow. However, ventilation was still not the best—earning a 3/5 rating.

We found that New Balance prioritized comfort and stability over breathability, which somehow makes sense for a shoe like this. When held up to the light, it's clear that not much air passes through, especially in the midfoot area.

Our microscope revealed the standard dual-layer engineered mesh found in many other running shoes.

While this setup enhances comfort, it unfortunately blocks ventilation. For future models, we think that New Balance needs to perforate the secondary layer to improve airflow.

The upper's slight stretch is great for a flexible fit, allowing toe better movement, and the substantial heel padding helps offset the high stiffness of the rigid counter.

Starting with its less-than-stellar breathability, we were eager to test if the lack of airflow would at least deliver the durability we expect from a dependable trainer.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. After using the Dremel, we discovered a significant hole—leading us to rate its performance at a disappointing 2/5. There's definitely a lot of room for improvement in this area.

The drama didn’t end there—the heel counter showed one of the worst performances we’ve seen in the lab recently. 

If the toebox earned a 2, this time we had to give the lowest possible score. We found the heel padding deserving of a dismal 1/5—something that should definitely put New Balance on alert!

After finishing with the upper, we shifted to the outsole, hoping for better results. First, we measured the hardness of the Blown Rubber compound, which came in at 84.8 HC—that makes the ride a bit firmer than expected especially on forefoot landings.

Before diving into our third Dremel test to assess real durability, we took a closer look at the outsole. It mirrors recent New Balance designs but with noticeably more midsole coverage. This adds some weight but should boost durability—a critical factor for those with stability concerns.

So we fired up the Dremel for the final time. The result? We measured a wear depth of 1.2 mm, which we think is an decent outcome.

While this measurement isn’t alarming, it left us slightly underwhelmed. All in all, we expected a bit more from this foam regarding durability and grip. This photo clearly highlights that the exposed midsole is minimal, with the white pods also covered in rubber.

We measured the outsole thickness and found it to be 3.5 mm—a generous layer of rubber. However, this also explains why the ride feels a bit muted during runs.

In our view, this thickness compensates somewhat for the average durability we discovered earlier.

Recent New Balance daily trainers like the Fresh Foam X 1080 v13 impressed us with their lightweight build, but that’s not the case for the Fresh Foam X 860 v14. While not heavy, its 10.4 oz (295g) result is just decent.

We believe the added weight comes from two main factors—the 860 v14 includes a bigger midsole, and it features greater rubber coverage to handle the wear pronators often cause in the outsole.

The 860 v14 surprised us with its higher-than-expected stack height. At 36.8 mm in the heel, it’s even slightly more cushioned than the latest Vongo, which was a pleasant surprise during our testing.

We believe this makes the 860 an appealing choice for runners who crave extra cushioning in the rear without the added price and heft of the Vongo series. The 860 has a more balanced design, offering a substantial cushion underfoot while remaining lighter than its premium counterpart.

The forefoot sits just below the 30-mm threshold that many maximalist shoes now target. At 27.5 mm, we believe the height strikes a good balance, making the shoe capable of handling long runs for most runners.

In our experience, this shoe provides sufficient cushioning for most runners, though it may feel a bit thin for heavy individuals. The lower profile creates a more grounded and responsive feel underfoot, making it a solid choice for a variety of paces.

We were advised to expect an 8-mm drop, but our detailed measurements revealed 9.3 mm. This minor deviation doesn't affect the shoe's high-offset design, which works fantastically for heel strikers.

Inside the shoe, we found a comfortable EVA insole, measuring 4.8 mm in thickness. In our experience, this footbed aligns well with what we expect from an average daily trainer.

The midsole of the New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 is quite intriguing. Rather than using a single slab of foam, it features two different Fresh Foam X compounds.

The primary layer, with a softness rating of 10.9 HA, runs full length below the footbed, providing the plush feel we all expect from Fresh Foam X. Meanwhile, there's a smaller, much firmer layer in the heel designed to enhance stability.

We believe that pairing this soft foam with the EVA Film plate and the firmer heel foam creates a balanced mix for both comfort and support, with moderate energy return. Fresh Foam X is, after all, an EVA foam—so don't expect an exhilarating ride here.

As we mentioned earlier, the 860 v14 uses a dual-foam setup with two layers of Fresh Foam X. The first layer is ultra-soft, while the second—marked by an arrow and slightly darker—runs from the midfoot to the heel and feels significantly firmer.

In our durometer test, this secondary layer measured 23.8 HA, more than twice the softness of the main one. This clever design offers extra support in the heel, further enhanced by a thin EVA film plate, which we’ll cover in the stability section. But hey, it’s works!

Since Fresh Foam X is EVA-based, we weren't surprised when the midsole firmed up by 54.1% in our second durometer test after 20 minutes in the freezer. Disappointing, yes—but definitely expected.

Let’s dive into stability, as it's the most crucial aspect of this shoe. The 860 v14 takes inspiration from the latest Vongo, using an EVA plate that doesn’t add stiffness but helps balance out the softer layer of Fresh Foam X.

To enhance stability and push you outwards, New Balance incorporates a broader midfoot area plus a wedge design, where the outer side is firmer due to a larger portion of the secondary foam. This creates a steady feel, ideal for runners with moderate or slightly higher pronation. It’s a traditional stability method, thoughtfully adapted to today’s needs.

For a mild-stability running shoe, the Fresh Foam X 860 v14 is surprisingly flexible, earning a 3/5 in our assessment. This is great for comfort, and honestly, we believe adding more stiffness wasn’t necessary at all.

We found that New Balance slightly stiffened the heel counter compared to its daily trainers, scoring a 4/5 on our scale. In our experience, this added firmness aligns well with the 860 line's stability focus, especially for rearfoot strikers.

When we first held the shoe after receiving it from our New Balance online purchase, it was clear this wasn’t one of those bulky stability giants like the Hoka Gaviota 5—it felt much sleeker and more streamlined.

In terms of dimensions, it's more like a standard running shoe, with a forefoot width of 113.6 mm.

There’s a small but important change from the 880 that we noticed here in the 860—our calipers revealed the heel has been widened to enhance support in this area. And this is crucial since many runners with moderate stability needs are rearfoot strikers.

Our second measurement confirmed this with a 93.6 mm result.

What makes the 860 stand out from most competitors is New Balance's unique approach to stability, using a combination of two foams and an EVA Film plate. This plate isn’t ordinary—it runs full length in the heel but only covers the inner side of the midfoot and forefoot to counterbalance pronation forces. Check it out!

But, what exactly is EVA Film? Well, it's a super-flexible plate made from compressed foam that adds almost no stiffness but helps keep the foot centered.

Unlike nylon or carbon plates that enhance both stability and running economy but add torsional rigidity, the EVA Film in this shoe focuses on support and comfort.

In our 90-degree bend test, we measured a remarkably low 20.4N, even softer than many popular neutral daily trainers! This makes the 860 v14 an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile shoe with a wide range of activities in mind, not just running.

In our tests, we discovered that while the cold-weather results significantly impacted softness, the increase in stiffness was minimal—only a 13.2% uptick. This result is quite surprising!

Shifting to the upper, we immediately noticed a snugger fit compared to the more relaxed feel of the neutral 880 v14—something we anticipated. The narrower design helps boost stability by creating slight midsole flare on the sides, which is well-suited for this shoe’s purpose, making the trade-off worthwhile.

We measured the widest part of the upper at 99.5 mm with our calipers, an average width that should accommodate most feet comfortably. In classic New Balance style, the shoe is available in all 4 widths, though not every market may carry the full range.

We measured a toe box width of 77.7 mm, which aligns perfectly with our experience—it feels neither too spacious nor too snug, just average.

In terms of volume, we found there enough room, never feeling too tight, which we appreciated. Recently, New Balance has tended to design uppers that sat too low, but this one offers a comfortable fit.

We discovered a great semi-gusseted tongue made from perforated fabric—a thoughtful addition, as many brands often use non-ventilated materials that go unnoticed. This part of the shoe rarely gets attention, but we always make sure to evaluate it.

The tongue is a winner. At 6.7 mm thick, it falls perfectly within our preferred range, offering just the right amount of cushion for the instep without feeling too bulky.

We were also happy with the lacing system. It features flat laces, punched eyelets, and the option to tie a variety of knots with the extra hole. Plus, the tongue loop adds an extra layer of security. It's simple, yet effective.

In keeping with most Fresh Foam X designs from the road lineup—trail models differ—New Balance skipped the heel tab and instead added the 860 logo, ensuring everyone knows which model you're sporting out there.

We easily removed the insole, so if you want to swap it for another one that adds even more support, it's not a problem at all.

We found the price of the 860 v14 to be reasonable for the features and materials it offers. While it’s not an outstanding bargain, we believe it sits comfortably within a reasonable range. In our view, the shoe delivers enough performance to justify its cost, and we hope that New Balance maintains this pricing for future versions.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the big N logo on the New Balance 860 v14 is reflective—a feature we didn’t find on its neutral sibling, the 880 v14. In our view, reflective details are an essential safety addition in daily trainers, especially for evening runners!