New Balance Fresh Foam X Evoz v3 review

We recommend the New Balance Fresh Foam X Evoz v3 for:

• Runners frustrated by budget-friendly daily trainers that feel too heavy—the Evoz v3 delivers a lighter design while maintaining affordability.
• Those seeking a versatile, well-cushioned shoe for both casual running and everyday wear.
• Weekend warriors looking for a no-nonsense option that costs less than premium models but still performs well in various scenarios.

The Evoz v3 struggles in hot weather due to its dense upper, which traps heat and moisture. While this can be an advantage in colder climates, we think it’s not ideal for year-round use. For better ventilation, we suggest the Nike Winflo 10, which balances breathability and comfort at a similar price point.

In our experience, the Evoz v3 also falls short in energy return, feeling less responsive compared to others in its range. The ASICS Gel Pulse 15 delivers a faster ride at a similar cost, while the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 or ASICS Novablast 5 offer superior performance if you can stretch your budget slightly.

The ultra-cushioned trend dominating running shoes makes a 34.3 mm heel seem almost modest. However, we believe this daily trainer delivers enough cushioning to support heel strikers effortlessly during runs.

In our view, this balanced stack height is a well-thought-out choice for a beginner-friendly shoe like the Evoz v3. Less foam might compromise comfort, while more could create support challenges, making this design a reliable solution.

We could have copy-pasted the same words from the heel to the forefoot—at 26.4 mm of stack height, it’s perfectly average. Again, New Balance avoided risky experiments here, sticking to a simple design that just works.

We found an actual drop of 7.9 mm between the heel and forefoot, slightly higher than the advertised 6 mm by New Balance. In our opinion, this moderate drop feels better suited for casual runners and weekend warriors alike.

Before unboxing the Evoz v3 and diving into our tests, we were intrigued—and here’s why. In our experience, cost-effective running shoes rarely feature plush midsoles, but with Fresh Foam X in the name (like the ultra-soft 1080 v14) we had high hopes.

After running in the Evoz v3 and conducting lab tests, we found it wasn’t plush or bouncy at all. The durometer read 20.6 HA, and it leaned more toward being somewhat firm, likely due to the thick outsole that makes it even firmer than what the durometer suggest.

This also confirmed what we’ve often observed—two shoes may share the Fresh Foam X label, but the midsole’s formulation can differ greatly, leading to completely different underfoot experiences.

To evaluate how this version of Fresh Foam X responds to colder conditions, we placed the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes before testing it.

The midsole became slightly firmer, registering at 23.6 HA. This was only a minimal 14% increase, which we think is an excellent result.

This shoe appears to focus on staying comfortably average, and the 4.4-mm insole aligns perfectly with that theme.

While many running shoes embrace extreme curvatures, we believe New Balance made the right call by sticking to a classic, low-rocker profile for the Evoz v3—perfect for both casual runs and everyday walking.

The Evoz v3 felt slightly tight in our field tests, prompting us to analyze its toebox design more closely. We made a custom gel mold, and we performed precise measurements to better understand its fit and structure.

Our first measurement—taken at the widest part of the toebox—showed 92.9 mm. From our perspective, this confirms the toebox is narrower than average.

Afterward, we measured the big toe area, where the result was more generous at 73.6 mm, slightly compensating for the initial narrowness. In our view, the width is fairly average, especially if you adjust the laces to open up the toebox.

In terms of vertical space, the Evoz v3 posed no issues.

Our measurement of 27.6 mm confirms there’s ample room for upward toe movement, providing a comfortable and unrestricted fit.

The Evoz v3 is a neutral trainer and wasn’t crafted with those needing extra stability in mind.

That said, we found it capable of handling mild pronators thanks to its firmer midsole and elevated midfoot sidewalls. However, for runners requiring real support, we believe a stability-focused shoe—like the ASICS GT 1000 13—is a better pick.

We were somewhat surprised by the torsional rigidity of this shoe, as budget-friendly daily trainers typically score below 3/5 and fall short of average levels. That said, it’s far from being considered a rigid shoe.

The firm heel counter, which we rated a 4, caught us slightly off guard and is the primary reason this shoe feels reasonably stable for rearfoot strikers. However, runners sensitive to firmer heels might find the Evoz v3 less comfortable.

In their effort to design an average running shoe, New Balance got it right in the forefoot, measuring 112.3 mm. We found this design leans toward a more agile feel, working wonders for casual runs.

Using our calipers on the heel, we found a width of 91.2 mm—again average, but leaning toward the wider side. In our view, this design contributes to its somewhat stable feel, fitting well for beginner-focused daily trainers.

We discovered the Evoz v3 to offer outstanding longitudinal flexibility. During our usual 90-degree bend test, it required only 18.4N.

This flexible design makes it an excellent choice for casual wear too.

One of the standout features of the Evoz v3 is its impressively low weight. At just 9.05 oz or 257g, it defies the heavier build common in budget-friendly running shoes, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a lightweight option.

Until now, we were fairly impressed with the Evoz v3, considering its budget-friendly price point. There were some ups and downs, but overall, it seemed like a solid option. However, ventilation quickly emerged as a noticeable challenge, even potentially a dealbreaker for certain runners.

Using our smoke machine, we observed that airflow performance was significantly limited. The shoe scored a mere 2/5 on our scale, which, in our view, highlights a critical area for improvement in future versions of this model.

When we shifted to a light source test, the results were even more surprising. The upper entirely blocked the light, confirming that New Balance likely prioritized durability over breathability in this design.

What puzzled us most was that the Evoz has ventilation holes in the toebox. Under the microscope, we found that these openings were fully obstructed by an underlying layer of fabric, negating their purpose.

Nonetheless, despite its breathability issues, the upper is decently comfortable and provides good value for casual use. However, for those planning to run in hot conditions, this shoe (especially in this dark colorway) might not be the best choice. 

Our theory about this upper focused on durability, so we put it to the test against our Dremel. The outcome? A solid 3/5 score, surpassing the durability of many running shoes on the market!

The heel offers a soft-and-cushioned feel, a design we typically link to reduced durability. Indeed, its 2/5 score indicates it should hold up reasonably well for most runners but may pose challenges for those who usually wear holes in this area.

After finishing our tests on the upper, we turned our attention to the outsole—and here came an unexpected twist.

Budget-friendly running shoes often rely on firm outsoles with full-length rubber coverage to enhance durability, but that’s not the case here.

New Balance chose a softer-than-average rubber, measuring just 75.5 HC on our durometer. With plenty of exposed midsole—highly visible in white—we couldn’t help but feel concerned about the potential for early wear.

But our final Dremel test of the day completely changed our perspective. With only 0.6 mm of wear recorded, we found the design impressively durable—especially considering such lightweight construction would be impossible with heel-to-toe rubber coverage.

To compensate for the reduced rubber coverage in certain areas, New Balance crafted the outsole with a 4.1 mm thickness, lifting the foam slightly higher than we typically observe in the lab.

In our opinion, this thickness not only provides added durability but also leaves room for even lighter future iterations.

One of the standout features of the Evoz v3 is undoubtedly its price. In fact, we believe it offers some of the best value in New Balance’s lineup.

In our experience, the Fresh Foam X Evoz v3 offers some intriguing features for being a beginner-friendly shoe. However, we discovered it lacks reflective details!

Here’s another risk-averse design from the Evoz v3. With 5.3 mm of padding in the tongue, it’s comfortably around the average.

According to our research, low-cost daily trainers often include extra foam here since it’s a simple way to boost comfort, but we think anything over 5 mm feels sufficient. Adding more would only contribute unnecessary bulk without meaningful gains. From our perspective, this lightweight-yet-cushioned tongue strikes a perfect balance.

The tongue is attached to the midsole, and we loved how it keeps the tongue from sliding around. And hey, this is a rare and welcome feature in a budget-friendly shoe!

New Balance tends to reserve the practical finger-loop heel tabs for trail models like the Hierro v8. Therefore, road shoes in their lineup often skip this useful feature—and the trend continues with the Evoz v3.

The insole is easily replaceable, and we think you won’t miss the original if you opt for another one—it's average in terms of quality and doesn’t stand out in any particular way.