New Balance Fresh Foam X Garoe v2 review

We recommend the New Balance Fresh Foam X Garoe v2 for runners who:

• Want a beginner-friendly trail shoe with solid cushioning.
• Prefer a high heel-to-toe drop, especially heel strikers.
• Enjoy the Fresh Foam X feel on the road and want a similar experience for light trail adventures.

We think the Garoe v2 is not the best choice for runners who need a more moderate drop. Its steep geometry feels limiting, and based on our evaluation, we believe shoes like the Altra Experience Wild 2 or New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 offer a better geometry for forefoot and midfoot strikers.

We also believe wide-footed runners will struggle with the Garoe v2’s tight toebox. In our experience, this compact shape reduces comfort especially on longer efforts. For a more spacious fit, we recommend looking at the ASICS Gel Trabuco 13 instead.

One of the best things in the modern running world is that foam technology is now good enough to offer solid shock absorption at a reasonable price, and shoes in the lower third of the price bracket can now handle longer distances with ease.

The Fresh Foam X Garoe v2 is a clear example of that, boasting 136 SA in the heel and 106 SA in the forefoot after we tested it in our lab.

Advances in foam tech also mean brands like New Balance can now offer better energy return than what used to be the norm. And while Fresh Foam X may feel a bit limited for a premium daily trainer, getting 61.2% energy return in a budget-friendly trail shoe feels very solid to us.

The Garoe v2 comes with 38.4 mm of stack height in the heel, making it one of the best options for budget-conscious trail runners who still want plenty of foam underfoot.

The forefoot is also well cushioned at 27.4 mm, although that number did not impress us as much because it sits close to the average. It also shows that we really need to talk about the heel-to-toe drop.

It is very rare for a trail shoe to have more than 10 mm of drop, but we measured a real offset of 11.0 mm.

This confirms its place in New Balance’s lineup as a beginner-friendly option, since many new runners strike with the heel and benefit from a steep midsole. However, we also think that 11.0 mm can feel excessive even for some heel strikers on inclined or twisty terrain, and something closer to the stated-by-the-brand 8 mm would've been ideal.

We already explained that this shoe comes with Fresh Foam X—it is even shown in the name in true NB style—and that usually means a soft feel underfoot.

After testing the shoe outside and using our durometer on the foam, we discovered the result we expected. Fresh Foam X clearly felt on the softer side compared against most trail shoes, and the 15.9 HA confirmed that.

The Garoe v2 uses a mild forefoot rocker with an extended heel bevel that helps smooth landings—something especially useful for its high 11.0 mm drop. We found that the midfoot stays fairly flat, while the forefoot lift is gentle, creating a simple, gradual transition that keeps the ride stable and predictable on easy trails.

When we first tested the Garoe v2 on the trails, the toebox felt a little tight for us, and we wanted to verify that impression.

We created a precise gel mold of the interior and measured the widest area at 92.3 mm on our caliper, confirming there is not much room inside the shoe.

The toebox also stays tight in the big toe area, measuring 72.4 mm. This falls below the medium range, and you should definitely take this into account if you have wide feet.

Vertical space in the Fresh Foam X Garoe v2 felt standard, and our caliper measurement of 26.8 mm supports that.

This height leaves just enough room above the toes, helping prevent any unwanted pressure.

Another clear sign that this shoe is built for beginners is the 3.2 mm lug depth we measured on the AT Tread outsole.

This setup works well for mellow trails or gravel runs, but together with the steep heel-to-toe drop, it makes the shoe a poor pick for technical terrain.

The outsole uses full AT Tread rubber coverage from heel to toe, with only a small exposed midfoot section. It features Hydro Hesion technology for improved wet-surface grip and uses wide, blocky lugs arranged in a uniform pattern that works very well on compact trails, gravel, and hard-packed paths.

Given the high stack and the absence of horizontal grooves on the outsole, it’s no surprise that this shoe is stiffer than average. In our 30-degree bend test, it reached 17.6N.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X Garoe v2 weighs only 9.5 oz or 269g, which we consider a very reasonable number for a shoe with a higher stack and a moderate price that cannot include top-tier tech.

For reference, we also tested the Nike Kiger 10 this week, and even though it is more expensive and uses much less foam, it ends up weighing almost the same.

We were unsure about the Garoe v2’s breathability during our first inspection, since the upper did not give us many clear hints. It uses ventilation holes, but the double-layer engineered mesh often slows airflow, so we moved straight to our full set of lab tests.

In the first test, we discovered that the smoke escaped at a decent pace, similar to many other trail shoes. This level of ventilation works well for most days outside and feels balanced for trail use, and it's a 3/5 for us.

The upper shows plenty of structure in the heel and midfoot, with a slightly thinner forefoot. Still, it is obvious that New Balance aimed for a durable, supportive build.

Under the microscope, we spotted oval airflow openings along with a secondary layer that boosts comfort but reduces ventilation compared to single-layer designs.

Overall, the upper feels very impressive for a shoe in this price range. Comfort is solid throughout, build quality is good, and the design could easily belong to a more premium model.

The Garoe v2 offers moderate stability that should work well for most runners, though heel strikers with pronation needs may find the ride a bit short on support.

New Balance uses a high-rigidity build with midsole sidewalls and a snug upper to add security, but the shoe’s soft foam and overall narrow width—especially in the heel—keeps it from feeling more stable.

As we mentioned earlier, torsional rigidity is extremely high. With no design elements to offset the full-length rubber coverage and the tall stack height, a 5/5 score was inevitable.

The heel counter is also quite stiff at 4/5, adding a bit of support in the rear of the shoe. New Balance balanced this nicely with plenty of foam padding, so comfort stays high.

One feature that may divide runners is the compact midsole.

It feels great for anyone who wants a high stack without a bulky feel, and it also works nicely as a hiking or even casual shoe. Still, the 108.5 mm width could sit right on the edge of stability for some.

The same situation appears in the heel. At 85.2 mm, it could be a bit wider for heel strikers, but the high heel-to-toe drop shifts forces forward so quickly that it’s less of a concern than in other shoes.

Even trail shoes that won’t see dangerous terrain still need a basic level of durability, and the Garoe v2 delivers with a solid 3/5 score.

Unfortunately, the heel padding is a miss with a 2/5 score. While it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for most runners, it suggests this may be the first area of the shoe to show wear.

The AT Tread outsole is also used in other New Balance trail models, so we had a good idea of what to expect.

In our last Dremel test, it performed well with only 0.9 mm of rubber worn away. That’s a solid result that supports long-lasting trail use.

New Balance used 2.3 mm of rubber, which is close to the average and in line with other trail shoes that come without a rock plate.

The insole doesn’t offer anything special for cushioning and sits at an average 4.7 mm thickness.

The insole is fully removable too. We found that it's molded with raised and engraved New Balance logos, size markings, and production codes from the manufacturing mold, revealing the specific sizes and batch numbers used in its creation.

The Fresh Foam X compound handled cold temperatures surprisingly well, becoming only 16% firmer after spending 20 minutes in our freezer next to the ice creams.

One of the few drawbacks of this shoe shows up here, since it doesn’t include any reflective elements at all.

The Garoe v2 uses a classic punched eyelets combined with five sturdy fabric loops, highlighted by bright orange accents. The flat laces have a trail aesthetic and tighten easily, creating a secure and dependable lockdown for everyday trail runs.

We noted that the tongue delivers a smart mix of comfort and lightness with 4.8 mm of thickness. Many brands rely on thick 10+ mm foam pads for a plush-first feel, but that also adds a lot of weight. We appreciated that New Balance chose a balanced solution here.

The tongue is not attached to the upper, so small debris can slip inside the shoe. However, it's understandable for the price, and shouldn't be a deal-breaker for a shoe like the Garoe v2.

One of the biggest strengths of the Garoe v2 is its value. It sits below most trail shoes in price yet delivers solid cushioning and a more responsive ride than many rivals—even higher-priced ones. It has a few drawbacks, of course, but cost is definitely not one of them.

The heel gets a well-made finger-loop tab that adds even more value to this shoe. We’ve seen plenty of brands use cheaper, less useful designs in models that cost much more.