New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6 review

We're convinced that the New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6 stands out as an excellent running shoe for:

• Runners with mild pronation looking for exceptional cushioning.
• Fans of the New Balance 1080 series seeking added support.
• Forefoot and midfoot strikers needing a stable, durable shoe.

We're under the impression that the New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6, while a solid shoe, may not completely satisfy those loyal to its earlier versions due to its revamped features—including a novel EVA plate. For those seeking a traditional stability experience with a single layer of foam and no plates, we highly recommend the ASICS Gel Kayano 30.

Furthermore, we've noted that the Vongo v6's weight, exceeding 10 ounces, could be a deterrent for runners prioritizing a lightweight ride. In this case, we suggest considering the Hoka Arahi 7 for its exceptionally light build or the Saucony Guide 17 for outstanding balance and support.

At first look, it appeared to us that New Balance designed the Vongo v6 with an abundance of ventilation holes. However, our practical tests using a smoke-pumping machine were underwhelming, and lead us to assign a disappointing rating of just 1 out of 5.

When we shone a light through the shoe, we discovered a thick engineered knit.

Curious about this, we turned to our microscope for a closer examination.

Here, we confirmed the exceptionally thick knit material. While this upper offers incredible comfort and is ideal for cooler conditions, we think it's less suitable for warmer weather.

Our evaluation also revealed that the upper part of the shoe snugly wraps around the foot, providing stretch and comfort with a feel of high-quality material.

Nonetheless, it clearly lacks in terms of ventilation, as previously demonstrated. From our perspective, there is significant potential for enhancing airflow in the Vongo v7.

In our lab tests, knit uppers usually don't fare well against the rigorous Dremel challenge—however, the Vongo v6 was a standout exception.

Impressively, it sustained minimal damage and earned a good score of 3/5 from us, a remarkable achievement for such a soft, engineered knit upper.

During our second rigorous Dremel test, we put the Vongo's heel padding to the test—an area that often wears out quickly for many runners.

Impressively, the heel padding showed remarkable resilience, scoring a strong 4/5. This result equals robust protection that can withstand even the roughest socks, highlighting an improvement in durability over the toebox.

Our initial satisfaction from previous tests was high, but we knew the outsole, particularly critical in a stability shoe, needed thorough scrutiny. Thus, we embarked on our series of rigorous tests in this area.

The first test, always the quickest, gives us the hardness value. Employing a Shore C durometer, we determined that New Balance uses a hard 86.5-HC rubber for the outsole. This choice aims to reduce wear significantly, though it may slightly compromise grip in certain conditions.

Next, we put the blown rubber to the test with our Dremel, exerting more speed (10K RPM) and duration than used on the shoe's upper—necessary given the material's toughness.

The outsole showed a minimal wear of only 0.7 mm, affirming its durability. Even for runners who pronate heavily, this outsole promises long-lasting performance without wearing down quickly.

To boost even more its durability, New Balance has generously incorporated 3.5 mm of rubber in the Vongo v6.

Right out of the box—and on our first run with the Vongo v6—we couldn't ignore its weight. Tipping the scales at 11.0 oz or 312g, it's clearly not aiming for the lightweight stability shoe category.

For those unconcerned with a heavier shoe, the Vongo v6 excels in nearly every other department. However, for runners for whom weight is a critical factor, this could be a deal breaker.

Oh, and we really believe New Balance has the capability to reduce the weight in future iterations of the Vongo to under 10 ounces—so we certainly hope they will.

Boasting a substantial 36.1 mm heel height, the Vongo v6 now firmly stands in the max-stack category of stability shoes.

This thick cushioning, we feel, is New's Balance's effort to cater to runners across the whole weight spectrum, including those on the heavier side.

The forefoot is exceptionally cushioned too, exceeding the 30-mm mark, ensuring that forefoot and midfoot strikers have ample foam for a comfortable and luxurious ride.

New Balance advertises the Vongo v6 as having a moderate 6-mm drop, and our precise measurements, in accordance with World Athletics guidelines, showed a slight deviation at 5.6 mm.

This small discrepancy is likely just a result of manufacturing variations or the natural compression of the foam after our test runs. Absolutely nothing to worry about.

We found that the 4.9 mm thick insole significantly enhances the softness of the ride.

We're back to the midsole, and there's a lot to unpack. New Balance has shifted from a single-slab, simple layer of Fresh Foam X to a dual-density midsole with a plate in between.

For us, the primary layer is the one closest to the ground. We discovered that New Balance tweaked the Fresh Foam X formulation, making it almost twice as firm as their neutral running shoes. Our durometer reading was 18.9 HA, indicating that the ride is still somewhat plush but not overly soft like a 1080 v13.

The other layer of Fresh Foam X is closer to the feet, and here, New Balance has used a bit less density to achieve a softer feel (15.8 HA), which makes sense. We believe that in a stability shoe, the right approach is this—a softer layer near the feet for comfort and a firmer layer closer to the ground for stability.

With that said, don't expect the ride to be ultra-stable like in hard-like-a-brick shoes. In running shoes, there are always trade-offs, and this is one of those.

Our 20-minute freezer test showed that the EVA midsole hardened by 27.1%, which is a decent outcome. This demonstrates how well the midsole retains its softness even in coldest conditions. 

One of the standout features of the Vongo v6 is the black "EVA film" plate sandwiched between the two layers of Fresh Foam X.

We found it to be a super-thin, 1.5 mm plate made from rock-hard EVA that acts as a stabilizing agent without adding too much longitudinal stiffness. And it works wonders in this all-new Vongo design.

The Vongo has traditionally been a stability shoe within the New Balance range, yet here from the lab, the distinction between neutral trainers and mild-stability footwear is increasingly blurring. This trend is evident with the Vongo v6, which perfectly suits neutral runners while still offering adequate support for those with low to moderate stability needs.

However, for those with more pronounced pronation issues, while the Vongo might suffice, we believe opting for a stiffer, dedicated stability shoe like the Hoka Gaviota 5 is a smarter choice.

We discovered that the Vongo v6 offers exceptional comfort underfoot, largely because it features less torsional rigidity than typical stability shoes, scoring a moderate, daily-trainer-like 3/5 in our evaluations.

We tested the stiffness of the heel counter and discovered that New Balance has strategically increased its rigidity to enhance stability, particularly benefiting heel strikers.

We rate this feature a solid 4/5—it appears to be a smart adjustment for the Vongo based on our knowledge.

With a moderate 6-mm drop and substantial cushioning under the forefoot, New Balance had to ensure ample width to prevent lateral foot collapse.

We measured the forefoot at its widest point—118.3 mm—and were pleased with the generous design.

The heel width of 91.7 mm doesn't feel as substantial compared to other competitors, aligning more with the dimensions of an average trainer. This dimension suggests that with its moderate drop, the shoe primarily supports midfoot strikers rather than heel strikers.

Stability shoes are usually very rigid, but we knew from the start that New Balance aimed to make this shoe as flexible as possible to keep it comfortable in various activities and easy runs. The outsole grooves, the plastic plate instead of a rigid one, and the midsole design all contribute to creating a flexible stability shoe.

We found that they succeeded. With a flexibility rating of 22.8N, it’s even less stiff than some neutral daily trainers like the ASICS Novablast 4.

In cooler conditions, the Fresh Foam X midsole performs admirably, stiffening by only 18.8%. This is impressive for an EVA-based foam, showcasing its ability to maintain a consistent feel even in lower temperatures, like with the previous midsole softness test.

The Vongo v6 follows the 1080 design and offers a comfortable fit that's slightly roomier than standard at 100.0 mm in the widest part of the upper. We believe that this ensures a great fit for most runners right out of the box, even for those with slightly wide feet.

We measured the big toe area to assess the toe cap's space. With a measurement of 78.9 mm, it aligns with our previous findings.

Overall, it's slightly wider than many other running shoes, but in standard width, it doesn’t qualify as a super-wide option for us based on these measurements. However, good news is that New Balance also offers this shoe in a wide size option in most countries.

The tongue features a semi-gusseted design, meaning it's partially attached to the shoe's sides. This addition enhances the lockdown and stops the tongue from sliding sideways, providing a more stable fit.

Our testing revealed that the tongue is padded with a generous 7.7 mm of cushioning.

This exceeds the usual padding found in many shoes, although some may still want a bit more, given the shoe's emphasis on comfort. Nevertheless, we consider this design a wise balance—it offers sufficient padding to enhance comfort without adding unnecessary weight. And this shoe is already quite heavy...

The Vongo v6 lacks the finger-loop heel tab found on many other shoes; however, it features an extended and ultra-padded heel collar.

The insole isn't fixed with adhesive, which we applaud. This design allows for effortless swapping with custom orthotics or third-party insoles!

In this review, we've highlighted similarities between the Vongo v6 and the 1080 v13, and one standout common feature is the large reflective N logo. We love it!