New Balance Hesi Low v2 review

Having analyzed the pros and cons of the New Balance Hesi Low v2, we believe that it will benefit players who:

• prioritise tacky grip
• need a versatile shoe that offers agility without compromising impact protection
• want a highly durable shoe at a moderate price point

The low-rebound nature of the Hesi Low v2's cushioning can make it feel dead and uninspiring. If you want a similar shoe setup with a more propulsive ride, try the Jordan Zion 4 or the Nike A'One.

And if you're after a shoe for playing pickup on the blacktop, see our guide on the best outdoor basketball shoes.

The NB Hesi Low v2 features a full-length FuelCell midsole, which showed standard shock absorption in the heel (106 SA) and an above-average one in the forefoot (90 SA). This makes it rather versatile for different types of hoopers.

Inside the New Balance shoe range, it offers a bit more impact protection than the TWO WXY V5 (101/88 SA) but notably less than the Fresh-Foam-packed BB v3 (127/101 SA).

We felt rather underwhelmed by the lack of rebound in the Hesi Low v2's. With some of the lowest energy return measurements of 44.8% in the heel and 48.2% in the forefoot, it feels flat and practically dead underfoot. So, jumps and first steps can feel a bit more labored in this shoe.

But there is an upside to it as well, as you get a highly stable and planted experience in return.

The Hesi Low v2 caught us off guard with its additional 6.8 mm of stack height in the heel! At 32.9 mm, it is no longer the low-stack platform we experienced in the first Hesi Low.

It is also a few millimeters taller than the basketball shoe average and is almost on par with the BB v3 (34.3 mm)!

Even the shoe's forefoot stack grew a bit taller, exceeding the average at 22.9 mm. This helps to explain an improvement in the shoe's impact protection as well.

The difference in stack heights also results in the shoe's slightly above-average 10.0 mm drop. It's not too steep to cause a forward-leaning pitch, but it helps take some strain off the Achilles and calves.

According to our durometer measurements, the FuelCell foam of the Hesi Low v2 is firmer than the brand's Fresh Foam X cushioning, especially the one used in the BB v3.

For context, we recorded a moderately firm reading of 39.1 AC in the Hesi Low v2, which is 53% firmer than the BB v3's 25.6 AC!

Sliding into the New Balance Hesi Low v2, we couldn't believe how tight-fitting its forefoot is for our regular men's US size 9 (medium width)!

But when we extracted a solidified gel mold of its interiors, it all fell into place...Our caliper measured the replica's widest part at an exceptionally narrow 89.3 mm!

Good thing this NB shoe is also available in a wide (2E) alternative because we think that even hoopers with medium-width feet may have trouble wearing it for long training sessions or all four quarters.

Thankfully, the shoe's toebox shape doesn't exacerbate the situation as it's not so aggressively tapered. Our caliper showed a standard width of 71.0 mm in its big toe area.

There is no lack of vertical space either.

Our toenails didn't feel pressured thanks to the shoe's ample toebox height of 24.9 mm.

The Hesi Low v2's sticky outsole clings to hardwood like few other basketball shoes do. Showing a particularly high, above-average friction coefficient of 0.84, it actually exceeds the category average!

Hard stops, linear moves like sprints, and all sorts of lateral moves all felt amazingly supported in this New Balance shoe.

The shoe uses a simple, circular, wavy tread pattern that radiates outward in both the forefoot and the heel.

The pivot point in its ball-of-foot area features a pause symbol, echoing the shoe's name and the deceiving hesi move it excels at.

The shoe's forefoot section has decent pliability, allowing smooth transitions without overflexing. We measured that it takes a regular amount of force to bend the Hesi Low v2 by 30 degrees. That way, it hits a sweet spot between adaptability and support, like most basketball shoes.

The Hesi Low v2's increased stack height also added half an ounce of weight, bringing the total to 13.5 oz (383g) in a men's US size 9.

And even though it didn't exceed the category average, it no longer feels as speedy and nimble on foot as the previous version.

Breathability still leaves much to be desired in the Hesi Low v2 as the shoe's toebox released practically no smoke in our lab test.

Our transparency check further confirmed the absence of pores or ventilation channels in its upper.

And no wonder, considering how tightly woven its textile is!

Mix that compact weave with the shoe's densely padded interiors, and you get a formula for poor breathability that deserves a low score of only 2 out of 5.

The New Balance Hesi Low v2 looks and feels more externally reinforced than its predecessor. It now packs a sturdy nylon shank that extends from the midfoot back to the heel, a rigid TPU heel clip, and a more prominent midsole topline.

We also couldn't help but notice the more rounded edges of its heel, making side-to-side transitions feel smoother during shuffles, crossovers, and defensive slides.

The aforementioned components add a lot of structure to the shoe, increasing its torsional rigidity to the max. On a 1-5 stiffness scale, we easily gave it the highest 5/5.

This ensures zero wobbling on sharp directional cuts and minimizes the risk of unwanted foot or ankle twisting.

The shoe's external TPU heel clip increases rigidity at the base of the rearfoot, leaving some pliability in the top of the collar. That ensures a secure lockdown without putting too much pressure on the Achilles.

This compromise is reflected in our middle-ground stiffness score of 3 out of 5.

And as for the shoe's platform width, our digital caliper shows that it's been trimmed slightly and now falls within the typical range for a basketball shoe.

The widest part of its forefoot showed a regular 113.3 mm.

The shoe's heel width also proved to be on par with the average, with a normal measurement of 88.0 mm.

The lack of upper breathability clearly paid off in the Hesi Low v2's stronger abrasion resistance. Having applied our Dremel to the toebox area, we saw very minimal damage and raised the shoe's toebox durability score to 4 out of 5.

The textile lining inside the shoe wasn't a disappointment either! Showing only moderate wear and tear after the Dremel test, we assessed its heel padding durability as 3 out of 5.

And most importantly, we were pleased to see just how well this New Balance shoe's outsole stood up against the Dremel test! With a fairly shallow dent depth of 0.7 mm, this rubber promises a long and happy lifespan!

Pair that with the shoe's outsole thickness of 4.0 mm, and you get a recipe for a very strong outsole for the price!

But please note that we still wouldn't recommend the Hesi Low v2 for hooping outdoors because of how thin and prominent its treadlines are.

From our experience with New Balance shoes, the brand consistently adds a touch of comfort to make the in-shoe experience more pleasant.

So we are not surprised to find a generously padded 5.9 mm insole inside the Hesi Low v2.

But it's also easily removable in case you opt for a custom insert or arch support.

A small eyestay around the shoe's topmost eyelets happens to be reflective.

The shoe's tongue and collar also turned out to be heavily padded for comfort and containment.

Its tongue, in particular, showed an above-average thickness of 11.3 mm on our digital caliper.

The black colorway makes it hard to see, but the Hesi Low v2's tongue is fully gusseted, contributing to its secure containment.

A large suede finger loop at the back of the shoe helps with putting it on.

Even with a small $10 increase, the Hesi Low v2's retail price remains below the average of basketball shoes. And yet, the build quality and performance it offers for the money are fantastic!