New Balance Rubix

84 / 100 based on 2 expert reviews

• 

  Erinc Atilla

  Level 3 expert

  Verified

  85 / 100 | RunRepeat Erinc Atilla

  New Balance Rubix – New definition of stability shoes

  As a mild overpronator, I had to stick with stability shoes for my training runs, especially for long runs. And if you look at stability shoe market, your first impression would be: shoes not so appealing, heavy and very stiff.

  By introducing the Rubix model, New Balance tries to change that perception for good.

   

  

   

  First of all, the shoe receives very positive feedback from my network by how they look like. I can say that it is not a bulky stability shoe and with the color scheme New Balance provides, it has a fashionable look.

  Midsole

  First improvement New Balance applied is in the midsole part of the shoe. As usual, New Balance uses different foams in midsole (softer and firmer) to guide the foot to prevent rolling inward.

  New Balance’s new technology called “Guidance Ramp” is created to analyze pressure points on the bottom of the foot during exercise. With the help of this technology, Rubix becomes much flexible compared to other stability shoes, without sacrificing stability.

  If you would like to run some Fartlek (speed plays) with Rubix, you can feel the flexibility of the shoe, and it also adopts sudden speed increase pretty well.

   

  Outsole

  For the outsole part, New Balance uses wear-resistant rubber to provide longer product life and higher durability. You can feel that the outsole is made out of much firmer foam than midsole.

  Even if I didn’t find the opportunity to test its durability on rough surfaces, however, after completing around 50 miles I was not able to see any wear and tear on the outsole.

  Upper

  New Balance focuses on technology development towards the functionality of the shoe. I was not expecting something fancy regarding the upper part. The first time I have the shoe, it verifies my expectations that the upper part is full-length mesh.

  After a couple of miles, I feel very sure about its breathability. As expected from a stability shoe, TPU overlays have been used to provide more structure and control regarding the movement of the feet. Upper part doesn’t provide rain protection; however since it's a mesh fabric, it dries out quickly.

   

  User experience

  I had the chance to use New Balance Rubix in a fully dry condition, treadmill and on rainy days. On a dry season, Rubix provided what it commits -supporting overpronation by guiding the movement of the feet on the ground without lacking any flexibility you expect from a neutral shoe. Landing is soft, and you don’t feel any stiffness created by “Guidance Ramp.”

  On the treadmill, I always adjust the incline at 1%. I used Rubix twice, once for interval run and one for more controlled negative pace run. During high-speed intervals, I was feeling some loss of traction, and I thought that it might be due to some water I had to walk thru before I reach the gym. I really didn’t understand the reason for this.

  On my negative pace run, everything was under control, and I was happy with the shoe’s traction on the treadmill. I had a question mark on my mind, was the slipping during high-speed intervals a result of wet surface or the shoe itself? The best option I have is to wait for a rainy day and go out for a run.

  After a week, I found the perfect weather to test the shoe’s traction on a wet surface under the rain. I should mention that the rain was not heavy so I can apply different paces (from 5.10 per km to 4.30 per km). I'm surprised by the result of not being able to keep my balance well, and the shoe lost an important level of traction.

  It is very important for me especially in crossing a metal bridge. I wasn't able to experience this kind of problem with my other shoes. I am surprised with the outcome because this was not something I expect from New Balance who has enough product range and experience.

  I am sure that the company will pay more attention to solve this problem with its first upgrade. My last comment would be about the sizing. My Rubix is exactly at the same size as my Mizuno shoes, however, I could be happier if it was half size larger.

  Verdict

  Overall, New Balance Rubix is one of the first steps the brand is taking towards a new generation of its shoes. It includes a lot of new technologies which allows the shoe to be flexible and lightweight while providing necessary support. I find it very attractive and it receives similar feedback from my network. 

  My only concern is its traction on wet surfaces. This is an improvement point for New Balance. Aside from that, this shoe is best for long distance training and for those who are experiencing overpronation. I firmly believe that the introduction of the Rubix would trigger other brands to think more creatively to match the competition.

  This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.
• 

  Heart Runner Girl

  Level 3 expert

  Verified

  82 / 100 | RunRepeat Heart Runner Girl

  New Balance Rubix: Redesigning the stability shoe

  The Rubix is the new stability shoe from New Balance. It has an 8 mm drop and quite a bit of cushioning.

  The shoe reminded me a bit of the 90’s somehow. Maybe because of the outsole that is a bit wider than the upper. But at the same time, it’s also a modern shoe with nicely printed overlays and a knitted upper. It weighs 255 grams, so it is a pretty light shoe.

   

  

  Upper

  The shoes upper is made of a jacquard mesh, a double-layered knitted upper, which is seamless. The fabric is breathable but doesn’t dry quickly. When I went for a run in wet conditions, the front of my shoes got wet and this wet patch slowly spread out during my run, while the mesh was slowly absorbing the water.

  Eventually, my toes started to get wet as well and it wasn’t even raining at that time, it was just from the water on the road and the wet leaves. The upper seems to take up water like a sponge. Within a few miles the entire front of my shoes was soaked and by the end of the run, so were my socks.

   

   

  The tongue and collar of the shoe are pretty thickly padded, something that I personally like. It just feels plush. The outside of the heel of the shoe has a nice reflective print on it. Overall, I did find that the heel cup of the shoe provided enough stability.

   

   

  The printed thermoplastic polyurethane overlay makes sure your midfoot is snugly locked in place.

  I like this feature, it looks nice, and it’s firm and flexible at the same time. It locked down my foot nicely and I didn’t experience any hotspots with it. It also extends onto the heel of the shoe in order to firmly lock down your foot.

   

  Midsole

  In the Rubix the midsole has a different colour compared to the outsole. The midsole is the most innovative part of this shoe. The midsole is made out of softer foam than the outsole.

  It is divided into different segments and the segments vary in how thick they are, something New Balance calls guidance ramps. In this way, the shoe provides more support in areas where overpronators need it most and through this design, the shoe guides your foot in the right direction.

   

   

  The midsole is thicker underneath the lateral side of the shoe, while it’s actually thinner on the medial side. Overall the midsole foam is thinner underneath the forefoot of the shoe than underneath the heel.

  Outsole

  The outsole of the Rubix consists of a denser kind of foam than the midsole. The outsole is also divided into segments and these segments also vary in thickness, just like in the midsole. In this way, the midsole and outsole work together to create a dual density foam sole.

  The outsole foam is thicker on the medial side while being thinner on the lateral side. In this way the foot is guided to a more natural gait, trying to prevent the overpronation. Although this dual density foam construction does help with the gait of the runner, it does also affect the cushioning of the shoe.

   

   

  I do find the cushioning in the forefoot of the shoe well enough, but as a bit of a heel striker, I do think the shoe lacks in heel cushioning. I experienced quite a bit of ground feel in the heel and less so with the rest of the shoe.  

  Performance

  The New Balance Rubix is a stability shoe, but not quite in the way that you would expect. I’ve run in stability shoes before and they are often made with a post, made out of hard materials, underneath the medial side of the midfoot to prevent you from rolling your foot inwards. However, that isn’t very comfortable while running, since it obstructs your natural gait too much.

  However, the Rubix doesn’t feel that way. It does have medial stability, but it doesn’t feel like someone squeezed a tennis ball underneath my foot. It does use the guidance ramps, but since they fused it together with the outsole, it is not as noticeable.

  It gives you a smoother transition than a more traditional stability shoe, would have. I don’t really notice it when running, I do however notice it while just standing it this shoe. It is, therefore, one of those running shoes that are comfortable to run in, but not so comfortable to wear as everyday sneakers.

  Because the foot is guided by these guidance ramps, these shoes can probably also be worn by someone with a more natural gait, since their foot would be guided into a gait they already have.  

  The outsole doesn’t provide much traction on the road. In wet conditions it even gets a little bit slippery. Therefore, this shoe is best worn in dry conditions. Which is fine if you are one of those runners that doesn’t run in the rain at all, but for most of us that can be a bit of an issue.

  I realise it isn’t a waterproof shoe, but that doesn’t mean the upper has to work like a sponge. It has resulted in me picking another pair of running shoes over the New Balance Rubix when I went out for a run while it was raining.

  Fit

  I did find that the Rubix does have enough room in the toe box and I wore my regular size.

   

  Conclusion

  The New Balance Rubix isn’t a traditional stability shoe. I’ve worn stability shoes before, but I often didn’t like them because the stability feature was mainly working against me instead of working with my foot. It almost felt like a struggle running in those shoes. I didn’t have that experience with the Rubix. But the New Balance Rubix isn’t perfect either.

  I do find that the sole could be a little bit more plush with regards to the heel cushioning of the shoe and the upper does need to change because at present it absorbs too much water. However, this is the first version of this shoe, so I am expecting it to get better in the future. I’m looking forward to seeing the future versions of this shoe.

  This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.
• 

  Mary Rose

  First look / Unboxing | Naperville Running Company
• 

  Mecque and Monte

  First look / Unboxing | Fitted Running