5 Best New Balance Running Shoes For Women in 2023
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Why trust us
Women’s running shoes from New Balance are not just stylish. They’re also ready to fuel your runs with unmatched energy return and comfort.
With hundreds of New Balance running shoes for women, it can be confusing. But because our mission is to help all runners, we took it upon ourselves to test and painstakingly select the ten best women’s running shoes from New Balance from five different categories.
How we test running shoes
When we say “painstakingly,” we mean absolute thoroughness. As in, we buy them with our own money to avoid brand loyalty. Plus, we examine them carefully in our independent shoe testing facility.
Those aside, we also go through the rigorous process of:
- Running in each New Balance women’s running shoes for at least 30 to 50 miles
- Slicing them into pieces
- Measure and assess their parts via 30 parameters
- Generate their Corescore using hundreds of comments from users and experts
Best women's New Balance running shoes overall
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v12
88
Great!
What makes it the best?
If you're looking for a great middle between the more traditional, lower-stacked NB 880 v11 and the uber cushy NB Fresh Foam More v3, that's where the Fresh Foam X 1080 v12 sits. It's a comfortable cruiser that's perfect for anything easy to moderate. And with the copious amount of foam it possesses, it's a gem in long-distance runs where protection and stability are at the forefront.
Pros
- Protective cushion
- Lively ride
- Smooth transitions
- Stable when cornering
- Comfy upper
- Durable outsole
- Welcomes wide feet
- For heavy runners
- Grippy on snow, slush, and slick surfaces
- No lace bites
- Great heel hold
- An eye-catcher
Cons
- Not for narrow feet
- Bottom-heavy for fast runs
- Questionable breathability
Today's best price
Men
Women
Any color
More colors
Amazon
Free shipping
$120
Zappos
Free shipping & returns
$160
Running Warehouse
Free shipping & returns
$160
REI
Free shipping
$160
Shoebacca
Free shipping & returns
$160
New Balance
Free shipping & returns
$160
Best women's New Balance running shoes with wide toebox
New Balance Fresh Foam 860 v12
87
Great!
What makes it the best?
New Balance’s stability running shoe provides amazing support for overpronators. Ever improving, the v12 has brought some new technology into this shoe while bringing back some of the features of the old upper.
Pros
- Excellent stability shoe
- Good lacing
- Looks the part
- Comfortable
- Consistent ride in any condition
- Good grip
- Perfect daily runner
Cons
- Runs half a size small
- Heel counter is not for everyone
- Quite heavy
Today's best price
Men
Women
Any color
More colors
Running Warehouse
Free shipping & returns
$40
Marathon Sports
$62
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$65
Joes New Balance Outlet
$70
Running Room US
Free shipping & returns
$100
Stadium Goods
$105
Women's New Balance running shoes with best cushioning
New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Trainer
87
Great!
What makes it the best?
With its 40+ mm stack, the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer is one of the highest road running shoes ever, so high that it’s not even allowed in World Athletics events. For all other situations, especially marathon training, this is a superb max cushioned carbon plated trainer that is so massive, protective, and fun to ride in that it surprised every runner who tested it.
Pros
- Incredibly bouncy and soft
- Extremely protective underfoot
- Top-quality upper
- Stable for a “super-shoe”
- Versatile for different paces
- Great lockdown
- Ready straight out of the box
- Welcomes wide feet
- Massive, yet great-looking
Cons
- Heavy
- Collects some rocks
Today's best price
Men
Women
Any color
Running Warehouse
Free shipping & returns
$125
Road Runner Sports
Free shipping
$144
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$153
Zappos
Free shipping & returns
$180
New Balance
Free shipping & returns
$180
Best women's New Balance running shoes for long distance
New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4
86
Great!
What makes it the best?
The Fresh Foam X More v4 from New Balance is a maxed-out daily trainer that's best suited for recovery days and anything easy. Whether it's a short walk or a long-distance run, this mammoth of a shoe will keep your feet comfy and well-protected at all times. And what's more awesome is it costs less than its precursor!
Pros
- An armor from fatigue
- REALLY cushy for long days
- Puts life in your run
- A stable ride
- True to size
- Superb heel clutch
- Markdown price
- Built to last
- Reflective
Cons
- Easily feels hot
- Chunky and clunky
- Low energy return
Today's best price
Men
Women
Any color
More colors
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$149
Zappos
Free shipping & returns
$150
Running Warehouse
Free shipping & returns
$150
Backcountry
Free shipping
$150
REI
Free shipping
$150
New Balance
Free shipping & returns
$150
Best women's New Balance running shoes with plush cushioning
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3
85
Good!
What makes it the best?
Version number 3 of the New Balance FuelCell Rebel is an all-rounder daily trainer that impresses with its ability to cross the line into a performance shoe when needed. It’s still surprisingly light and provides an amazing experience on the road. Runners are happy that it hasn’t changed that much and the few adjustments are for the better.
Pros
- Fantastic soft and fun ride
- Versatile for different paces
- Very lightweight
- Excellent breathability
- More stable than version 2
- Great lockdown
- Visible at night
- Not expensive
Cons
- Not great on wet surfaces
- Durability could be improved
- Bottoms out easily
Today's best price
Men
Women
Any color
Joes New Balance Outlet
$70
Amazon
Free shipping
$78
Zappos
Free shipping & returns
$98
Running Warehouse
Free shipping & returns
$130
REI
Free shipping
$130
New Balance
Free shipping & returns
$130
Comparison of the 5 best New Balance running shoes for women
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