New Balance isn’t a new company. The name comes from the company’s original business model envisioned by its founder William J. Riley. The company started as a footwear manufacturer specializing in arch supports and orthopedics. But in 1938, they created their first running shoe for the Boston Brown Bag Harriers. Twenty-two years later, they released the first shoe with different width options, the New Balance Trackster. The iconic “N” logo first appeared on the New Balance 320 in 1976. From there, the brand never looked back. These are our picks for the Best New Balance Running Shoes today.
This list does not include all of our New Balance running shoe reviews – just the best ones. If you want to see more, you can check out our New Balance reviews page or our running shoes reviews page.
All the shoes mentioned here are at the top of their category within the brand. We hope you’ll have an easy time finding the categories you’re most interested in. Just click the ones you want to read in the table of contents, and you’ll quickly see what we have to say about the best shoe from that category.
Please note that some of these shoes have width options. This will help you choose the best fit for you, which is critical for any footwear, especially running.
Updated: 05.17.2023
Best New Balance Running Shoes
- Best Neutral Cushioned New Balance Running Shoes
- Most Affordable New Balance Running Shoes
- Best New Balance Trail Running Shoes
- Best New Balance Marathon Running Shoes
- Best New Balance Running Shoes – Honorable Mention
- New Balance Running Shoes to Avoid
- Best New Balance Running Shoes Now on Sale
- Best New Balance Casual Shoes
- Best New Balance Basketball Shoes
Best Neutral Cushioned New Balance Running Shoes
New Balance FuelCell SC Trainer
The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer is a high-stack neutral training shoe perfect for long runs and minimizing wear and tear on tired legs. It packs massive amounts of FuelCell cushioning underneath one of the best uppers of the year. The engineered knit upper is comfortable and accommodating to all foot types. And while it’s a bit heavy, the SC Trainer is more stable than a shoe this tall has any right to be. If you run long distances often and want to save your legs, or are a bigger, taller, or heavier runner, the plush, bouncy midsole of the SuperComp Trainer is well worth your consideration. Read the full review.
Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $180
New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4
The New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 is a comfortable, affordable, and excellently executed running shoe. The upper’s fit is super accommodating, and any foot shape will enjoy it, especially those hard-to-please wide footers and flat footers. The Fresh Foam X feels great on foot for any amount of miles or household chores.
The stability is great due to the midsole’s geometry and the foot sitting inside the midsole walls. The lockdown is solid, so even narrow footers can be confident their foot will stay in place on even the sharpest of turns or bumpiest of roads. And the style — chunktastic is in these days, so this shoe will work as well casually as it does for running. Read the full review.
Fit: True to Size, Drop: 4mm, Price: $150
Most Affordable New Balance Running Shoes
New Balance FuelCell Propel v4
The New Balance FuelCell Propel v4 has the best value proposition of any shoe on the market, not just among New Balance running shoes. $110 for a bouncy Fuelcell midsole and a TPU plate? That alone raises my eyebrows.
The upper isn’t spectacular but it’s comfortable. The tongue can be slippy, it’s a little on the heavy side, and the traction is solid. Durability is a big question mark because there’s not a ton of rubber on the outsole and it wears down pretty fast. But, at $110, a price serviceable daily running shoes don’t touch anymore, sacrificing some durability and comfort is expected.
The end result is a shoe that’s perfect for a wide range of runners. It’s also great for cost-conscious parents that need solid running shoes for kids running track or cross country (and growing out of the shoes way too fast). I’d recommend the Propel v4 over Nike’s current Pegasus and several other $130-150 models. Watch Kofuzi’s review.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 6mm, Price $110
Best New Balance Trail Running Shoes
New Balance Fresh Foam X Trail v2
The New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v2 is basically the trail version of one of our best overall picks, the New Balance Fresh Foam More v3. The plush foam underfoot and plush foam lining are still present. It’s a very comfortable shoe built on a wide platform plus there’s even a wide version available. The 4mm drop is the same and works well on trails where you want to avoid instability when traversing rocks and roots. The smooth rocker shape is still present but the thick midsole may be a little much for some trail runners who like more trail feel. The More v3’s slightly heavier weight, bulk, and price aren’t as out of place on a trail shoe. The Fresh Foam X Trail v2 is the most plushly cushioned and best overall New Balance trail shoe.
Fit: True to size, Drop: 4mm, Price: $165
Best New Balance Marathon Running Shoes
New Balance FuelCell SC Elite V3
The New Balance FuelCell SC Elite V3 features squishy protective FuelCell foam, a nice pop from the exposed Energy Arc carbon plate, and a great ride. It’ll make your stride feel smooth while feeling lightweight. It’s a shoe that gets out of the way as you run fast paces on race day or amble over long distances on your local roads or greenway.
The SC Elite V3’s knit upper is really hard to put on and could be better but it does the job and is the best road racing shoe New Balance has built to date. Getting all of that at a $230 price point is a nice value for a carbon-plated race-centric shoe. Read the full review.
Fit: True to Size, Drop: 4mm, Price: $230
Best New Balance Running Shoes – Honorable Mention
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11
The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11 is very similar to the Fresh Foam More v3 with some key differences. Those differences are a little less Fresh Foam in the heel and forefoot, an 8 mm drop instead of a 4mm drop, and a sculpted heel that polarized testers. The 1080 model is New Balance’s flagship cushioned runner but this year it just wasn’t as good as the Fresh Foam More v3. That said, you may love the knit built if the sculpted heel doesn’t bother you. The 1080 v11 is worth a try on.
Fits: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price $150
New Balance Running Shoes to Avoid
No current models are on the avoid list.
Best New Balance Running Shoes Now on Sale
None of our favorite models are currently on sale.
Best New Balance Casual Shoes
New Balance 574 Legacy.
The New Balance 574 used to be a functional running shoe. Nowadays, for a casual shoe, it packs great value. The Legacy version sticks true to the original with an open medial EVA wedge that allows for more compression and comfort than other cup sole shoes. You can get different materials and textures with different colorways. See the full review.
Fits: True to size, Price $100
New Balance 550
The New Balance 550 is an old-school basketball sneaker first released in 1989. The 550 returned as a retro in 2021 where it sold out multiple times. The sellouts have continued in 2022 but some colorways are available for retail price on eBay. The classic look of this shoe draws people in and as usual, New Balance delivers impressive materials. See the full review.
Fits: True to size, Price $110
New Balance 57/40
The New Balance 57/40 is a new model that draws inspiration from the beloved New Balance 574. The 57/40 doesn’t have the greatest cushioning, but it’s much better cushioned than the 574. The materials are solid though there’s room for improvement which is partly due to the reasonable $120 price. Overall the 57/40 is a great casual shoe with an incredible array of colorways readily available for purchase. See the full review.
Fits: True to size, Price $120
Best New Balance Basketball Shoes
New Balance TWO WXY V3
The New Balance TWO WXY V3 may not be eye-catching for some people, though we think it’s beautiful. Wear it, and you’ll discover why we recommend it. The traction is promising and potentially has Nike Kobe 9-level performance. The FuelCell used on this pair can be described as light and stable. The TWO WXY V3 will feel more neutral compared to New Balance running shoes and gives basketball players lots to like. Read the full review. Price $120
Thinking of a shoe we should add to the best New Balance running shoes list? Comment below or message us on Instagram or Twitter.
