Article by Dominique and Sam Winebaum, Editor Road Trail Run
All Photos: Dominique Winebaum
New Balance is always super professional and eager to show us their latest and greatest. "Always in Beta" is their motto and they proved true to their marketing, showing us, in particular, thoughtful refinements to the Vazee line.
Vazee 2090
Update: Read our full review of the Vazee 2090 here
First up was the Vazee 2090 a new premium Vazee ($150). 9.7 oz. Available July. The 2090 is inspired by Trayvon Bromell, a 20 year old! who won bronze in the 100 meters at last year's IAAF World Championships. He recently turned pro and signed with New Balance. He now has his own named shoe and while few of us will be running fast 100 meters, the 2090 could be a fast road runner as well. It was described as "the statement shoe" of the Vazee line aimed at the younger, dynamic athlete. Note the "NB" on the heel and not at the saddle.
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| New Balance Vazee 2090 Trayvon Bromell |
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| New Balance Vazee 2090 Trayvon Bromell |
Designed to be firmer and more responsive than the Vazee Pace (our review
here) the 2090 has a nitrogen infused (N2) yellow TPU layer between the outsole and midsole along with a heavily cored out outsole. Shoe geeks may recall that the N2 TPU first appeared as the rock plate in the Leadville 1210. Our sense it the TPU plate gives the 2090 some firm snap as well as support. The rest of the midsole is New Balance's excellent Revlite.
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| New Balance Vazee 2090 Trayvon Bromell |
The 2090 has an unusual full saddle whose patterning New Balance termed as dynamic and based on origami geometries.
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| New Balance Vazee 2090 Trayvon Bromell |
Vazee Pace v2
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| New Balance Vazee Pace |
Changes to the popular Vazee Pace were described as "mostly cosmetic" with a new no sew woven front of the shoe. However in addition, the outsole is now more heavily cored, "podular" so while not a huge update some changes. We imagine it will be more flexible, maybe a touch softer feeling, due to the new outsole design. Approximately. 9oz 255 grams. Vazee Pace v1 was approximately 8oz. 227 grams. NB tells us the added ounce comes mostly from the fuller coverage outsole and a bit from the woven upper. $110. Available July 2016.
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| New Balance Vazee Pace |
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| New Balance Vazee Pace |
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| New Balance Vazee Pace |
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New Balance Vazee Pace
Vazee Rush v2
Most exciting to us of the New Balance offerings was the Vazee Rush v2. 9.5oz/269g M9.5, 8.5oz/241g W8. $89.95. Release July 2016.
Rush v2 features a 3 layer mesh upper: outer fine mesh, middle support mesh, inner comfort liner mesh. No seams, not many overlays, should be very comfortable.
The midsole is a new material "Rapid Rebound" which is EVA mixed with TPU, TPU being the material in adidas' Boost but here in a mix and not an entire midsole as with Boost. So now New Balance, adidas, and Saucony with Everun inserts are all leveraging the energy return and temperature stability advantages of TPU. New Balance, unlike the others, is blending it into more traditional foam. We were told that Rapid Rebound has 17% more energy return than the other New Balance midsoles. The ride qualities were described as fitting between the softer Fresh Foam of say the Zante and 1080 and the firmer Revlite of the the Vazee Pace and 1400. We think this is right in our sweet spot as we find the Fresh Foam a bit too soft for speed and the Revlite a bit too firm day to day.
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Team Elite
To highlight the efforts of New Balance's sponsored athletes in this Olympic year the Vazee Pace, Rush, 1400, and 1500 will be offered in cool Team Elite colors.
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| Vazee Rush v2 in Team Elite colors |
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| Vazee Rush v2 in Team Elite colors |
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| Vazee Rush v2 in Team Elite colors |
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Left to Right: Team Elite Vazee Rush, Vazee Pace, 1400
New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi
Introduced to us as the Zante for trails, the Gobi is an entirely new trail and road/trail hybrid shoe. We think the road ride will be mighty fine too. Same midsole as the Zante with a trail/road trail hybrid outsole. 9.5 oz, $95, Available July.
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| New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi |
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| New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi |
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| New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi |
There is also an "urban" gray green version with gum rubber outsole. We liked the color and look!
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| New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi |
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| New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi |
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| New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi |
T910 v3
The 910 trail shoe gets a new bootie construction and a more substantial and new saddle design.11.25oz 319 grams.
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| New Balance 910v2 |
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| New Balance 910v2 |
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| New Balance 910v2 |
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| New Balance 910v2 |
See the rest of our Outdoor Retailer Reporting and Coverage: New Balance, Brooks, Saucony, Suunto and more here
10 comments:
9.55 oz/271 grams for the Vazee Pace v2 ? Is that really the weight of a standard size 9 ? If that´s true, omg ...
Pace v2 weight. 9.55 oz is what the catalog says..for size 9. .I will double check with NB as that is almost a 1.5oz increase in weight. It might be the upper, will try to find out.
Thanks for reading! You can also follow Road Trail Run on FB by liking "roadtrailrun.com" there. Twitter: roadtrailrun.
Thank you! I hope this is just a printing error...otherwise this would be a huuuge increase for a shoe like the Pace...
Clarifications from NB. Post updated. Catalog weights are off as shoe is still being tuned. Current Vazee Pace v1 is really about 8oz. v2 will be about 9oz, maybe a touch less. The increase in weight mainly from fuller outsole coverage and a small amount from woven upper.
Good to hear! But still a bit puzzled why NB tends to make their performance trainers heavier, an ounce can already make a difference in terms of pace and cadence. I mean, there are other shoes in the NB line-up that already play "the durable and comfy daily trainer" card.
Any word on the weight for the Vazee Rush v2? As a sprinter I'm always looking for more options!
Hi Joel, Finding out on Vazee Rush v2 weight. The catalog NB gave me did not list Rush v2 stats. Thanks for reading! Road Trail Run is also on Facebook: roadtrailrun.com and Twitter: roadtrailrun.
Thanks for the quick reply! I'll definitely have to check out the 2090. Bromell is the guy who will save American sprinting.
Hey Joel, here is info from New Balance Vazee Rush v2. 9.5oz/269g M9.5, 8.5oz/241g W8. $89.95. Release July 2016. Post is updated. I think Rush v2 and 2090 are going to be great for sprinters and for long distance slow old guys like me! Price of Rush v2 is right too.
I never gave the Rush a chance - I was an 890v3 guy for about 2 years. Walked around in the pace and found it too firm... Have really sort of been bouncing around on the daily trainer since then. Some 890v5. Some Launch 2. Some Zealot... But nothing ever gave me that 890v3 love.
Do you think the Rush may be worth a look for me? Specifically, the Rush2? You said you are most excited about that one... Is it because of the rapid rebound or the price, or...?
I just always assumed that the Rush, because cheaper than than Pace, was a lesser shoe - Which now appears to be a bad assumption.
I'm still confused as to how the two shoes fit into the Vazee spectrum - Can you you just explain what the Rush line is supposed to be, as it compares to the Pace line?
Thank you!!!!
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