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New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 Review: a new and any runner type friendly take on support
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May 23, 2024
In the video I review the 860 v14 with 00:00 Introductions, 01:41 Ride and Fit, 06:45 5 Comparisons and 13:45 Conclusions Samples were provided at no charge for testing purposes with no additional compensation. The opinions herein are entirely the author's 100's of Run Shoes and Gear Multi Tester written reviews at www.roadtrailrun.com SHOP Running Warehouse at the links below for the widest selection of run shoes and gear anywhere and help support our channel! USA https://tinyurl.com/RWRTRUS EUROPE https://tinyurl.com/RWRTREU EU Only: Use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products AUSTRALIA: https://www.runningwarehouse.com.au/?from=rtr EUROPE SHOP Top4Running https://tinyurl.com/bh9t3hpm Use Code RTRTOP4 for 5% off All Products, Even Sales RTR receives a commission for purchases made through these links which helps support our channel and site. PLEASE FOLLOW RTR
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hello everybody. We're going to take a look at the 860 V14, a light or moderate stability shoe
0:06
It sees some really big changes. It's still fresh foam X, but we have softer underfoot, a bit firmer below, and on the medial side
0:14
It also sees the innovative stability plane, a hardened EVA plate, which is longer on the medial side than on the lateral side
0:23
So we have no posts here at all. It sits on a relatively broad 90 millimeter heel, 80 millimeter midfurt
0:30
110 millimeter 4 foot, and the weight should be approximately 10.45 ounces, 296 grams in my US9
0:38
which is a slight drop in weight from the predecessor, while we gained 4 millimeters of stack height
0:45
in the front, 2 millimeters at the heel. So we're now an 8 millimeter drop instead of a 10 millimeter
0:52
drop and the full stack height, 35.5 millimeters heel, 27.5 millimeters forefoot
0:59
Okay, so if you're somebody who typically runs neutral shoes, do not tune out because this 860 V14 for me as a neutral type shoe runner is excellent
1:12
One of the best kind of slightly stabilized shoes I've ever experienced with no sensation of kind of overdone and support at the arch, yet it's plenty stable
1:23
After I share some impressions from the run, we're going to get into some comparisons. the New Balance 880 v14, the 880 V13, Sokeney's Ride 17, and the A6 Gel-Kayano 30
1:39
Okay, let's talk about the ride from the run here. Going about 950 pace, getting over a back problem, and the stability here without ever, ever
1:50
overdoing it is just about right. So what we've got is a lot of actual energy from fresh foam
1:59
Usually I've found fresh foam either too firm or too soft. And I'm attributing that to our stability plane plate
2:08
which gives us some oomph off the front, yet the cushioning is very deep all over
2:16
So while this isn't the light issue, it's feeling so far like a real
2:22
solid daily training option. Haven't brought them up to pace. I think they'll do just fine
2:32
But combining somewhat soft foam, not a soft 1080, not as firm as the 880 V14
2:40
you get a really fine combination. Okay, let's talk about the fit of our 860V14
2:47
It's a true to size fit with lots of room, really, in the toe box because mainly the slight stretch of our knit upper. There you can see the
3:00
towbox room just about right. The laces go through real smoothly. You can tighten it down
3:06
quite a ways as I have given my narrower foot without any bite. The real action here though
3:13
I think in terms of what makes the upper really good despite the kind of stretchy knit in front
3:20
is the rear construction. You can see that darker blue, the collar is much more
3:26
stiffer, not bothersome, but stiffer. So it really locks down the rear of the foot
3:32
Relatively comfortable as well, decently, very comfortable actually without being over plush
3:40
And of course, the fit is helped by the support of the ride. In other words
3:47
if you have a sloppy upper, even on a firm midsule, you're going to move around
3:54
And here we have a great upper on a stable but not overdone midsole The red line as before is that thin EVA plate I call it a plate that extends from the heel all the way forward on the medial side
4:11
Plus, you have the vertical sidewalls pretty common in a stability shoe or support shoe
4:17
And then on the other side, you have less, less of a length of plate
4:23
just enough to keep the landing from being mushy, because this is relatively soft foam and that foam being soft, unlike the 1080, a little firm in the
4:34
1080, a little softer than the 880, most recent versions. That plate keeps things from compressing
4:42
too much. If you're a neutral runner, zero, really zero notice of any overdone arch. There's no post here
4:51
It really runs as a medial shoe, as a neutral shoe as well as a stability
4:58
I don't really need stability. So others will have to comment on that
5:02
But I think it's a great sort of all-around compromise. A bit of support from the plate, not too much
5:12
I'm going to keep on here. So, while not the lightest of shoes, what you really notice off the front is a comment
5:21
combination of soft foam and a kick, if you will, from the plate or the stability plane
5:31
And at the heel, you tend to heel strike, slower paces. As I do, you get a quick kick forward to transition, even though platform is pretty wide
5:42
80 millimeters at midfoot, 90 millimeters at the heel. So you've got a really nice combination here of
5:51
forgiving cushion and some kick without the plate being over, over, aggressive or stiff
5:58
because this is a flexible shoe. So that makes it, I think, a really fine daily trainer of the more moderate pace variety
6:11
Certainly, I think, would be a really good long run shoe if you want some support underfoot
6:18
and a comfortable upper with some room. Also, I think, great beginner's choice
6:25
If you're confused about pro-nation versus non-pronation control, and I think a lot of times pro-nation shoes are over-prescribed
6:38
this is a good option that should cover both bases, if you will
6:42
Comparisons, the 880 v-14, the 1080 v-13, Sokhanes Ride 17 and the Cayano 30
6:51
So the 880 v14, the latest edition. So it is lower stack height
6:58
3022. Also an 8mm drop. It's a single foam, whereas before the 880s had a dual foam setup
7:07
The fresh foam here is a bit firmer than or about the same really as the firmer foam in
7:17
in our 860. It is considerably lighter. 8.75 ounces, 248 grams in the US 9. It has a more
7:30
I would say, performance snugger fitting upper, a little bit less relaxed, a little bit more
7:36
locked down. It leans more up-tempo. It's plenty stable. It's called out as a neutral shoe
7:43
but I would say it's a plenty stable neutral shoe due to its firm foam, relatively broad platform
7:50
It's also stiffer than our 860 as you can see here, so it's a bit snappier
7:57
So this is your up flavor in the family of Fresh Foam X Mongo V6 is New Balance other stability option with Fresh Foam X
8:10
It features a full stability plane plate that's equal on both sides of the shoe
8:16
and has two millimeters more four foot stack height. The 1080 V13 from New Balance, and this is definitely a neutral shoe
8:28
It has foam that is even softer, I think, than the top layer of foam here in our 860
8:37
It is a single density of foam. This is a very soft, neutral shoe
8:43
I didn't get along too well with it. It was a half-size-up from my normal in a women's actually, so a B-Wit
8:52
and the upper just didn't hold me nearly as well as the 860 did
8:56
and the ride was really only suitable for very easy runs, just way too soft for me
9:04
It is lighter by almost a little more than an ounce, which is interesting
9:12
But of course, it doesn't have the dual density foam or the plate, which adds weight, the glue, and so on and so forth
9:20
And I think the upper is lighter as well. It comes in at 9.28 ounces, 263 grams in the US 9 versus about 10, let's see, 10.5 ounces for our 860
9:37
I'll pick the 860 any day. The Sockney Guide 17 is what I call a pure inherent stability shoe
9:47
It's a single foam, a little bit similar, I guess, to what we have in our firmerly
9:53
layer. It gets its stability from its sheer platform width and also the geometry here on the
10:02
medial side. It is considerably broader on the ground at 105 heel, 85 midfoot, 124 foot. So that is
10:14
15 millimeters wider at the heel, 5 millimeters wider at the midfoot, and it, I'm
10:23
10 millimeters wider at the forefoot. So this is a super wide shoe
10:30
I kind of prefer our 860 here. It's a little more agile feeling
10:37
The plate adds into the mix. The upper on the guide is similar in being a broad fit
10:44
It is even somewhat roomier than the 860. This is a shoe, I think, for broader feet no matter what
10:51
in terms of its flex. It's quite flexible. Not quite maybe not quite as flexible as 860
11:00
It's also $140. And it's a good choice, especially if you want a broader platform
11:09
and a lot, a lot of kind of looser fitting room, even though the hold is really quite good
11:16
Finally, the A6 gel Cayano 30, another purely inherently stable shoe in a huge change from prior Cayanoes
11:28
which used various elements, if you will, to achieve stability and turn plastic side pieces
11:36
Here, they use a, it's a foam, actually. It's not really any firm
11:42
It's actually softer maybe than the main mid-year. sole foam to allow you to roll forward. And you need to be able to roll in this shoe because
11:52
what we have is a much higher stack height here of 40 millimeter heel, 30 millimeter forefoot
11:58
So that means we are let me look here four and a half millimeters higher than our 860 at the heel and two and a half millimeters at the forefoot So it a 10 millimeter drop versus an eight for our 8 60 What really distinguishes
12:21
it is the breadth of the platform here. We've got 10 millimeters more width at heel, midfoot
12:31
and four foot than our new balance. So this is a very broad platform
12:38
It's a little bit lumbering, even though it isn't particularly heavy. It's got the flight foam blast plus foam
12:48
It's not as flexible due to that extra stack height. You can see
12:55
It does have more cushioning, no question about it. And in some ways you could say the cushioning is a bit more
13:01
more consistent because it's really all a single foam. In terms of its upper, it's really just a more polished upper, I think, than the 860
13:10
The front is as roomy, but it's a little better held. You can see the toe bumper is substantial
13:18
Lace up is really nice. It does cost $20 more. So this is the shoe if you want quite a bit more, if you want quite a bit of stability and you
13:30
want a super broad platform. I wouldn't call it as much fun to run as our eight as as as the eight 60
13:38
but it's a very solid option. A few final conclusions for our eight 60 v14. It's my favorite
13:48
fresh foam shoe to date. They've either been too firm or too soft here by taking two
13:55
two types of firmness or density of foam, softer here on the kind of upper layer that comes down
14:03
on the lateral side and firmer going around and giving you the support without being ridiculously
14:11
firm like a post, adding in the EVA stability plane, essentially a plate that's asymmetrical
14:19
longer, more extensive on the medial side for a touch of guidance support as you need it and shorter
14:27
on the lateral side for the landing with more softer foam. You get a really good combination here
14:34
for a daily trainer that kind of bridges the gap between neutral and stability. I personally
14:41
as I said earlier, can't stand posts and rails and all that kind of stuff kind of getting in
14:46
the way at the arch, on the medial side, there is absolutely none of that here. So it runs very
14:53
much like a neutral shoe, and if you do need that stability, it's there. So in an age where posts
15:00
and rails and more overt stability is going away, this bridge is kind of a nice gap, makes the shoe
15:07
flexible enough, lively enough to be a really solid daily trainer. If there's one knock on the shoe
15:14
I would say it's weight, which at 10.5 ounces, US9 is kind of up there
15:23
I wish this shoe was under 10, but at 140, it's a very solid value, a very versatile trainer
15:32
A great choice for beginners who can't figure out if, or don't really know if they need how much pro-nation support or if they're neutral
15:41
They won't get in trouble here either way. So it's good for that
15:46
And it's good as a all-around, very pleasant riding, all-around daily trainer
15:51
Thank you very much for watching. We're going to have our full multi-tester review of the New Balance 860V14 real soon over on roadtrail run.com
16:02
The shoe was provided at no cost by New Balance for this review. Have a great run
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