New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos introduction:
The Fresh Foam X Balos is New Balance’s premium Fresh Foam shoe. Firstly, the foam has an upgrade with a dash of Peba to liven up the ride. Moreover, the geometry is built for speed. As you can see from the photos, there is a very pronounced rocker geometry built in. Moreover, the luxury extends to the upper, a gusseted tongue helps hold the foot in place.
New Balance say that the Fresh Foam X Balos is ideal for training and race day. However, with a slew of super trainers available on the market and New Balance’s own 1080 v13 sitting in a much lower price bracket, does the Balos earn its salt?
Over the past few weeks, we have been putting the miles into the midsole to make up our minds. How did it do?
New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos upper:
Andy: The upper is a real highlight of the Fresh Foam X Balos. Initial step in comfort is very high. As we mentioned in the introduction, the tongue is fully gusseted and stretches well over the foot to ensure that everything holds tight. Furthermore, the tongue has ribs on the top which seem to help the laces lay where they need to be and alleviate any pressure from the top of the foot.
From the outset, it feels like a premium upper. The structured heel collar is softly padded and helps with the lockdown. Whist soft, the mesh has enough structure to hold the foot firm and this is supported by a large New Balance N on both lateral and medial sides. Padding is not overly generous around the heel. That said, the padding that is present is in the right place and effective.
Lacing and getting lockdown in the Fresh Foam X Balos is easy. The laces have a little stretch and have enough length to tie in a runners’ knot if required. Breathability is also good. I have been using the Balos through the summer and even on longer runs on hot days my feet have never felt like they are cooking. Overall, the upper of the Fresh Foam X Balos matches the expectations of a premium trainer. It works well and therefore sets the tone for the shoe.
Chunky and Cosy
Ivan: Just like with the New Balance Pacer 2 I recently reviewed, I am once again highly impressed by the upper in the Balos. I have often encountered issues with the width in New Balance uppers, but both of these models firmly and securely hold my feet in place, providing a comfortable and effective lockdown.
The materials feel premium, as Andy also mentioned, though I wouldn’t describe them as particularly soft against the foot. The inside of the toe box has a ribbed and rigid structure, but this hasn’t caused me any discomfort. The mesh feels strong and durable. The knitted, fully gusseted tongue creates a great midfoot wrap, and the well-padded heel counter also holds my foot nicely in place. Echoing Andy’s sentiments, I find it hard to imagine anyone not getting along with the upper and overall fit of the New Balance Balos.
I also personally like the look of the shoe. It appears even chunkier than the specs suggest, while also having a “cozy” vibe to it.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos midsole:
Andy: This section will see a range of opinions from our testers. I love the ride of this shoe. However, probably not as New Balance would want me to. Sold as an unplated super trainer with a price to match competitors such as the ASICS Superblast 2, I don’t really think the ride is that versatile. Over my miles in the Fresh Foam X Balos so far, I have much preferred it as an easy day shoe.
When I have pushed the pace at the end of a few runs and some fartlek work, I have found it to be rather sapping of energy. Yes, the midsole with its Peba blended foam does have some good bounce and the rocker is massive. But, the softness of the foam doesn’t do much for energy return. I always felt like I was putting more into the Balos than it was giving me back when I was at pace.
That said, when I am out for a daily run where I am less fussed about the pace, the Balos really shines. The huge banana like rocker makes rolling through the gait cycle easy, the foam absorbs all the shocks from the road and distance flies by. I am at a stage with my running at the moment where I am coming out of an injury and life related slump. My fitness is not where I want it to be and my weekly distance has dropped markedly. However, when I pop the Balos on, I don’t really want to stop. A short easy run turned into 15 of the most joyful kilometres I have run in a long time.
For me, this is a very good shoe for daily miles and long runs. Days when pace isn’t at the forefront. It has also shown its worth on days when the legs don’t want to roll and the body is less willing. On days like that, I have found that it helps me cruise around and before I know it, the smile has appeared on my face and worries of the day have evaporated. However, if you prefer a little more stability in your run, this is probably not the shoe for you!
Energy Zapping
Ivan: Well, Andy and I don’t actually have completely different opinions about the New Balance Balos. As always, I want to point out that running shoes often cater to different runners with various running styles and preferences. Where I personally share Andy’s experience is in determining the kind of pace the shoe is most suitable for, and in this case, I think most runners would agree.
Despite the Peba blend in this shoe, the softness of the foam combined with the overall width and flexibility just doesn’t make it suitable for faster paces. I think even a heavier runner than myself, who would compress the foam more, would lack some responsiveness. However, at slower paces, I initially feel that the geometry, especially the rocker, makes for a smooth and comfortable ride. Unfortunately, that doesn’t last for me beyond 5-6 km. This is where I struggle with leg turnover. Consequently, it feels like the shoe is zapping more energy from me than it gives back.
I’ve had similar issues with other super-soft and wide shoes in this category, like the New Balance More as well. But for those who enjoy this setup, New Balance surely has many options available now with the Balos, More, and to some extent, the 1080. This has been a trend we also see from other brands lately, so I have no doubt that the demand for these maximalist daily trainers is there. How they market them is another matter, though. Considering the price point and use of the Peba blend, I agree with Andy that the expected versatility just isn’t there. But if you benefit from and enjoy this type of shoe for daily easy high mileage, then I can see this one being a comfortable and fun workhorse and also a good recovery-day option.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos outsole:
Andy: The Fresh Foam X flavour of the Balos is incredibly soft. New Balance have used the outsole material to mitigate this softness somewhat and attempt to add some stability. Two very thick strips of the rubber protect the lateral and medial side of the heel while the fore and midfoot area is protected by another large and relatively thick piece of rubber. After 70 km so far, there is very little evidence of wear on the rubber. I would imagine with the very low density of the Fresh Foam X, the outsole will have much more longevity than the midsole.
As far as grip goes, the rubber does its job well. Whilst we have been blessed with a lot of sun recently, being Britain, we have also had the odd deluge too. From mud strewn pavements to slimy slabs, the Fresh Foam X Balos has held me firm. The softness and thickness of the rubber also makes for a fairly quiet ride which is useful for early morning excursions.
Ivan: I really like the soft rubber compound used in the New Balance Balos. I appreciate that it runs quietly and complements the smooth nature of the midsole. The rubber pattern runs vertically, which is important to prevent the midsole from becoming overly flexible. Additionally, the high-wear areas in the heel and very front use a firmer, more durable compound for added longevity.
So far, traction has been fine in light rain, but since it’s summertime here in Scandinavia, I’ll have to wait and see how it handles more damp and slushy conditions in the autumn and winter.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos conclusion:
Andy: New Balance promised a premium shoe which can take you from training to racing. They have delivered on some of this. Yes, it is a premium feeling shoe. It is perfectly possible to race in it. However, would I want to race in it? No. For me, the Balos is a great shoe for daily miles where pace isn’t the priority. It handles distance well and the rocker is a joy to use. That said, we come to the stumbling block. The price. At $200 it is living in the realm of the Superblast and the adidas Prime X. Both of these are probably more versatile shoes in their own ways.
There is also the confusion of where it sits in the New Balance line. Whilst it is at the price pinnacle of the Fresh Foam line, it seems to do a very similar job to the 1080 v13 which comes at a far lower cost. Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed the Balos and would buy it without a second thought if I saw it on sale. However, if the full price were to be coming out of my wallet, I would probably have to think very hard and consider what I was looking for in my rotation.
Tricky to Justify
Ivan: I agree with Andy that the New Balance Balos offers a premium feel. I’ve been particularly impressed by the upper and fit, and the design language resonates with me. Like Andy, I find it difficult to place in the lineup. It’s too soft and flexible for faster workouts, and New Balance already offers other daily trainers at much lower prices.
Unfortunately, the ride of the Balos hasn’t met my expectations. Therefore, making it difficult to justify the purchase, especially at its price point. While I enjoy the smoothness of the giant rocker, the shoe seems to drain more energy than it returns. However, it might appeal to runners who prefer and benefit from super wide and squishy models. Especially if they are willing to pay the premium for a high-quality shoe.