New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15

The New Balance 860v15 is a max cushioned stability shoe designed for support. Priced at $150, it competes with shoes like the ASICS Gel-Kayano 32 ($165) and Hoka Gaviota 6 ($180). The 860v14 was a Hobby Jogger favorite as a lightweight stability shoe without obtrusive stability elements. The foam was protective and bouncy and the ride was smooth. The first thing we noticed taking it out of the box was how heavy it felt in hand. They increased the stack height by about 5mm, but the weight also increased by 50 grams in our Men’s size 10.5, making it heavier than the Nike Vomero Premium. It has a nice, padded tongue and feels very stable, wide and comfortable for walking, but the fit is too snug. Out on the run, it felt much heavier without the nice roll through and toe-off, and with a much firmer foam than the previous version. It’s just a terrible update—New Balance took a really fun, crowd-pleaser type of shoe and made it heavier, firmer, and clunky. We cannot recommend anyone get this shoe if you are looking for a running shoe—there are lots of better options on the market.