New Balance Hierro v9 Trail Running Shoe – Reviewed & Tested

After tearing through trails of all kinds, Jack’s got some thoughts on New Balance’s latest trail runner, the Hierro v9.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 is the latest trail shoe in the New Balance lineup and after eight previous versions, some significant tweaks have been made to the ‘all-day-wear’ trail runner.

Built upon the thicc cushion that New Balance’s Fresh Foam X range is well-known for, I was keen to see how the trail-ready features had been applied to this road-running-looking shoe.

Straight out of the box, I noticed its comfort and once on my feet the smooth rocker subtly threw me into a stride, so let’s get into it.

Why am I the right person to do this review?

Moving house recently has placed a bunch of new trails on my coastal doorstep. Conveniently timed with the delivery of New Balance Hierro v9s, I’ve been exploring my new neighbourhood’s fruity mix of sandy bush tracks, clifftop single-track, and gravelly forest fire roads. I recently reviewed the highly anticipated Hoka Speedgoat 6, so I was keen to see what New Balance are bringing to the trail party.

Quick Specifications

Weight: 294g
Stack height: 42mm heel / 38mm toe. It’s definitely on the tall end, which we’re seeing more and more of, particularly from New Balance
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 4mm which is on the modest side and 2mm less than its predecessor
Outsole: 6mm lugs and a 1.5mm base with a revamped Vibram Megagrip Outsole
Price: $250 RRP which has become standard fare for a new release trail shoe, it’s slightly less than the Hoka Speedgoat 6 and significantly cheaper than the Norda 002

Comfort

Slipping my foot into the Hierro v9 for the first time, I noticed that the upper is similar to a road shoe with a soft, breathable mesh and enough, but not too much, rigidity around the heel and collar of the shoe.

A couple of months later, and I’m going to say it, this is one of the comfiest trail shoes I’ve worn, and its comfort is a key factor that makes it a great all-rounder. So much so that it was one of the first shoes I threw in my bag when packing for our outdoor and adventure festival, ExplorerFest, which turned out to be a great call.

I spent all day in them at the festival, ran up Yacaaba Headland, and wandered the surrounding bush trails – and they were well-suited for each.

On the trail the gussetted tongue keeps debris out and the midsole gets to work cushioning impact. While you’re not going to be buying this shoe for trail feel, I was surprised that the cushion didn’t impact this as much as I thought it would.

The extra cushion also makes them comfortable for running roads. I’ve even put off replacing my overdue road runners and have used these for road runs with ease and comfort – something I wouldn’t normally opt for with other trail runners I’ve owned.

This, combined with the ExplorerFest weekend as proof, means they’re a great shoe to throw in when your bag’s filling up and you just need a shoe that can do a bit of everything.

Performance

No point being comfy if they don’t perform out on the trails, right?

The comfortable cushion comes in the form of New Balance’s Dual Density Fresh Foam X Midsole technology that’s placed in the ‘thicc’ stack height that’s 42mm in the heel and 38mm in the toe.

Within all that stack height is a spongy-soft mid-layer and a firmer bottom layer. The mid-layer is lively, and while it’s not super springy it isn’t completely lifeless.

The trade-off comes with a well-cushioned ride, which was most noticeable on less technical descents and flat-sections under heavy legs.

The firmer bottom layer of the midsole and the Hierro’s wide base provide plenty of stability on the trails. With such a large stack height, I was worried about stability, but found that my foot was cradled amongst the midsole foam, so it didn’t feel like I was sliding around or balancing on jelly.

New Balance has revamped the outsole for this latest rendition of the Hierro with a well-trusted Vibram Megagrip sole that’s become the norm on well-loved trail shoes.

The apricot-coloured outsole of the Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 has larger multi-directional lugs than its predecessor, which had a splattering of dainty microtraction lugs.

The 6mm lugs provide plenty of grip underfoot, with the microlugs on the side of each lug keeping the foot secure, and were particularly noticeable on loose gravel descents and slippery singletrack.

All of the above is complemented with a rocker that helps you roll through your stride and keeps the legs ticking over, particularly noticeable on flat terrain. It puts the spring back in your step, and prevents the foam making the shoe sluggish.

It’s not the fastest, most responsive trail shoe, but it’s certainly capable on a variety of terrain.

Durability

After a couple months of running in the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9, there are no alarming signs of wear.

Reading my mentions of a mesh upper may have you worrying about their ability to handle rugged terrain, but New Balance have strategically placed a textured, printed overlay in places that are known to cop a beating from the trail.

The rubber Toe Protect that comes right up over your toes contributes to this durability while also keeping your digits out of harm’s way.

Design

Despite there being just three colourways, New Balance has catered for everyone with a glaring ‘Electric Jade’ colourway and an all black pair for the understated.

The dark juniper pair that I’ve been trotting around in has grown on me, the green is a muted tone and the apricot accents complement well.

The large N on the side brings that New Balance streetwear aesthetic, while the protruding Vibram outsole shows you’re down to get dirty (on the trail).

Sustainability

New Balance spare details when discussing the materials that go into the Hierro v9 on their product page, but after a scroll to their footer and a presumption that ‘Responsible Leadership’ would include sustainability, I was able to find their environmental impact goals that go deep into detail under the sections: Product, Supply Chain Responsibility, People, Environment, and Governance and Policies.

They have a handful of goals that are about reducing emissions, and also where their product materials are sourced. Among their new goals is to utilise 80% bio-based EVA from sugarcane and recycled midsole foam and 90% recycled rubber and bio-based compounds for their outsoles by 2030.

As with many apparel and footwear giants, there’s a lot of work to do and over on sustainability website, good on you they’ve given them the neutral rating: ‘It’s a start’, when analysing their impact on the environment, people, and animals.

Price

The New Balance Hierro v9 will set you back $250, which has become standard fare for a new release trail shoe. It’s slightly less than the Hoka Speedgoat 6 and significantly cheaper than the Norda 002.

Given it’s a great all-rounder with a sturdy build that you could wear day-to-day, you’ll get your money’s worth.

Final Thoughts

I’ll be putting many more kilometers in the New Balance Hierro v9s. They’re perfect for my style of trail running: they’ll handle various terrain, and I’m happy to compromise comfort over speed with a gentle push forward from the rocker when my legs are tiring.

Coupled with the ExplorerFest weekend as proof, they’re a great shoe to throw in when your bag’s filling up and you just need a shoe that can do a bit of everything.

With the growing trend of people opting for trail runners over hiking boots, I can even see myself reaching for these for my next multi-day hike, and I think the rocker will help throw my pack–weighted body forward.

Images by @tim_ashelford