The trend of stacking ever more foam underfoot has been making its way from road to trail. And the New Balance Fresh Foam X Trail More v3s look sexy as they do it.

 

Remember when wearing trail running shoes was like strapping two strips of cardboard to your feet and hitting the dirt? Nah neither, but it’s true that in recent times people (and brands) have discovered that more cush does in fact equal more push, and that protecting your legs from impacts is a great way to keep yourself running day in, day out.

But that’s not all that New Balance is bringing to the table with the Fresh Foam X Trail More v3. It’s a damn sexy shoe with deep Vibram lugs for grip, recycled materials, and tons of gorgeous styling features. Oh, and you can have any colour as long as it’s mostly white.

That Stack Height

Ok firstly, they’re not quite as thick as they look. The midsole (made of soft Fresh Foam X) comes up around the edges of the shoe to cradle the foot, meaning you actually sit a little lower in the shoe. That being said, at 35mm high with a 4mm heel-to-toe drop to 31mm at the front, they’re up to 10mm higher (read: squishier) than some other shoes on the market.

Some of the height comes from the lugs too, which are 5mm (!) deep and spread widely across the bottom of the shoe. The outsole is split into five main sections, which should aid flexibility and trail feel, while a big cutout under the heel saves weight. At 320g the shoes shave around 30g off the v2, which is amazing considering they have 2mm more foam underfoot.

New Balance created a dual-hardness midsole for this shoe to build a bit more structure in the foam to deal with the unpredictable surfaces on the trails. There’s also a lot of width to keep your pins upright.

Features and Specs

  • Toe Protect technology to guard the front of the shoe and high wear areas
  • Recycled rubber texture along the back of shoe
  • Breathable synthetic mesh upper
  • Adjustable lace closure and gusseted tongue
  • Available in regular or wide

Get ‘Em Dirty

New Balance’s latest foray into trail running is super exciting and pushes the boundaries of what I expect from a trail shoe. Anything that encourages others to hit the trails, and explore the great outdoors is We Are Explorers approved, and a bit of road-spec cushioning could just be what wins people over.

While the light colourways are an interesting choice, it’s going to be fun getting these trail runners out on my local and custom-painted with some fresh organic soil-based inks.

After all, what’s better than a spot of puddle jumping in fresh white shoes? 

 

Outdoor photos by @benxlehner