The New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 is a stability daily trainer that leans plush. Its five reviews cluster tightly, with RunRepeat at 85 out of 100, Road Trail Run 8.4, WearTesters 8.2, Shoe Expert 8.1 and Find My Footwear 8 out of 10, and they agree on the shape of it: a dual-density Fresh Foam X midsole with a full-length medial wedge, a 38 mm stack and an 8 mm drop. It is comfortable, it is heavy at 10.5 oz, and the upper runs warm.
Full review
A full-length medial wedge, which almost nothing else has
Stability here comes from a wedge running the whole length of the shoe rather than a heel-only post, which is unusual enough to be the defining feature. RunRepeat's testing found the arrangement, a thin EVA stability plane inside the midsole, flexible without giving up support, and the effect is guidance from heel through forefoot rather than a correction applied only at landing. Runners who overpronate through the whole stance get more from it than heel-strike correction gives them.
126 SA in the heel, and it feels like it
RunRepeat measured shock absorption at 126 SA in the heel and 113 in the forefoot, above average for a daily trainer, and the softer top layer of the Fresh Foam X midsole is tuned for comfort while the firmer bottom layer does the stability work. The result is a plush ride rather than a responsive one. The 860 has moved away from the springier feel of earlier versions, and forefoot cushioning is thicker than the v13 by a clear margin.
Ten and a half ounces, and you notice
Weight is the price of all that structure. At 10.5 oz the 860 v14 is heavy for a daily trainer, with a women's size 8 at 8.2 oz, and reviewers describe it as occasionally bulky underfoot. The 8 mm drop and a rocker profile recover some of that with a bit of roll-through, but this is not a shoe that wants to go fast, and the support starts to feel like work beyond about 10K for most runners.
A mesh upper that traps heat and may not last
RunRepeat's durability testing flagged the knit upper as the weak point, with real concerns about how long the material holds up, and breathability is limited enough that Shoe Expert's extended wear testing found feet getting warm on longer runs and in heat. The fit itself is good: a slightly wider midfoot, a more rounded forefoot than previous versions, a gusseted tongue and a simple lacing system that holds without creating pressure points.
Blown rubber that grips wet and dry
The outsole is the least contentious part of the shoe. RunRepeat found the blown rubber grips well in both wet and dry conditions on a wider base than the v13, with thickness varied by wear zone so the high-abrasion areas last longest. Shoe Expert's eight-week test put it through ten-hour work days as well as running and reported it holding up, and Find My Footwear reached a similar conclusion about everyday durability.
Works with custom orthotics, but not for narrow feet
Shoe Expert found the shoe accommodates custom orthotic inserts, which matters for a flat-footed buyer already using them, and the removable insole and rounder toe box are part of why. The counterweight is that the toe box is not spacious enough for genuinely large toes, and a narrow foot gets less lockdown than it should. Reflective N logos on the upper are a small but real benefit for anyone running before dawn.
Strengths
- +Dual-layer Fresh Foam X midsole provides plush cushioning and stable ride
- +Comfortable round fit with more space for feet compared to previous editions
- +Durable blown rubber outsole with good traction in wet and dry conditions
- +Reflective N's on upper improve visibility during night runs
Watch-outs
- −Upper mesh lacks durability and breathability according to reviewers
- −Shoe feels slightly bulky and heavier than expected at 10.5 oz
- −Limited appeal for runners who prefer simpler stability designs
How it compares
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 offers more plush cushioning than the Saucony Tempus 2 and better durability than the Hoka Arahi 8, but it's heavier and less breathable than the Saucony Hurricane 25. It's also less stable than the ASICS GT-2000 14 and lacks the energy return of the Saucony Guide 18.
Rating sources
Our 4.1 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
