New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 Review

Upper

Connor B: "The initial step-in felt great, and the engineered upper fit my medium-width foot very well. The engineered mesh configuration offered plenty of volume through the midfoot and forefoot, and although I needed to make minor lacing adjustments to get my ideal lockdown, the More v4 was super comfortable throughout testing. It was perfect for all my longer mileage runs."

Kaleb: "The New Balance More v4's mesh upper is very comfortable. It felt relatively light on foot and provided an abundance of room. My foot is standard width, and though I enjoyed the spaciousness, I needed to use a runner's loop to get a secure lockdown. Narrow-footed runners may want to seek a narrower shoe. Besides that little nitpick, I enjoyed the More v4's fit and feel."

Midsole

Connor B: "The Fresh Foam X midsole is what truly distinguishes the More v4 from the competition. The line has always been known for the great protection it delivers, but the fourth iteration offers even MORE performance quality, which has made the More v4 feel almost like a completely new shoe.

New Balance has combined 40 mm of their Fresh Foam X compound with an incredible midsole geometry, which provides an underfoot experience that very few max-stack trainers can compete with. The Fresh Foam X compound is crazy soft and has a fantastic sink-in feeling at footstrike. The More v4 then quickly rolls to a springy little bounce at toe-off, making easy runs fun.

While the propulsiveness of the midsole is noticeable, the More v4 is not a fast shoe. It's a cruiser that effortlessly and efficiently guides me through my gait cycle. On top of that, it delivers protection that is superior to pretty much any other shoe. This all makes the More v4 ideal for long road runs and a perfectly capable daily trainer for those who want quality comfort and protection day in and day out."

Kaleb: "The Fresh Foam X midsole was fantastic to run on, as it provided substantial protection with an energetic push at toe-off. The ride was also super smooth, and the run always felt easy when the More v4 was on foot! As a max-stack shoe, the More v4 is not as fast as other performance-minded options, and it is unquestionably a long-haul shoe or recovery run option, in my opinion.

That said, compared to other shoes in the max-stack category, the More v4 has an assistive bounce that is unlike any other midsole in the class. Furthermore, the More v4 offered a surprisingly reliable level of stability thanks to its widened base, which, again, ranks towards the top of the category. That said, overpronators may want additional support."

Outsole

Connor B: "The strategically placed rubber is located in all of the optimal areas, and the exposed Fresh Foam X helps keep weight down. I ran through two pairs of the More v4 (I am currently on my third), and I have had no issues with durability. After about 450 miles, the midsole seemed to break down a bit, but the outsole was still holding up.

The outsole's traction perfectly accommodated my road running needs, but I am not entirely sure how well the outsole will perform in wet conditions. Overall, I have put my More v4 through the wringer, and the outsole has held up phenomenally."

Kaleb: "The outsole was not very notable, which I consider a good thing. Out of sight and out of mind gets the check from me. The rubber is sufficient and helps complement the shoe's protective midsole. In terms of durability, the More v4 held up very well over 50 testing miles. I do not envision durability being a problem as I continue to pile up mileage in these shoes."

Comparable Shoes

Connor B: "Honestly, the More v4 is almost in a category of its own, and it has been nearly perfect for my current training needs. Furthermore, I do not think there are many shoes in the training space that provide a 40-mm stack with the same level of performance as the More v4.

From a spec and end-use perspective, the closest comparable shoe I can think of is the HOKA Bondi 8, as both models offer a max stack height and premium protection. Though, I found the More v4 to have a softer, bouncier foam with a much smoother rocker. Not to take anything away from the Bondi, as it is a reliable daily trainer that gets the job done well, but I just feel like the More v4 offers a more fun underfoot experience. It is a more modern approach to a max-cushion trainer, and New Balance is driving innovation in the category."

Kaleb: "The HOKA Bondi is comparable, as it delivers a similar level of protection, but the More v4 has the advantage of a more energetic midsole. The Bondi is slightly more stable, but I prefer the More v4."