New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos Review
New Balance Balos Forecasts the Future of New Balance Fresh Foam
Likes
- Highly protective, soft, and bouncy midsole
- Versatile ride can accommodate almost any daily run
- Secure fit with a lightweight feel
Dislikes
- Long-term durability is a concern
- Higher price point
What's New
Experience the ultimate fusion of innovation and performance with the New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos, a running shoe that redefines what it means to move with purpose. Crafted for runners who crave the perfect blend of softness, protection, and versatility, the New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos is your go-to premium trainer, whether you are pushing yourself to the limit or savoring the freedom of a long, casual run.
What has grabbed the running community's attention most is the new PEBA-blend Fresh Foam X midsole, a revolutionary component that promises a fun and bouncy ride without sacrificing comfort or protection. This pronounced camber geometry is designed to deliver a smooth yet surprisingly responsive underfoot feel, helping you move forward with ease.
A ground-contact EVA outsole further enhances the running experience by providing a lightweight, flexible feel that adapts to the road underfoot. With strategically placed rubber in high-wear areas, the Balos is designed to provide top-notch durability and traction, enabling you to conquer various runs and paved surfaces with the utmost confidence.
Featuring a soft gusseted tongue and a lightweight creel mesh, the Balos' upper promises a structured yet breathable fit that wraps your foot securely. The semi-transparent creel mesh, accented with printed details, keeps your feet cool and comfortable even during the longest runs. Overall, the Balos' combination of a lightweight on-foot feel, resilient cushioning, and smooth heel-to-toe transitions makes it an indispensable addition to any runner's shoe rotation.
The Bottom Line
The New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos running shoe combines innovative design and exceptional performance, setting a high standard for runners seeking the ultimate soft and bouncy underfoot experience. The shoe's standout feature is its PEBA-blend supercritical foam midsole, which incorporates pronounced camber geometry. Our Running Warehouse testers found that this design delivers an incredibly comfortable ride with a smooth yet energetic return, making it suitable for everyday training, long runs, and even picking up the pace.
The ground-contact EVA outsole offers a lightweight, ground-conforming feel, enhancing the smoothness and adaptability of each stride. Strategically placed rubber in high-wear areas boosts durability and grip, ensuring reliable performance across varied terrain. Our testers appreciated the shoe's traction, but the Balos' durability may be a cause for slight concern as some testers found that the outsole showed signs of wear after 30 to 40 miles. That said, the outsole's balance of lightweight design and dependable traction makes the Balos more than suitable for daily training runs.
Fit and comfort are paramount in the Balos, featuring a soft, gusseted tongue and a lightweight creel upper that our testers raved about. This combination provides a structured yet breathable fit that securely wraps the foot, making it comfortable on easy runs and highly capable during faster efforts when security is key. Our testers liked the snug midfoot fit and highly secure heel counter, though some noted that the low-volume toe box might require careful sizing.
Overall, the New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos is a delightful new addition to the Fresh Foam X line that our testers quickly fell in love with for their daily training miles. They found that the shoe's lightweight design, protective midsole, and bouncy ride set it apart from the competition within the premium daily training category. Furthermore, if the price does not intimidate you, our testers highly recommend the Balos as your next go-to trainer to enhance your daily running experience.
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Coming Soon |
| Stack Height | 6 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to size |
Our In-Depth Look
Upper
Kaleb: "When I first laced up the Balos, I was surprised by how light the shoe felt on foot. Furthermore, the creel mesh was very breathable, helping my feet remain cool even in hot summer weather. The fit was true to size, and I had no points of irritation, which translated to comfortable training runs.
My favorite feature was the gusseted tongue, which delivered a secure wrap that was not restrictive and perfect when picking up the pace to tempo. The fit affords a lot of versatility, providing the comfort and space needed for long runs, and the level of security runners need for faster-paced workouts."
Risa: "This upper feels premium. It is breathable and reminiscent of a racing upper with the semi-transparent creel mesh. This is all while offering the soft, premium comfort I prefer in my daily training shoes."
Midsole
Kaleb: "I just want to take a moment to praise New Balance for this newly formulated Fresh Foam X, PEBA-blended midsole. Simply put, it is impressive and delivers a lot of fun daily miles. The midsole does not lack any protection and delivers an efficient, bouncy energy return that can complement faster paces. I was able to enjoy anything from long runs and recovery runs to tempo workouts and fast-paced intervals. This versatility is one of the things I loved most about the Rebel before New Balance made changes to version 4. The Balos may be my new go-to everyday trainer, especially when I am on the go and may need to change my training plans to accommodate a different type of run."
Risa: "I loved the midsole right away. The PEBA-blend supercritical foam makes for a unique underfoot experience. It is soft yet bouncy underfoot—my favorite combo! The Balos is also lighter than it looks, and I felt like the rocker helped propel me forward more than most daily trainers."
Outsole
Kaleb: "This is where I have the most hesitation. The Balos has a mix of rubber in high-contact areas and a healthy dose of exposed foam on the outsole. I had no problems with traction on paved surfaces, but I worry that the Balos does not have long-lasting durability. The rubber in high-contact zones looks fine, but the areas of exposed foam raise some (and only some) concerns. Given the price point of the Balos, this is worth considering. Though the midsole performance is worth a try even if durability could be improved moving forward."
Risa: "I had no issues with grip on the roads in the Balos. I've only run about 30 miles so far so I can't speak to durability at this point, but I expect it to be a long-lasting shoe."
Comparable Shoes
New Balance Balos vs. New Balance 1080 v13
Risa: "In my opinion, the Balos is like a premium 1080. I love the 1080 v13 and use it frequently for my long runs during my marathon training. While both shoes have 'Fresh Foam X' in their name, the foam compound feels quite different in the two. The Balos features supercritical foam, while the 1080 does not. Both shoes are quite soft. I would describe the 1080 as having almost a mushy softness, while the Balos feels more energetic and much lighter."
New Balance Balos vs. New Balance Rebel v3
Kaleb: "No need to read that again—yes, I am comparing this shoe to version 3, not the Rebel v4. This is because the new updates to the Rebel, although good, have changed the shoe a lot from version 3 to version 4. With the Balos' lightweight, secure, and versatile ride, I feel it resembles the Rebel v3 more.
The Balos is not quite as agile as the Rebel v3, but the balanced, highly versatile midsole reminds me of the Rebel v3's FuelCell midsole. I would not be surprised if the Balos steals some of the Rebel's thunder this year."
New Balance Balos vs. Nike Invincible 3
Risa: "I remember being a bit blown away when the Invincible first came out because of its bouncy ZoomX super foam midsole and high stack. That said, the Invincible was not a shoe for speedwork; I used it as a long-run or recovery-run shoe. Between the two, I would give the Balos the edge over the Invincible. The Balos feels noticeably lighter on foot with a faster ride, and it feels like a shoe I could grab any day of the week for any kind of run."
Individual Thoughts
Admittedly, when New Balance presented us with the Balos, I was confused as to why New Balance was adding a new model to their Fresh Foam X line. With shoes like the 1080 and 880 already within the daily training and premium daily training categories, respectively, I did not see how the Balos would distinguish itself from its siblings. Furthermore, given the Balos' price, I questioned how it would be worth the extra expense over other Fresh Foam X options.
After testing, I can honestly say that now I get it! The Balos has a lot to offer, even if you are a lover of the 1080 or 880. It delivers the soft protection you know and love from the Fresh Foam X line but with a whole different level of responsiveness, making for a much more versatile shoe that truly has the capabilities to do it all, besides maybe PR races. Pair this ride with a lightweight, breathable, and secure upper, and you have a winner in my book.
I do have some concerns in terms of the shoe's durability, which is worth even more consideration given the shoe's higher price point, but the midsole experience is more than worth it. If you are a Fresh Foam lover, then the Balos will give you an inside peek at where I believe the future of Fresh Foam is headed.
When I first heard about the Balos, I was super excited to test it because it seemed right up my alley, and let me say, I was not disappointed! New Balance has a special thing going with this plush, bouncy supercritical Fresh Foam X midsole. It was enjoyable to run in, delivering a bouncy energy return and a lot of protection underfoot. I was also impressed by how light the shoe felt, especially given its high stack.
Sometimes bouncy foams can make a shoe feel squirrely, but I never felt unstable in the Balos thanks to its wider platform. Initially, I was not sure the Balos would be a good fit for me on long runs, but after testing, I truly feel like I can reach for this shoe for any run on my training schedule, including long runs, tempo efforts, and shorter, speedier intervals. The Balos is not what I would consider a speed shoe, but it has no difficulty with higher-tempo paces. Overall, the Balos was a lot more versatile than I expected, and I was surprised how much I enjoyed testing this non-plated super trainer. It is a little pricey at $200, but the Balos is one of the best daily trainers you can buy.