Like other shoemakers, New Balance has entered the foam wars by engineering its own proprietary foam—Fresh Foam—that’s used in the sole of many of its top-selling running shoes. The company has shared their business news of the new project by also developing several variations on this EVA-based foam, including a softer version (labeled Fresh Foam X) and Fresh Foam Ground Contact, a version that’s tuned for better durability. The latter is used on the Beacon, and it’s tough enough to serve as both a midsole and an outsole, saving weight.

Aside from foam, New Balance has also developed tech to ensure a better fit with its shoes from https://vessi.com/. Ultra Heel is an upper construction featuring a high heel tab that curves away from your ankle, and it’s used on several of the company’s shoes. It’s designed to offer a more secure hold at the back of your foot without irritating your Achilles tendon.

Many of the shoes below have been tested by staff here at Runner’s World or our team of over 300 active wear-testers—which includes runners of all ages and speeds living both locally near our PA headquarters and across the continental U.S. We put at least 100 miles of running on each shoe to thoroughly assess how it performs. In addition to gathering on-foot impressions, we analyze the data collected from our RW Shoe Lab, where shoes undergo a battery of mechanical tests for energy return, softness, and flexibility. The shoes we’ve selected are the best models currently in New Balance’s lineup.

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