New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5 Review

Most max-cushioned shoes are optimized for comfort, and the More v5 is no exception. It's very comfortable, but it isn't fast. However, thanks to a well-designed foam and rocker, we found this shoe can keep rolling easily longer than most of its competitors. That, in turn, makes it better for a wider range of runs.

Side View Cut in Half

Cushioning

Running in the More v5 feels is a wonderful experience if you like plush cushioning in your shoes. The Fresh Foam X formulation is extremely soft underfoot. The foam (42 mm at the heel, 35 mm at the forefoot) doesn't feel highly resilient; it's slightly bouncier than the formulation in the previous version, but is more padded than energetic. If you prefer the feeling of bouncing off the ground, you'll likely prefer a shoe with a bit more resilience. On the other hand, if you enjoy the feeling of sinking into a foam and rolling along, this is the shoe for you.

During testing, this quickly became one of our favorite trainers for short, easy mileage thanks to the plush underfoot feeling and easy rolling sensation. While it could be a do-it-all trainer for runners who rarely push the pace and love to feel insulated from the ground, we think it's best as part of a rotation with shoes that are a bit more nimble and energetic.

Throughout testing, we found that this shoe thrived at keeping our legs insulated on easy mileage. That extended to long runs, although we do tend to prefer a lighter shoe for those efforts.

Upper Comfort

The upper of the More v5 is comfortable, combining a comfortable material that surrounds the ankle and heel with an engineered mesh that is relatively breathable. The tongue is well-padded and gusseted, which prevents hotspots during longer efforts.

We found that the shoe's overall fit is slightly short, something numerous user reviews also noted. That's consistent with our experience in a number of New Balance models over the past 12 months. Users on the larger end of their typical size might want to move up a half-size. Our testers are reliably a US men's 10.5. In testing, the short fit didn't become an issue until about 10 miles into a hilly run when our feet were sliding forward on the downhill sections, and our big toe began to develop a hotspot.

Stability

The More v5 utilizes a few approaches to provide some stability to the massive chunk of foam underfoot. First, the platform has a very wide base, with relatively slight tapering at the midfoot. Second, a large arch sidewall on the medial side of the midsole helps prevent the foam from deforming too much in that area. That's great for runners who tend to collapse medially.

We normally don't recommend max-cushioned shoes for runners who need significant support. This is one of the more stable options. We'd classify it as a neutral shoe, but it errs on the side of stable-neutral, thanks to the features we already mentioned. If you value stability over all else, look elsewhere. But if you're a runner who likes plush shoes and wants a tiny bit of support, this is a decent choice.

Responsiveness

This is a shoe that is best for easy running. Due to its overall size and comfort-optimized foam, it struggles at even moderate paces. Look elsewhere if you want a shoe to run uptempo efforts or workouts.

On the other hand, we did find that the More v5 rolls along easier than most of the other max-cushioned shoes in our lineup. That makes a significant difference when considering a trainer for more extended easy efforts. Less effort spent fighting the shoe results in less overall fatigue throughout a longer run. That's a huge part of why the More v5 is a shoe that we highly recommend for certain runners.

Weight

The More v5 is a chonk, weighing 12.19 ounces per shoe in a US men's size 10.5.

That makes it the heaviest shoe in the lineup. We notice the significant weight when wearing the shoe and wouldn't mind seeing it slim down. However, the upper materials are comfortable and breathable, and most weight would have to be removed from that area. Most runners will be okay with the minor weight penalty for the comfortable materials. Similarly, a reduction in outsole quality would be a poor choice. Overall, as long as you're not looking for a lightweight, max-cushioned shoe when considering the More v5, you'll be fine.

Traction

Traction on the More v5 is about average. The rubber outsole does bite reasonably well on cold and wet surfaces, but isn't great on uneven or tacky surfaces.

Most runners likely won't encounter an issue here, but another option would better serve those who regularly tackle gravel roads or run in light snow.

Should You Buy the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5?

This shoe will work best for runners who have a rotation. Thanks to its emphasis on comfort, it is big, heavy, and doesn't do well at faster paces. That's not ideal for one-shoe runners. For runners who want a very comfortable trainer to slot into their rotation for easy mileage, the More v5 makes more sense. We think it's best used for easy runs of about an hour or less, and would look elsewhere if that type of mileage rarely shows up in your running.

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