| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| + Extremely stable ride + Very comfy upper | – Heavy – One-dimensional ride |
It’s been a few years since I last ran in New Balance’s softest and most cushioned pair. The shoe has always played second fiddle to its older, less chubby sibling, the Fresh Foam X 1080. And New Balance loves to play favorites: there’s a reason the “Run your way” company — not to be confused with Burger King’s “Have it your way”— says if they made only one shoe, it’d be the 1080. Ouch, that’s got to deflate the gigantic stack height of the More a little, right? Find out if the shoe deserves more of the spotlight, in this New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 review.
New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 Review
| STACK HEIGHT | WEIGHT | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 44/40 mm (4 mm drop) | M9: 10.8 oz/306 g W8: 8.5 oz/241 g | $160 |
When researching the More v6 on New Balance’s website, one thing quickly becomes clear: New Balance doesn’t give a shit about this shoe. Don’t believe me? As of this review’s publishing on November 11 — three whole months after the shoe’s release — the shoe’s webpage barely has any info.
What is the upper made of? Beats New Balance! What’s the deal with the outsole? New Balance hasn’t got a clue! Even extremely basic info, like, the shoe’s weight, isn’t accurate. How much does the More v6 weigh? According to New Balance, 306 grams (306 oz). Yes, apparently the shoe weighs both 306 grams and also 306 ounces, or, you know, 19+ pounds. Ok, got it. But don’t worry, New Balance makes sure to note there are reflective details on the upper. Phew!
It’s a far cry from the much more informative webpages of the Fresh Foam X 1080, 880, FuelCell Rebel v5, and…literally every other New Balance shoe. It seems even New Balance doesn’t believe the More warrants…more attention.
But who really cares about a shoe’s webpage, anyway? They’re stuffed to the seams with contrived marketing copy about how a shoe is “totally gonna change your life, man.” Spoiler: it won’t. And the More v6 certainly will not.
Midsole
There’s a heaping helping of Fresh Foam X in the midsole, with a gigantic stack height of 44 mm in the heel and 40 mm in the forefoot. It’s the same midsole used in New Balance’s daily trainers: Fresh Foam X 1080v14 and 880v15. Fresh Foam X is an EVA-based foam, that’s heavier and less responsive than New Balance’s FuelCell midsole.
In an extremely shocking, totally unforgivable move, the 44/40 mm stack height has remained unchanged from v5. Every brand’s shoe update these days adds at least a couple millimeters of foam. I suppose both the heel and forefoot measuring in with at least 40 mm will suffice. And frankly, this shoe could stand to lose some foam. Without a plate or special foam, the thick slab of foam makes for a very vanilla ride — one that’s not versatile in the slightest.
Ride
Despite its massive stack height, the More v6 is one of the most stable shoes around, due to high sidewalls and broad outsole base. It’s a bit too stable for my liking. It’s also one of the softest shoes underfoot, providing plush landings aplenty. This soft and stable combo serves the pair well as a great “easy day” option, but that’s about the extent of its use cases for me.
There are better options for daily trainers that are lighter and snappier and can also serve as recovery day pairs. And I’d never in a million years use this shoe for long runs — even if it were, somehow, the last remaining shoe on earth. I’d rather run barefoot. Or with socks.
The one notable change in the ride from v5 is the addition of an enhanced rocker profile, although I really don’t feel smooth heel-to-toe transitions on the run. Simply put, the ride could be more responsive. Despite sharing the same Fresh Foam X midsole, the Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 provides better energy return and is a more enjoyable running experience. Running in the More v6 feels like a chore at times. Again, I think the shoe would benefit from losing some foam. It’s not a very flexible midsole.
The logical shoe to compare it to is ASICS’ max cushioned behemoth, the Gel-Nimbus 27, but that’d be a mistake. The Gel-Nimbus has a more lively ride, a preferable 8 mm drop, and, candidly, looks better. Whoever says running isn’t a fashion contest isn’t only dead wrong—they’re deathly ugly.
Although slightly heavier, the Brooks Ghost Max 3 is also preferable over the More, as it’s better at more paces.
While Fresh Foam X is still solid, the fact New Balance is replacing it with a new midsole compound in the 1080v15 is a sign its best days may be behind it.
Upper
A redesigned engineered mesh upper adds more padding in the tongue and heel collar for high levels of comfort. Seriously, it’s one of the coziest uppers this year. But its denseness doesn’t make it very breathable, which isn’t surprising given it’s essentially a recovery day pair. There’s a prominently sized gusseted tongue that does a stellar job of keeping my feet in place. Overall, it’s a roomy upper with a huge toe box. Oh, and don’t forget the most important part: there are “reflective details” on the upper.
Outsole
As usual, there’s a sufficient amount of unnamed rubber on the outsole that provides top-notch durability. You can expect this shoe will go the distance and last several hundreds of miles. The extremely wide outsole base provides quite the stable platform to land on.
Weight
Although the weight is basically the same from v5, this shoe feels heavier than the already heavy 10.8 ounces (306 grams) for a men’s size 9 and 8.5 oz (241 grams) for a women’s size 8. I mean, technically, that’s correct—my size 15 pair weighs a crap ton more than 10.8 ounces. But, if I did wear a size 9 (and had a small penis) I’d still think it’s over 11 ounces. It just feels so hefty. The shoe’s unexciting ride certainly doesn’t help. Add in a dense upper without much breathability and you can understand how it feels so bulky.
Aesthetics
All of New Balance’s Fresh Foam shoes look the same; I guess that’s intentional? But the More sticks out like a sore — and swollen — big toe due to its stack height. It’s just not a very modern looking design, but what do I know about fashion? My entire running “wardrobe” is full of the same shit: a lot of dull black and lifeless gray.
The “white with blue agate and reflection” colorway looks fresh and clean — until you run in them enough and they turn stale and dirty. Same problem as any other white colorway.
Price
I mean, $160 isn’t necessarily an awful price with how much “shoe” you get (44/40 mm and a comfy upper), but, again, there are many other $160 pairs that are more versatile than the More and therefore provide better value.
Conclusion
Too one-dimensional to use for anything but easy days, the MORE v6 pales in comparison to other lighter, more responsive trainers, including New Balance’s own Fresh Foam X 1080. But those looking for a comfy, soft, stable — and slow—ride won’t be disappointed.
The More v6 is available on New Balance’s website.
New Balance graciously provided this shoe to me for wear testing. I was not compensated for this New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 review and they didn’t get an opportunity to see this New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 review before I published.
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