New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7

I still remember when I was wearing the mythical New Balance Leadville and I got the bad news that the model era being discontinued. Total depression. Then came the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro with its Fresh Foam midsole and its spectacular asymmetrical hexagonal reliefs. I got over the depression.

The NB fresh Foam X Hierro v7 has evolved a lot since that first version of 2015, remember those uppers of the v3 or v4 that did not let you sweat much, the sock-like support that for some era quite annoying especially if with the passage of the kms your ankle has a tendency to swell, the soles with asymmetric hexagonal lugs designed in the laboratory according to studies of torsion, stability and grip during the race, but in the end it era not a sole that transmitted total reliability when running on certain surfaces despite the Vibram rubber.

We always find points to improve when analyzing a trail running shoe, but in spite of everything, the final assessment of this whole New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro saga was always excellent.

Well, with this latest v7 version I have the feeling that the North American brand has read all the "negative" comments that have been made about the previous versions and have made a global renovation in the sole, midsole and upper. In fact, this is the version that most reminds me of the firstborn and I love this return to the past.

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 cheaper prices

Ideal runner for the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v77

Ideal runner.... Ummmmmm.... well I think that here the Boston brand has made a small turn looking for a bigger niche market for this shoe and trying to differentiate much more the profile of the runner for the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 and for the New Balance Fresh Foam X More trail V2 The Hierro v7 has been designed for medium weight runners (between 65 and 80 kg. approx) and the More Trail v2 for slightly heavier runners.

The main reasons coincide very much with the explanations we give regarding the ideal distances for this New Balance trailshoe, so we discuss them below.

Ideal distances for the New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v7

The profile of the ideal runner for these shoes has been modified, as far as ideal distances are concerned, three quarters of the same.

There are several reasons for this:

• The v7s have undergone a big decrease in profile thickness, going from the 24-32 of the v6s to a 17-26 of the v7s (official data. Something more according to my measurements), both with a finaldrop of 8 mm, which I think is ideal for a shoe of these characteristics.
• This new version has been designed with Fresh Foam X foam, which provides greater stability due to its higher density, although everything has a cost and in this case it is that when running you don't feel like you're running in cotton wool as with the original foam, but you will notice a little more reactivity, especially if you have a good running technique.
• A decrease in the base width (much more evident in the forefoot) from 915 mm in the heel and 119 mm in the forefoot of the V6 to 91.4 mm and 11.4 mm respectively in the v7, although they are still a very good option if you have wide feet.

As a consequence of all this the New Balance Hierro v7 have slimmed down by about 40 grams. A very noticeable amount.

If we put together a much thinner profile, a less soft but much more stable and reactive midsole material, a narrower base and a lower overall weight of the shoe, it makes this new version of the Hierro v7 much more pleasant for somewhat lighter runners with acceptable or good running technique looking for a shoe for long distance or even medium or short distances, if you are looking for a model that offers security.

If you are a runner over 80 kg. and you are looking for a comfortable, stable, reliable shoe on any terrain and your goal is to enjoy running through the campo with the occasional warm-up where you want to test your core strength, this is also a fantastic option.

What we liked most about the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro V7

Putting on this shoe for the first time is a pleasure. It doesn't bother anything in particular and you feel the foot supported. It's one of those shoes that you can put on and go for a run without thinking about possible blisters or chafing. When running, you notice a spectacular footprint dynamics. The transition in support from heel to forefoot is very fluid and uninterrupted.

We know that a shoe with the Vibram Megagrip seal on the sole is a guarantee of durability and reliability. But that's not enough. And here there has been a big change from previous versions that I loved: it no longer uses large asymmetrical hexagonal lugs (with some modifications depending on the version and where in the New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6 some modifications were already seen), but New Balance has designed a completely new outsole with bidirectional lugs with differences in shape and depth (up to 5mm depending on the location) forgetting that the hexagonal lugs.

This new design provides greater traction and as the outsole has been worn, it has behaved much better than previous versions, expanding the type of surfaces on which you can run with these New Balance FFX Hierro v7. A great success.

Open war in New Balance: Hierro v7 vs More Trail v2

I loved the feeling of support I got from the upper and the absence of seams (except for the lining -heel lining- with the rest of the upper).

Another detail that I really liked is the new design of the Toe Protect, somewhat higher than in previous versions and that runners with a tendency to hit their toes with branches or stones will appreciate (as long as they get the right size, otherwise it can become a torture for your nails).

Finally, another detail that has caught my attention is that the eyelet has been modified looking for a better support of the central part of the foot. Now we have a 6+1 design when in the V6 version era 5(and 5 in the previous ones), with a simple 8mm wide flat lacing (it has increased its width by a few 3 mm). In short: wider lanyards with more holes equals more safety when running.

Improvement opportunities for the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7

I would possibly give a twist to the design of the rear tongue of the sole that, although I love them for the stability and security they provide both to the ankle joint and to the subtalar joint when supporting (among other anatomical structures) in this case I find it a bit soft, and when I have tried running with the heel in I have noticed a certain instability, mainly going downhill. Added to the design of a thinner midsole in that area, the dynamic drop of this shoe is less than 8 mm, which complicates the whole dynamics of the stride (with "dynamicdrop " I mean the drop that the shoe presents when we run, taking into account the design of the midsole, the running technique of the runner, the characteristics of the materials... which sometimes does not coincide with the measurements made in the laboratory).

I have also noticed that the tongue tends to move if you are a runner with a certain tendency to pronate or supinate excessively, something that should not be a problem for most, but it is important for those who suffer from it.

Lastly, I think people with a narrow forefoot will notice that when tightening the laces the upper will wrinkle a bit, something that can be annoying.

Models similar to the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro V7

Finding models that are direct competition to these New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 is not easy, since it has its own characteristics, but perhaps I would cite:

Nike Wildhorse 7

ASICS Trabuco 9

Brooks Cascadia 16

Raidligth Responsiv Ultra 2.0

La Sportiva Ultra Raptor

Final conclusions of the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7

Except for the design of the lugs that makes it a shoe not very suitable for technical terrain, the rest is simply spectacular. One of those trail running shoes that I wouldn't be afraid to try just before a race.

Ideal not only for running but also as shoes for your outings to walk around the campo, do the Camino de Santiago or any other excursion where you are looking for comfort from start to finish. But where they will move like a fish in water will be in long distance races, regular terrain and better in dry or wet terrain with not much smooth rock.

If your stride is neutral or slightly pronator/supinator or you use custom insoles you won't have the slightest problem adapting to them. If on the other hand you are a big pronator/supinator you will probably crack the midsole much sooner than expected, but even so and due to its wide base of support, you will enjoy it much more than with other similar models. It is one of my favorite shoes.

All the features of the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7

RUNNEA Tester Rating

• Lightweight: 7.
• Responsiveness: 7
• Cushioning: 9.
• Stability: 9.
• Flexibility: 8.
• Grip: 8.