Trail running is more popular than ever. By one account, the sport has grown by more than 230 per cent in the last decade. Part of the wide appeal is simplicity: all you need is a trail plus some decent garb and most importantly, footwear.
It’s a minimalist sport that demands a highly protective shoe to boost your performance but never bog you down with unnecessary weight or stiffness.
Meeting that demand is the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 (for women or men), boasting an improved Fresh Foam X midsole for consistently soft landings plus a durable and adaptable Vibram outsole.
The upper’s no-sew overlays add durability against rocks, sticks and anything else the trail will throw at you—as does the Toe Protect technology.
Highlights
Protection and Traction: This Vibram outsole bears examination, for it is a relatively simple design with very successful results for trail runners on moderate terrain. Vibram Traction Lug is a new design that focuses on the key element in traction—the micro-featured shape of the lug, or tread pattern.
The lug profile is not as chunky as some trail runners. Instead, the lugs are built low and arranged symmetrically alongside corresponding depressions in the outsole.
If you look closely, the lugs contain micro-abrasions designed to grip when the shoe makes contact with rocks, dirt, gravel or whatever surface you find yourself on.
Consequently, the Hierro offers a smoother ride than a chunky-outsole shoe, as your foot tends to hug the terrain rather than bounce off it. While this is a clear advantage on smooth rocks or gravel, the midsole/outsole is less stiff than some trail runners, which could translate into a less aggressive approach to highly technical terrain. And you might want chunkier lugs (or a more dense lug pattern) if you’re tackling a lot of sharp-rock terrain.
Comfort: New Balance’s signature Fresh Foam X midsole is at the heart of this shoe. This cushioning system offers a squishy yet controlled, responsive ride, absorbing impact and providing long-haul comfort. With a 38 mm heel stack, there’s a lot of foam “suspension” here to ensure a ride with fewer jarring surprises.
Breathability: If you’re running in mud and rain a lot you may want a GORE-TEX shoe, but the Hierro v8 mesh upper breathes better than GORE-TEX and is a tiny bit lighter. In our demo we did not encounter very wet conditions, but in light rain and mud, the shoe shed water readily. The upper vents so well that during a hot run, the sweat evaporates before you feel it. Nobody likes running with hot, mucky feet and the Hierro v8 keeps air flowing around your upper foot, allowing you to focus on the trail ahead.
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