New Balance More V5 Review

New Balance More V5

The New Balance More V5 is one of the newest and arguably best max cushion cruisers on the market. Even with the already max cushioned 1080 V13, New Balance still continued the More lineup with this update, offering a slightly firmer but more cushioned ride compared to the 1080. Without feeling overly clunky like some other max cushion options, the More V5 delivers maximal protection for your legs to throw down tons of mileage with fresh legs.

Featuring 43mm of foam in the heel and 39mm in the forefoot with a 4mm drop, the More V5 is illegally cushioned. With all the FreshFoam X underfoot, the More really has a bouncy ride to carry you through long runs. Instead of feeling like it absorbs the impact, the foam really just bounces you back up and through your stride, making it a very easy shoe to run in. However, at 10.7 oz, it is still a bit heavy, so if that concerns you, I would recommend going for the 1080 V13.

Compared to other options, the More V5 is probably my favorite Max Cushion trainer, and coming in at $150, it's priced very reasonably compared to its competition. Some alternatives include the Saucony Hurricane and Asics Gel Nimbus 26, which both come in at $160 if you are not a New Balance fan. However, I would really recommend giving the More V5 a chance as it is one of very few max cushion trainers that doesn't feel overly clunky.

Specs

• Weight 10.7 oz
• Stack 43mm heel/39mm forefoot
• Drop 4mm
• $150

Midsole and Ride

Typically, I do Midsole and Ride separately, but the More V5 really is just a simple massive slab of foam that delivers tons of cushion. The New Balance More V5 features 43mm of premium FreshFoamX, which, although soft, is a tad firmer than the formulation found in the 1080 V13. With all that foam, you still get a very cushioned ride that is bouncy enough to not feel super heavy. To me, this is the most max cushion shoe on the market, and it literally just feels like "more." The FreshFoamX is an EVA-based compound, and you get a lot on the sides, providing stability despite lacking a plate. On the push test, the midsole feels extremely soft, and you can tell that the More will be extremely plush and cushioned.

Since the midsole is insanely soft, I do want to give some other alternatives for those wanting a max cushion cruiser. If you're looking for a firmer option, the Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 or 26 could be a great option. For an even bouncier and plated option, I'd go with the Hoka Skyward X, and finally, if you are somehow looking for something even more than the more, I'd take a look at the Adidas Prime X2

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Upper and Fit

The More V5 sticks with its naming scheme on the upper and feels very cushioned and premium. In hotter weather, it can be a little wet, but even in Florida weather, they did not bother me too much. The tongue is very padded, and I couldn't feel the laces through it at all. They never came untied during runs. The heel is fairly rigid, keeping my heel locked down pretty nicely, and I didn't find my foot moving around during runs. I will say yesterday I did have some weird rubbing on my pinky toe and big toe, but that went away once I started running. I really like the upper/fit and nothing stood out badly while I used it.

Sizing-wise, the fits true to size, but maybe just barely short, so I would recommend sticking with your normal sizing.

Outsole and Durability

The outsole on the New Balance More V5 is pretty good. You get decent rubber coverage throughout, and the rubber, I'd say, is ok. I took it out right before Hurricane Debbie hit and didn't have complete trust in it, but I also didn't slip, so I'd say it's decent. In terms of durability, check out Yowana's video, as he's put in much more mileage than I have, but due to the softer foam, I'd guess it probably won't be amazing.

Who's is Best For

The New Balance More V5 is best suited for runners who want the softest of the soft, but without any ground feel or concern about having the shoe bottom out. For easy mileage or even long runs, I really enjoyed it, but if you want something lighter with a similar vibe, check out the New Balance 1080 v13 or 860.

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