New Balance More Trail v3 Review: Fat Tire Fun

What You Need To Know

The Good

ROBBE: Look, if you want to feel comfortable on the trails it’s going to be hard finding something that does a better job than the New Balance More Trail v3. There’s a reason we gave the road version of this shoe the award for Best Max Cushion shoe of 2022– the huge stack of Fresh Foam is all the cushion you could ask for and more.

I was a bit concerned with that kind of stack on a trail shoe. In the past, it hasn’t worked out so well, making the shoe either too unstable (Saucony Endorphin Edge) or way too heavy (Saucony Endorphin Trail). But it works here, though the shoe is still a bit on the heavier side. 

On trails, you don’t feel anything– rocks, roots, jagged things– they all cry “mercy” when engaged in foot-to-ground combat with the More Trail. We’ve likened other shoes like the Brooks Caldera 6 or Asics Trabuco Max 2 to a monster truck. If those are Gravediggers, then this is Gravedigger with juiced up tires and an extra Hemi under the hood.

As I noted, it’s a surprisingly stable shoe even with all of that cushion. There’s a few reasons for this. First, the sidewalls are higher than the actual stack height, so your foot actually sits down a bit inside of the midsole. Secondly, the base of the shoe is ridiculously wide, which is both good and bad (more on that later). Third, the midsole is so wide that it actually comes out a few millimeters to each side of the upper. Meaning, it’s very hard to roll your ankles in this shoe. I never felt like I was close to doing it in any of my runs.

The upper itself is very accommodating, and should work well for people who like more volume or have a wider foot. The toe box is plenty round. That said, it didn’t feel like too much room; I felt that the lockdown was pretty solid overall and didn’t have any slippage on the run.

Moving onto the outsole, the Vibram lugs are huge and do a good job getting into the mud and softer surfaces. The downside is that they contribute to the somewhat heavy weight of the shoe. Speaking of weight, the shoe does seem to run lighter than it actually is, and it transitions surprisingly well to roads.

Style wise, this shoe has to be one of the prettiest trail shoes I’ve ever seen, both in its designs and colorways. The New Balance design team really knocked it out of the park on this one.

THOMAS: Robbe covered the technical details of the More Trail v3, so I’ll stick to how it fits and feels. First off, the road version, the More v4, ran big, so I had to go down half a size to get the best fit. Even then, I felt like the road version was a bit too roomy. On the trail side, however, my US M10.5 fits just right, and the fit is one of the most important features of a trail shoe. If your foot slips and slides, uneven surfaces will, at a minimum, irritate you. At worst, slippage can set you up for an injury. On the other end, a shoe that’s too tight means hot spots, blisters, and numbness, especially on longer efforts.

I felt confident trudging over the hard, damp, well-packed single track, dodging roots and rubble. I was surprised by the More Trail v3 on the small sections of asphalt and concrete we traveled on during our test runs. Even with 5mm lugs, the More Trail v3 offers a good ride — it just rolls over everything. The 10.9 oz. (332 g) weight wasn’t noticeable on the trail, either. No, it’s not as agile or weightless as the Minimus 1010v2, but it smashes the minimal shoes when it comes to mowing over anything in its path. 

I’d agree with Robbe on the look of the shoe as well. My pair is covered in dirt now, and even though the upper was white, the mud adds to the design nicely.

The Bad

ROBBE: Until I started writing this review I thought this shoe used Vibram MegaGrip as its outsole rubber. And I was very confused because I thought its traction on wet rocks and other mildly slippery surfaces was pretty poor, something that Vibram MegaGrip typically excels at. Turns out, it’s not MegaGrip, but Vibram Ecostep Rubber, comprised of “virgin” rubber and 30% recycled rubber.

Ah.

That recycled rubber makes a difference, and it probably doesn’t help that the lugs are so chunky. I was slipping on creek crossings that I usually felt pretty sure about, and on one hike, fell straight into the water. It’s not Nike Trail-level bad, but it’s not good.

Speaking of falling in– when this shoe gets wet, it gets heavy with a capital ‘H’. If you want a comfortable upper, know you’re getting a sponge with it. 

While I genuinely love the wide platform and wouldn’t change it, if you’re looking for a shoe that’s nimble and can navigate crevices and rocks at a faster speed, well– this ain’t it. It’s a comfort cruiser through and through. Oddly enough, I found it to be an unenjoyable hiking shoe. I only mention that because I suspect this shoe will be on the feet of a lot of casual wearers thanks to its exceptional design.

Because it’s so “boaty” and wide, it’s kind of annoying to walk in because of how it hangs over any surface that’s mildly uneven, or, alternatively, just lands on everything in its way. I found myself wanting something more normal to walk in. In that way, I think it’s a better running shoe, because the compression from running helps mash down the midsole and the surface type doesn’t really matter– it just rolls over everything.

Playing devil’s advocate again– the shoe has zero ground feel. So if you actually like feeling the trail, just move right on. This is for pure comfort and pure protection– set it to cruise control and let it ride.

Switch the laces out. They’re pretty lifestyle-ish and kind of floppy. I don’t know, I just didn’t like them.

THOMAS: I agree with Robbe that water is the More Trail v3’s enemy. However, I can’t entirely agree with the bit about it being the wrong choice for hiking. Meg and I have used the shoe for casual wear and find that comfort works across the board. Besides the shoe being a sponge, I have a minor issue with the lacing throat. I have to cinch it down to get a secure fit. It isn’t horrible, but it does create a small amount of puckering.

New Balance More Trail v3 Conclusion

ROBBE: Overall, I really enjoyed this shoe, especially for what it is. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it kind of shoe for logging big, comfortable miles with no specific pace (leave those faster miles for the Supercomp Trail coming this summer). It definitely does the job it’s supposed to do, and it looks fantastic both on and off the trail.

While I’d stay away from slippery surfaces, I think it can handle just about everything else, including roads. If you’re looking at buying this shoe, you’re probably expecting to get a lot of comfort in a chunky, fashion-forward package. And that’s exactly what you’ll get, which is really all you can ask for.

THOMAS: The More Trail v3 is a shoe that makes me want to hit the trails. The grip, cushion, and fit work together to make you forget about the shoe and focus on the beauty of the trails. At $160, the More Trail v3 will get you many enjoyable romps through the wilderness, as well as probably Target, Home Depot, and REI. I’d check out our reviews of the Asics Trabuco Max 2, Salomon Glide Max TR, Brooks Caldera, and Hoka Challenger ATR for other trail shoes in this category. Damn, it’s an excellent time to be soft on trails.

You can pick up the New Balance More Trail v3 now for $160 by using the shop links below.

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