New Balance More v5 Review: Somehow, Even More

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the New Balance More v5

MEAGHAN: It’s been a minute (2 years) since we’ve seen an update to the maxiest-max-cushion shoe, the OG of Chonk, the New Balance Fresh Foam More. But it’s back in its fifth iteration, and unsurprisingly, it comes with more… of everything. More Fresh Foam underfoot (44 mm in the heel and 40 mm in the forefoot), a wider build, and an even plusher mesh upper. But is this all too much of a good thing? We put it to the test.

CHAD: Philosophical question for you: is more always better? Well, at the end of the day, I guess it all depends on what we’re talking about. More delicious eats from Ekiben, one of the best spots in all of Baltimore? Hell yeah, of course, more is better! If you go, get the Broccoli Tempura — you won’t be sorry. However, more heat and humidity on your summer runs? Ugh, not a chance that could be considered better. So is more always better? Probably not.

That said, New Balance is consistently testing the theorem that more is better, especially when it comes to the newest model in the More series, the Fresh Foam More v5. The More model, year after year, seeks to stake its claim as the King of Chonk, or the Thicc Boi Extraordinaire in the running world. In the newest version, the More v5, somehow, New Balance ADDED more stack height (2 mm), bringing it to 44 mm/40 mm (4 mm drop). That’s in line with a lot of the other max cushion trainers on the market, but there’s something about how New Balance crafts the Fresh Foam X midsole on the More v5 that makes it look significantly higher.

LINDSAY: It’s human nature to always want more, right? Well, here we are at version five of the New Balance More, and it just keeps getting… more, with v5 being the absolute most yet. This shoe has got the most of… well, most things — most cushion, most platform, most stack, and most soft… er, softness. The only thing it’s missing is most versatility because this thick boy isn’t going much faster than a walk or recovery pace.

The New Balance More v5 has the stack of the Saucony Endorphin Shift or Hoka Bondi, with soft, cloud-like foam that reminds me a lot of the Asics Gel Nimbus. Honestly, it’s more cloud-like than those other guys, if you catch my drift. It even slightly resembles the Mizuno Neo Vista with its soft yet responsive midsole, but there’s a bit more stability and less propulsion to the New Balance More v5.

Compared to the previous iteration, the midsole foam in the v5 is an upgraded version of the Fresh Foam X, which is the same foam in the 1080v13 but with more of it (and even more in v5 compared to v4). In v4, the Fresh Foam went from EVA foam to EVA with PEBA. (I’m not trying to rhyme; it just does). This PEBA is what started giving the More line more bounce with every toe-off, which people seemed really positive about when going from v3 to v4. Now, in v5, the BioEva is a bit lighter and softer in development, which lets New Balance add even more cushion without adding weight.

Another subtle change is the addition of some padding back into the heel counter and tongue, which is now gusseted. Finally, a remedy for what our reviewers considered a major faux pas the last time around.

It’s a very comfortable shoe, no doubt about it, but is this crossing the line from shock absorption to nap time? Keep reading.

What we like about the New Balance More v5

MEAGHAN: Some will say it’s ridiculous, but I love a giant slab of foam underfoot, and I love the aesthetics of the More v5. While I would have much preferred the all-white version, the pink/orange colorway I received gives some nice summer vibes.

The step-in feel of this shoe is exactly what you would expect from a max cushion shoe. It’s soft, plush, and very comfortable. I went with my normal size (US W7.5) and found it fit true to size, with a little extra room in the toe box.

Out on the roads, this shoe continues to live up to its plush billing. There’s no ground feel, just a very soft, somewhat bouncy ride. The foam formulation is the same stuff that’s in the New Balance 1080v13, one of our favorite daily trainers from 2023. This is the perfect shoe for those days when your legs are tired after a long run or hard workout. It’s what recovery shoe dreams are made of.

Lastly, it’s nice to see the More v5 sit at $155 for all that shoe.

CHAD: Just before joining Believe in the Run as a contributor, I purchased the Fresh Foam More v4 as a recovery run shoe after reading Meaghan, Thomas, and Jarrett’s review in 2022. I really enjoyed it for my slow and easy runs a day or so after my weekend long run, which normally never exceeded 4-5 miles. That distance was perfect for the More v4 because it was heavy, and the composition of the Fresh Foam X was so soft and squishy that I almost felt like I had to work harder to run it in. Truth be told, I don’t think I took the v4 further than 6 miles in any of my runs.

That’s pretty much all changed in the More v5. The shoe still packs a punch in the weight department (more on that later), but this model uses the same Fresh Foam X found in the 1080v13, a shoe that I reviewed back in the fall of 2023. The thing I loved most about the 1080 was the newfound bounce of the Fresh Foam X, which reminded me of the much-loved Asics Novablast 3. The More v5 has that bounce and resiliency of the 1080v13 but with significantly more inherent stability, given its uber-wide platform and slight rocker profile.

The first run I took the More v5 on ended up being just over 10k, or longer than I ever took the v4. The shoe felt incredibly comfortable the entire time, and it felt like I could have taken it even longer. This new iteration of Fresh Foam X and the added bounce reduces the amount of extra effort I felt like I had to put in when running in the More v4.

LINDSAY: The upper is engineered mesh that contributes to the shoe’s overall plush factor. It’s not particularly breathable, but it didn’t get overly warm, either. I did have to stop during the first couple of runs to tighten down the laces on the pillowy tongue, though. Once they were a little more snug, the lockdown hold was fine.

This is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of running in Fresh Foam X, which is a wildly popular foam among New Balance 1080 runners. I could’ve probably done with a little bit less of it in this shoe, which is probably exactly why the 1080 is so popular. For reference, the heel stack height of the 1080v13 is 38 mm compared to the whopping 44 mm of the More v5. Nonetheless, it’s an extremely soft and lightweight foam, which means that even with the extra cushion, it’s not what I would consider a heavy shoe. Especially taking into account that it’s mostly going to be used as a walking or slow-paced shoe.

There’s no shortage of outsole on this shoe either which really adds to the stability. Wrapping from toe to heel and through the arch is a solid grid of rubber that will be there for you no matter the activity, weather, or what kind of foot strike you have.

What we don’t like about the  New Balance More v5

MEAGHAN: I mentioned that the fifth iteration got more of everything, and that also goes for the weight. This guy got chonkier, and it shows on the scale. My US W7.5 More v4 came in at 8.8 oz, while my US W7.5 More v5 is close to 9.2 oz. It’s not the heaviest shoe in the world, especially when you look at all that foam, but it’s not a light shoe either.

The other downside to the More v5 is that it’s not going to be your do-it-all trainer. This shoe is great for easy runs, recovery runs, and maybe even a longer run, but it’s not going to be the best pick for fast days or toeing the line.

CHAD: Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and the King of Chonk is just that — heavy. A US M9.5 weighs a whopping 11.3 oz., making my US M12 likely well over 12 oz. The added bounce helps to mitigate that a smidge, but there’s no denying that running longer distances in this one will take a lot out of the legs. At least that will make your race-day shoes feel that much lighter.

Aesthetically, this shoe falls pretty flat. In an age where a lot of brands are swinging for the fences from a creativity standpoint when it comes to colorways and design (including New Balance in its FuelCell lineup), the light gray upper and single color accent (teal in mine) are bland. It looks the way that chicken baked without any seasoning tastes.

LINDSAY: There is nothing I outwardly dislike about this shoe. I do know a lot of people who won’t like it simply because they prefer to feel the ground, ruin their joints, and can’t fathom a true recovery pace, but I digress. The New Balance Fresh Foam More v5 has a photo next to the dictionary definition of max cushion recovery shoe. (Notice I didn’t say daily trainer.) New Balance calls this a run-to-walk shoe, and that is precisely what it is.

Final thoughts on the New Balance More v5

MEAGHAN: The New Balance Fresh Foam More v5 is a really great update to its predecessor. For those who loved the plush cushion of the last model, it only gets better in this iteration. If you’re looking for that true max-cushion, can’t-feel-the-ground, so-comfortable-I-don’t-want-to-take-it-off shoe, stop what you’re doing and go pick up a pair. You won’t regret it.

CHAD: As Anna, Princess of Arendelle, exclaimed, “It’s Coronation Day!” For those inquiring, yes, I have two daughters and Frozen has been played regularly in my house and car for years. The New Balance Fresh Foam More v5 has once again made its case to be the King of Chonk, and in my opinion, it has earned it. My biggest complaint about the More v4 has been remedied in that it finally feels like the shoe gives something back on the run versus feeling like you’re running in quicksand. The king is back in the castle

LINDSAY: This will be my go-to for my recovery runs or just for days when I know I’ll be doing a lot of walking. Unfortunately, it won’t be winning any daily trainer categories this time around. If you’re looking for a max cushion daily trainer, I’d steer you in the direction of the 361 Eleos, which is even a bit cheaper at $145. There, you’ll get the plush cushion you are looking for with a little more spring and responsiveness.

As for the New Balance More v5, I wouldn’t be surprised if we started seeing it on the feet of hospital workers keen on their Hokas who are looking for a replacement. It’s a nice-looking shoe and quite an upgrade from the cracked desert floor that was the midsole of the v4. At $155, it’s right on par with its competitors in the run-walk market.

You can pick up the New Balance Fresh Foam More v5 for $155 from New Balance by using the buttons below.