New Balance Fresh Foam X More Trail v3 Shoe Review

Upper

Liz: "The upper on the More Trail v3 is forgettable, and that’s a good thing. The fit was comfortable yet secure. I was able to lace up my shoes and never had to worry about hot spots. There was an accommodating toe box that allowed for my toes to splay, but the midfoot and heel collar were secure enough to prevent sliding around in the shoes on uneven terrain. The midsole assists in this security by sitting the runner down inside of the shoe and cradling the foot instead of sitting the runner on top of a large stack height of foam."

Kaitlin: "The More Trail v3 had a roomy fit with an accommodating upper that still provides a secure lockdown. The gusseted tongue holds the mid-foot without any irritation on the arch, and the upper was breathable while still being protective thanks to the toe bumper. Overall, I found the fit to run true to size."

Midsole

Liz: "The More Trail v3 is the softest trail shoe that I have ever run in. The Fresh Foam X midsole offers a very plush softness with a slight sinking in feeling with every step. While the height of the midsole prevents me from choosing this shoe for technical trail runs where I want to be more connected to the ground, the maximum amount of cushioning gives the shoe an incredibly comfortable ride that’s great for smooth trails, fire roads, and runs that combine both paved and trail segments. Despite the large amount of cushioning, the More Trail felt surprisingly light on foot and less bulky than expected. The rockered shape of the midsole helped to roll me forward making every step feel a bit easier.

Additionally, the way the foam cradled my foot gave me a much more stable ride than I expected from a shoe of this stack height. I took these on a very eroded and narrow trail, and while I would not recommend the shoe for that purpose, I was amazed by how well it handled the rough terrain, allowing me to run sections that I was fully expecting to need to walk to avoid a twisted ankle.

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Kaitlin: "This is a very soft midsole, especially for a trail shoe. While I enjoy it for harder flatter trail surfaces, its not my preference for more technical trails. There is a good amount of energy return on those flatter surfaces, providing a bouncy ride, but I do feel like the softness makes the effort a little harder when climbing."

Outsole

Liz: "The outsole has surprisingly deep lugs for a shoe that is designed for smooth trails. I had no issues with traction on even loose, gravel-like terrain. I also appreciated the grippy Vibram rubber on rockier trails. That said, the high amount of exposed EVA may compromise the outsole’s durability over time, but my shoes still show very little wear even after a month of testing."

Kaitlin: "The outsole feels tacky, and the lugs provide decent traction down hill. It's not the most aggressive trail shoe, and I did notice some slippage on loose surfaces going up hill, but the moderate lugs are good all around and make the shoes perfect for road to trail runs."

Comparable Models

Liz: "There are not many trail shoes with this level of cushioning, and even among its competitors, the More Trail v3 stands out as the softest option in the group.

The most popular maximally cushioned trail shoe is the HOKA Speedgoat 5. With a slightly lower stack height, firmer cushioning, and a more streamlined design, the Speedgoat 5 is a much more versatile trail running shoe than the More Trail. It can handle faster speeds and more technical trails with ease. If those things are your priority, definitely choose the Speedgoat, but if you want ultimate underfoot protection and soft cushioning for slower trail runs on easy trails, the More Trail v3s comfort is hard to beat.

Another shoe that stands out as a comparable model is the ASICS Trabuco Max 2. This is a shoe that I have been running in a lot recently and really enjoy. The Trabuco Max 2 has a soft and bouncy ride that is both comfortable and fun to run in. While the two shoes feature similar stack heights, I feel that the Trabuco Max 2 is more responsive and nimbler than the More Trail v3. With that, I would choose the Trabuco Max 2 for ultramarathon races, faster runs, and more technical trails, but as I have said before, it’s hard to beat the softness of the More Trail v3 so I would still recommend the More Trail v3 for those who are looking for a soft shoe for slow, easy trail runs."

Kaitlin: "The More Trail v3 feels softer than any other maximal trail shoes I have experienced. However, the ASICS Trabuco Max 2 and HOKA Speedgoat 5 both have a highly stacked underfoot design that still allows you to navigate more technical trails confidently. I would say the More v3 is much softer and feels more comfortable on fire roads or for longer runs while the Trabuco Max and Speedgoat feel more nimble and navigate technical trails better."