New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 Review

The New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 is for you if...

You prefer a LOT of foam under your foot for a smooth, plush, and protective ride 

You want an ultra-soft shoe for easy to moderate runs, or even long days on your feet 

Ultimate maximalist comfort is a must for cruising on the roads 

What is the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 made for?

Having amassed a cult following of comfort-seeking runners, New Balance’s Fresh Foam is a material best known for providing marshmallow-soft cushioning, giving wearers the underfoot experience of walking on clouds. We’ve seen Fresh Foam used before, in the midsoles of some of New Balance’s most reliable daily trainers, such as the 1080 and the 860. But, the shoe that piles it on the highest is the Fresh Foam X More. It does as the name suggests—it gives you more cushioning and more stack height, maximizing comfort and protection for slower efforts and long-haul miles. 

The More has always been a cruiser and version 6 takes it to another level. With refined geometries, optimized padding, and continuing to keep luxury softness in the forefront, the More v6 promises a comfortable ride that provides more of what its fans love. From energizing tired feet on recovery runs, to providing dependable cushioning for long runs, these shoes are built to help you last on the road, and to keep you coming back for more! We took the More v6 for a spin, and they did not disappoint.

Comfort

When if comes to the More v6, comfort is the name of the game. There is a lot of soft, squishy foam underfoot which had us feeling lusciously comfortable. Plus, they’re a dream for walking, standing, or general all-day comfort on your feet. Earlier versions of the More’s upper were somewhat simple, and the v6 feels more premium to the touch and has a nice plush feel on foot. The upper was comfortable and held our feet in place well, with ample padding in the heel and tongue. 

In general, running shoe foams are getting lighter and bouncier over time, and while Fresh Foam isn’t necessarily the lightest or the fanciest tech on the market, it’s reliably soft and comfortable underfoot. The More v6 has a nice squish at initial contact, and does a great job at dissipating impact forces. If you like overstacked shoes, this is a really great option.

Performance

The More v6 absolutely hits the mark as a max-cushioned, easy pace road running shoe. It’s soft, it’s plush, it’s protective, and generally just more of everything in a good way. We really enjoyed taking these out on long runs and recovery days and found that it keeps our legs feeling fresh, especially when we’re racking up higher mileage. While the sky-high stack of foam felt lively enough to keep our feet moving at cruising speeds, this shoe is not intended for faster efforts. If you try to pick up the pace, it doesn’t have the most propulsive feel and has a decent amount of bulk underfoot. With that said, speed isn’t the purpose of the More—just something to keep in mind for runners who prefer versatility from a shoe. 

When compared to the v5, we felt the upgrades in v6 offered noticeable improvements. While the stacks are basically the same, the new design has a slightly wider base for an inherently stable ride that we loved, and the foam durometers and geometries have been tweaked to provide a smoother experience. While the v6 has shaved down some weight from the previous version, it is still a maximalist shoe that is not intended to be lightweight. Rather, as it always has, it strives to achieve the most comfortable fit and pillowy experience possible.

Fit

Overall, we had a great experience with the fit of the More v6. They felt great right out of the box, and work well for a variety of foot types. The mesh upper is flexible and stretchy, great for those who prefer a little extra room or a wide fit, and accommodating for tired or swollen feet. The heel collar and tongue both fit comfortably, and the gusset tongue subtly keeps the tongue in place, letting us run distraction-free. 

The upper on the v6 continues to improve on the v5's fit, offering a good amount of volume in the toe box and midfoot, with room for our toes to splay. We were able to get a solid lockdown that made us feel secure but not too snug or restricted. Simply put, the v6 feels like a more refined version of the More lineup that feels effortless at slow and steady speeds, regardless of distance.