31 in Trail Running Shoes
New Balance - Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Mar 17, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
7
3
"I was quite impressed with its comfort and trail capabilities, and truly believed I had found an excellent shoe for my long runs and hikes. ... the New Balance Hierro v9 remains my top choice for comprehensive trail running. Its superior comfort and, crucially, its consistently reliable grip in varied and challenging conditions make it a more dependable partner on the trails I typically encounter. ... I feel more secure in the Hierro, and that confidence is key. In fact I will be using it for my upcoming races and that says it all."
"The Vibram Megagrip outsole on the Hierro v9 is simply outstanding. Its 4.5mm lugs provide excellent, reliable traction across various surfaces, from dry dirt to slick roots and muddy patches. I've always felt incredibly secure, and it consistently inspires confidence in diverse conditions. ... Great Vibram outsole grip, even on mud and wet rocks"
"I weigh 253 lbs (115 kg) and had been searching for a long time for a trail shoe with strong cushioning, suitable for forest and light path running. ... I couldn’t find any with both high cushioning and a sole that performs well even in muddy conditions. New Balance really filled that gap perfectly"
7
6
"I was quite impressed with its comfort and trail capabilities, and truly believed I had found an excellent shoe for my long runs and hikes. ... the New Balance Hierro v9 remains my top choice for comprehensive trail running. Its superior comfort and, crucially, its consistently reliable grip in varied and challenging conditions make it a more dependable partner on the trails I typically encounter. ... I feel more secure in the Hierro, and that confidence is key. In fact I will be using it for my upcoming races and that says it all."
"My longest day in them was 32 miles with 10k gain and not a hotspot to write about. And this was over East Coast muddy rooty rocky wet."
"struggling to find a trail shoe I could wear for long miles ... long runs and ultra made me need more protection for long days ... I'm an older runner so my feet require more than my old Lone Peaks could offer. ... Buying another pair for AC100 in August. :)"
17
3
"The wide fits perfect for me in the toebox."
"I have what would be considered a wide foot. I tried on the normal size 10.5 and they where too skinny so I got the wide an they fit so damn good."
"I love the slightly wider fit of my New Balance Hierros."
15
2
"I was quite impressed with its comfort and trail capabilities, and truly believed I had found an excellent shoe for my long runs and hikes. ... the New Balance Hierro v9 remains my top choice for comprehensive trail running. Its superior comfort and, crucially, its consistently reliable grip in varied and challenging conditions make it a more dependable partner on the trails I typically encounter. ... I feel more secure in the Hierro, and that confidence is key. In fact I will be using it for my upcoming races and that says it all."
"My longest day in them was 32 miles with 10k gain and not a hotspot to write about. And this was over East Coast muddy rooty rocky wet."
"struggling to find a trail shoe I could wear for long miles ... long runs and ultra made me need more protection for long days ... I'm an older runner so my feet require more than my old Lone Peaks could offer. ... Buying another pair for AC100 in August. :)"
13
7
"I weigh 253 lbs (115 kg) and had been searching for a long time for a trail shoe with strong cushioning, suitable for forest and light path running. ... I couldn’t find any with both high cushioning and a sole that performs well even in muddy conditions. New Balance really filled that gap perfectly"
"struggling to find a trail shoe I could wear for long miles ... long runs and ultra made me need more protection for long days ... I'm an older runner so my feet require more than my old Lone Peaks could offer. ... Buying another pair for AC100 in August. :)"
"I was very pleased with the level of comfort they gave me."
Disliked most:
2
3
"It does feel snug, and I actually found it a bit tight at first, but after 100 miles it feels perfect now – I guess it molded to my foot or the foam compressed a bit. I have narrow feet though, so I can definitely see how it would feel too tight for wider feet, especially with that firm toe cap."
"the toe cap does limit toe room, to the point i have runner’s toe on my second toe."
"The toe cap presses into the foot."
3
8
"High stack does mean they're not the most stable shoes. Not for unstable terrain."
"I find the higher the stack leads to more rolling ankles. ... Shoes that have not worked for me: Brooks Cascadia, New Balance Hierro ... they have been directly correlated to rolled ankles for me"
"Hierro V9’s grip on wet roots/wood is deadly"
7
8
"I find the higher the stack leads to more rolling ankles. ... Shoes that have not worked for me: Brooks Cascadia, New Balance Hierro ... they have been directly correlated to rolled ankles for me"
"First run i almost rolled one ankle then the other but saved it. ... Yesterday i went over quite hard on my right ankle."
"The Hierro was a great fit, but too soft and unstable in the heel on technical terrain"
5
5
"It does feel snug, and I actually found it a bit tight at first, but after 100 miles it feels perfect now – I guess it molded to my foot or the foam compressed a bit. I have narrow feet though, so I can definitely see how it would feel too tight for wider feet, especially with that firm toe cap."
"the toe cap does limit toe room, to the point i have runner’s toe on my second toe."
"The width is shocking, narrower than Hoka 2e."
0
3
"While comfortable enough for short road sections, the Hierro's weight and robust build can make it feel a bit cumbersome for extended pavement use, especially given my preference for lighter, snappier road shoes."
"That said, I did find it a little heavy and clunky for road running."
"It’s a pretty heavy shoe, so you don’t get that “disappears-on-the-foot” feeling you might with lighter, nimbler options. ... A bit on the heavier side ... I did find it a little heavy and clunky for road running."
Lost_Ninja 0.5Honestly unless you must have boots, I'd recommend New Balance Hierro Fresh Foam trail running shoes, (or the Hoka Speed Goats\*) can be had in GTX, can find them on sale at around the price you're looking at, super comfortable with plenty of grip and the have wide fit up to size 15 (UK). I have had two pairs and am about to buy a third and the are so comfortable for my own wide high volume feet. \*Which I think you can buy/try for 30 days and still get a refund, I slightly prefer the NB over the Hoka, but both are super comfortable.
Radiant_Pin_6272 0.5Yeah the Peregrine rock plate is solid for that. If toe protection is a priority, check out the Speedcross — it's got a reinforced toe cap that handles root strikes really well. The Pulsar is lighter and more fun but the toe bumper isn't quite as beefy. Another one worth looking at is the Hoka Speedgoat — the toe guard on those is pretty substantial and they handle rocky technical stuff really well while still feeling nimble at your distances. Since mud isn't a factor you could also consider the New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro — great toe protection, lower profile feel, and the Vibram outsole grips well on dry rock and roots.
74522 0.5This is so funny as I own all three. I wouldn’t do an ultra with new shoes so close… but if you’ve got some 30k+ runs in the next few weeks maybe it’d be fine? Anyway about the shoes. Genesis are in my daily rotation but haven’t done more than a half marathon in them. If I remember correctly they’re quite low stack height? I remember my first few runs in them I could definitely feel it in my knees but they’re fine after breaking in. I also own those exact color of Ultra Glides. They are beefy and feel quite heavy on the feet. My last race was 55km and 3500hm. I wore them as it was quite dry and all good but yeah definitely felt them towards the end. But at the same time I appreciated the cushion. I wouldn’t wear them again though on something so long and technical. Definitely definitely I had to size up in these. The NB i cannot run in. I’ve had them for a year as my daily sneaker but running in NB is a no go for me, my big toe just gets beaten up by the toe box.
AaronParke 0.5Hi all, Just wanted to ask for an assessment (opinion) on the sole wear on my NB Hierro V9s after 285km...
Cheers. Yes, road to trail then road to home. They're wearing pretty quickly but there's some life left. One issue I have with this shoe is I 'fall off' them on occasions, they can twist under my foot. I'm considering the Gel Trabuco as a replacement when they're done even though I've been a long term NB fan.
Yes, resoling is an option. I find that the upper on these is less snug. On tramlines the shoe feels like it rolls whilst my foot remains upright. It's disconcerting. My older V7s were a completely different shoe.
These have more cushioning but less 'feel' for the trail I sense.
Midsole is holding up well. They ride really nicely, very good job of cushioning rocks and stones.
My New Balance Hierro V7s in goretex are good on mixed terrain. A little flat perhaps and not great in full on mud. V9 is well cushioned but soft compound soles wear fast on tarmac. I'm 25% tarmac and got 350kms out of a pair. V7s are much longer lasting but getting hard to find. I think you'll struggle to get a consistent reply for you Goldilocks shoes.
I haven't, no. Looks like a similar shoe to the 7. The 9 is a new beast entirely.
Admirable_Avocado_45 0.5I normally wear SG wide size. Went with NB Hierro 9, it’s a much softer ride but a bit heavier.
I have always worn Speedgoats in wide (2e) the past but moved to a NB Hierro 9 this year. It’s a softer, more comfortable ride. Gonna try the Norda 005 when they arrive in a few days.
Artistic-Biscotti184 0.5I’m a road runner but have been taking advantage of some of the wonderful trail running around the DC area. Most of these trails are super runable so I’m looking for a trail shoe to match. I’m using the NB Hierro V9 and they’re near perfect except for the stack height. I’d love something under 40mm, though I’m not looking for a minimalist shoe. I have a pretty average foot and can fit comfortably into most brands. All suggestions welcome. Thank you!
Asianthunder17 0.55'10 and 210 and I dig the New Balance Hierro series, my 8s are going strong at 250 miles and 9s are quite nice in the rotation as well.
Begatten 0.5I have the Olympus 275, if you're used to Zero drop (defo takes a long break in period), but I love them, however, it worth noting that they definitely feel 'dead' pretty quick, I've put about 250km on my Altra Lone Peak, tread in tack, but feel very dead. I've also got the Hiero v9, they're super nice, with 5mm drop, very very soft, so nice for those longer distances
Brief_Swordfish_5227 0.5Have felt that the stack is too high and makes them tippy, so depending on how strong your ankles are, something to consider.
Buttery-Biscuit-Boy 0.5I also have the Hierro V9’s and second this. Although I didn’t go GoreTex and get soggy feet. Nice and breathable though!