First Impressions & Use Case

I bought these for a very practical reason.

Living in town, a lot of my miles have to be done on roads, pavements, and cycle paths. Trail shoes just aren’t suited to that — they’re too firm, too unforgiving on hard surfaces.

So I needed a proper road shoe.

I’d heard a lot of good things about New Balance, particularly the Fresh Foam range, so decided to give them a go. I went to a specialist shop, had my feet measured, and made sure the fit was right.

Straight away, they felt incredible.

Soft, cushioned, almost “cuddly” around the foot. The kind of shoe you put on and immediately think:

“These are going to be great.”

They felt broken in from the start — no stiffness, no awkwardness, just comfort.

Performance on the Run

The first run started exactly as expected.

Light, bouncy, comfortable — almost like running on a spring. Everything felt smooth, easy, and well cushioned.

And then, within about five miles, things changed.

Blisters.

Bad ones.

The kind that don’t just make you uncomfortable — they make you stop.

It became clear quite quickly what was happening. The cushioning, while comfortable, seemed to allow too much movement within the shoe. With every step, my feet were moving slightly, creating friction.

And over time, that friction turned into rubbing.

And that rubbing turned into pain.

What Works Well

Incredibly comfortable feel straight out of the box

Excellent cushioning, especially under the heel

Soft, supportive upper that feels great around the foot

Very good for walking and all-day wear

What Could Be Better

Too much internal movement leading to friction

Severe blistering within a short distance

Cushioning feels less stable over time

Not suitable (for me) as a running shoe

Energy & Feel Underfoot

Initially, the feel is fantastic.

Soft, springy, and forgiving — exactly what you’d want from a road shoe.

But over time, that softness becomes part of the problem. It doesn’t feel controlled enough. Instead of a stable platform, it feels like your foot is moving within the cushioning.

For some runners, that might feel comfortable.

For me, it led directly to issues.

Practicality

From a fit perspective, everything was right.

Measured properly, correct size, no obvious issues. I didn’t size up as I would for trail shoes, but even then, I’ve never had problems like this before.

Which makes it even more frustrating.

Because on paper, everything should have worked.

Who These Shoes Are For

These could work well for:

Walking and everyday wear

Recovery use

Runners who prefer a very soft, cushioned feel

Less suited for:

Anyone prone to blistering

Runners who need a more stable, locked-in fit

Longer runs where consistency is key

Verdict: Would I Use Them Again?

For running — no.

My trial with these was short-lived. There was no way I could run in them again after that first experience.

But I didn’t get rid of them.

Because for walking, they’re excellent.

Soft, comfortable, easy — exactly what you’d want from a casual shoe.

Final Note

As always, this is based entirely on my experience.

The fit was right. The sizing was right. Everything suggested these should have worked.

But they didn’t.

And that’s the reality with running shoes — what works perfectly for one person can completely fail for another.