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The New Balance running shoes range is vast with great options to suit every kind of runner, whether you’re looking for a comfortable cushioned shoe for training or one of the best carbon plate running shoes for racing.
For training the New Balance 1080v15 and New Balance Rebel v5 are both popular options with runners, while the SC Rebel v1 is an oustanding fast training option and the SC Elite v6 is the brand’s best carbon plate racer.
Check out our round-up of the best running shoes available right now
Head to the The Run Testers’ YouTube channel for reviews of those running shoes and many more New Balance running shoe reviews, plus comparisons to other brand’s shoes and race tests where we’ve used the latest shoes in real world conditions.
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The Run Tester team is made up of experienced running journalists who have been testing all kinds of kit for decades, for some of the most popular websites and magazines. You can get more info on the Run Testers team here, including some insights into their preferred running kit and a quick look at some of their running achievements.
The Best New Balance Running Shoes 2026
New Balance Rebel v5
Price: £140/$140 | Weight: 225g/7.9oz (UK 9) | Drop: 6mm
The New Balance Rebel v5 is a shoe that offers a high level of versatility that will suit a wide range of runners. It has a lightweight design but is still highly cushioned and protective, and also very wide throughout the length of the shoe, which makes it stable for long runs at easy paces.
It excels for daily training, being able to handle everything from easy plods to tempo efforts, and if you’re a one-shoe runner it’s also light enough for faster sessions and races, though we’d prefer to be in a more speed-focused shoe for that ourselves.
The Rebel v4 is also still available and while not quite as cushioned as the Rebel v5, it shares many of the same qualities in terms of performance, so it might be better value to find a deal on the older shoe.
Within the New Balance range the Rebel v5 offers a cheaper alternative to the likes of the Balos, which is bouncier and more rockered, and the 10180v14 and More v5, which have more cushioning underfoot.
Read our full New Balance Rebel v5 review
New Balance 1080v15
Price: £170/$170 | Weight: 262g/9.2oz (UK 9) | Drop: 6mm
The 1080 is New Balance’s most popular cushioned shoe, and the 1080v15 is the latest model in the line and a big update on the 1080v14. It features a new midsole foam called Infinion, which is lighter and more responsive than the Fresh Foam X used on past models of the 1080, and it helps make the 1080v15 one of the lighter cushioned daily trainers on the market.
It’s not as cushioned as the New Balance More v6, or as versatile and light as the New Balance Rebel v5, but the 1080v15 splits the difference well and would be the best option from the brand for new runners.
Read our full New Balance 1080v15 review
New Balance SC Rebel v1
Price: £180/$200 | Weight: 224g/7.9oz (UK 9) | Drop: 4mm
The New Balance SC Rebel v1 is a new plated fast training shoe for 2026 that seems to have replaced the slightly underwhelming SC Trainer line. There’s nothing underwhelming about the SC Rebel though, which is one of the best fast trainers on the market thanks to its lightweight, bouncy design.
It uses the same aliphatic TPU midsole foam as the SC Elite v6 racer, but has a slightly more flexible plate in the midsole, and a wider, more stable design for daily use. The SC Rebel v1 still feels a little wild to use for easy runs, but it certainly shines when doing intervals or tempo efforts, performing at near the level of a full super-shoe.
Check out our full New Balance SC Rebel v1 review
New Balance Ellipse
Price: £130/$145 | Weight: 276g/9.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 6mm
The New Balance Ellipse is an all-new addition to the New Balance line-up for 2026. and a slightly confusing one since it is another cushioned daily trainer to go alongside other options from the brand like the 1080v15, 880v15 and Rebel v5.
To stand out in this self-inflicted crowd, the Ellipse is a little cheaper than the 1080v15, and has a fashion-forward design that means it works well for lifestyle use as well as running. On the run it’s a comfortable shoe for easy efforts thanks to the Fresh Foam X midsole, but not the liveliest shoe, and we’d lean towards the Rebel or 1080 ahead of the Ellipse to rack up serious miles.
Read our New Balance Ellipse review
New Balance SC Elite v6
Price: £230/$275 | Weight: 181g/6.4oz (UK 8) | Drop: 8mm
New Balance has improved its SC Elite racer year-on-year and the SC Elite v6 is its fastest shoe yet, which is mostly down to the new aliphatic TPU Infinion midsole foam, which delivers a very energetic and fun ride. We found the shoe performed well in a variety of fast runs, from short reps on the track to long tempo runs on the road, and it didn’t let us down on race day either.
Compared to our absolute favourite racers from other brands, like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, the SC Elite v6 isn’t as light and doesn’t feel quite so aggressive on race day, but it’s still a strong racing option and reasonably accessible on price here in the UK.
Check out our full New Balance SC Elite v6 review
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15
Price: £140/$140 | Weight: 275g/9.7oz (UK 8.5) | Drop: 6mm
The New Balance 880v15 is a max-stack cruiser that offers a cheaper alternative to the 1080v14 for your daily miles. It’s not a squishy or exceptionally bouncy shoe, but it makes the miles fly by a little more easily, though it’s not a particular versatile or fast shoe as it’s quite large and heavy.
It’s a big update on the previous model, which had a lower stack and more traditional ride. The 1080v14 has a more energetic midsole foam and a more versatile ride that can handle faster paces better, but the 880v15 will save you a bit of money and offers a high level of comfort for easy and long training runs.
New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6
Price: £150/$155| Weight: 291g/10.3oz (UK 8) | Drop: 4mm
The New Balance More line has delivered some of our favourite max-cushioned shoes of recent years, with Tom in particular being a huge fan of the comfortable easy day cruiser. The More v6 lives up to the high standards of the line, delivering a highly cushioned and comfortable ride that’s ideal for easy runs.
To ensure it’s still a stable shoe given the soft midsole and high stack, the More v6 has a wide base and sidewalls of foam, while the rocker profile helps to ease you through your footstrike. It’s not a shoe you’d pick up for any kind of fast runs, but for logging a lot of miles at easy paces, it’s the best option in New Balance’s range, and one of the best from any brand.
New Balance Hierro v9
Price: $155 | Weight: 311g/10.9oz (UK 9) | Drop: 4mm
The Hierro v9 is a highly-cushioned trail running shoe that has an improved outsole compared with its predecessor, making it more capable across a wider range of terrains. The dual-density Fresh Foam X midsole has a softer top layer and a firmer bottom one to deliver both comfort and stability on the trails, and the upper is also well-padded to give the feel of a cushioned road shoe.
Nick enjoyed the Hierro v9 when running on a variety of winter trails in the UK, including mud and icy tracks, and while it’s not the most nimble shoe or one that’s ideal for technical mountain tracks, it can handle most other trails thanks to the 4.5mm lugs on the Vibram Megagrip outsole. It’s great for road-to-trail runs too, and a perfect option for trips away when you need a comfortable hiking/running shoe and you’re not sure on the terrain you’ll be tackling.