High-stack running shoes used to be weird. Honestly, look back at the original maximalist movement and you’ll see shoes that looked more like moon boots than performance gear. But things changed. The New Balance Fresh Foam X More isn't just a thick slab of foam anymore; it has become the gold standard for anyone who wants to save their knees without feeling like they’re running on a literal marshmallow that’s about to collapse.
If you’ve been looking at the v4 or the v5, you’ve probably heard people say it’s "too soft." That is a total misconception.
It is big. It is wide. It is undeniably plush. But there is a mechanical complexity to the Fresh Foam X More that most casual reviewers completely miss. It isn't just about the stack height—which, by the way, sits at a massive 34mm in the heel for the latest versions—it’s about the geometry of the "rocker." When you have that much foam underfoot, the shoe has to be shaped like a rocking chair or you’d just sink and get stuck. New Balance uses a data-driven design here that forces your foot through the gait cycle. It’s a recovery shoe that actually wants to move.
Why the Fresh Foam X More Geometry Actually Works
Most runners think "more foam equals more comfort." That’s only half true. If you just pile up soft EVA, you end up with a shoe that feels "mushy." Mushy is bad. Mushy causes stability issues and makes your calves work harder to find a solid surface to push off from.
New Balance fixed this by making the Fresh Foam X More incredibly wide. Like, surprisingly wide. The platform—the "footprint" of the shoe—is much larger than a standard daily trainer like the 880 or even the 1080. This creates inherent stability. You aren’t balancing on a skinny pillar of foam; you’re on a wide base. This is why many podiatrists actually recommend this model for people with overpronation issues who don't want a "traditional" stiff stability shoe with a medial post.
The "X" in Fresh Foam X is a specific compound. It’s roughly 3% bio-based content, which is cool for the planet, but the real win is the energy return. It's lighter than the old-school Fresh Foam.
Comparing the More to the 1080
This is the question everyone asks: "Should I just get the 1080?"
They are different beasts. The 1080 is the "do-it-all" shoe. You can run a 5k PB in a 1080, and you can run a marathon in it. It’s versatile. The Fresh Foam X More, however, is a specialist. It’s for those days when your legs feel like lead. Or for those runners who are putting in 50+ miles a week and need to protect their joints from the repetitive pounding of the pavement.
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Think of the 1080 as a luxury sedan. It’s fast enough, comfortable, and fits in every parking spot. The More is a high-end SUV. It’s bigger, it absorbs every pothole in the road, and while you wouldn't take it to a drag race, it’s the only thing you want to be in for a 10-hour road trip.
The Stack Height Reality
- Fresh Foam X More v4/v5: Roughly 34mm-35mm heel stack.
- Drop: Usually sits at 4mm.
That low drop is important. Most traditional shoes have a 10mm or 12mm drop. By keeping the More at 4mm, New Balance keeps your Achilles from being strained while allowing that massive amount of foam to sit evenly under the foot. It feels more natural than it looks.
The Longevity Factor: Does It Bottom Out?
Every soft shoe has a lifespan. Eventually, the air bubbles in the foam pop, the material compresses, and that "cloud" feeling disappears.
In my experience, and based on feedback from the running community at large (places like Believe in the Run or Doctors of Running), the Fresh Foam X More holds up surprisingly well. The sheer volume of material means it takes longer to "bottom out" than a thinner shoe. You’re looking at a solid 400 to 500 miles for most runners.
However, heavier runners—and I’m talking 200lbs plus—will notice the foam compressing faster. If you’re a "heavy hitter," the More is actually one of the best choices because it has enough substance to actually support that weight without immediately squishing down to the pavement.
Who Should Actually Buy This Shoe?
It isn't for everyone. Let's be real.
If you like "ground feel," you will hate this shoe. You could step on a LEGO and you wouldn't feel it. If you want to do speed work or intervals, look elsewhere. Trying to run sub-7-minute miles in the More feels like trying to sprint in sand. It’s possible, but it’s annoying.
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But if you are:
- A nurse or retail worker on your feet for 12 hours.
- A marathoner looking for a "recovery day" savior.
- Someone recovering from an injury (specifically stress reactions or plantar fasciitis).
- A walker who just wants the most pampered experience possible.
Then this is probably the best shoe on the market. Better than the Hoka Bondi? Many think so. The Bondi is iconic, but New Balance has managed to make their foam feel a bit more "alive" and less "brick-like" than Hoka’s recent iterations.
The Breathability Trade-off
One thing nobody tells you: big shoes get hot.
The engineered mesh on the More v4 and v5 is decent, but because there is so much foam wrapping around the base of your foot, heat doesn't escape as easily as it does in a racing flat. If you live in a swampy climate or run in 90-degree heat, your feet are going to sweat. It’s just physics.
The tongue is also quite plush. It’s comfortable, yeah, but it’s more material. More material equals more heat. It’s a small price to pay for the comfort, but it’s something to keep in mind if you have "hot feet" issues.
Real-World Performance: The "Slapping" Sound
New runners often notice a "slapping" sound when they first wear the Fresh Foam X More.
Don't panic. It's not your form. Because the outsole is so wide and flat, it creates a bit of a suction/slap effect on smooth pavement. As the rubber breaks in and you get used to the rocker geometry, this usually fades away. It’s a quirk of the maximalist design.
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How to Get the Best Fit
New Balance is famous for widths. This is their superpower.
The More is already a wide shoe, but if you have a true 2E or 4E foot, New Balance is basically the only brand that will accommodate you in a max-cushion platform. If you’re buying these for walking or daily wear, consider going up a half size from your casual "dress shoe" size. Your feet swell during the day, and in a shoe this soft, you want that extra room for your toes to splay out.
Technical Breakdown of Materials
The outsole isn't full rubber. To save weight, New Balance uses "ground contact EVA" in certain zones with strategic rubber pods in high-wear areas like the heel and forefoot. This keeps the shoe from weighing a pound. It’s surprisingly light for its size, usually hovering around 10-11 ounces depending on the size.
Practical Steps for Your Next Run
If you’ve just grabbed a pair of Fresh Foam X Mores, don't make them your only shoe.
The best way to use these is in a "rotation." Wear your standard trainers for most runs, and save the More for your Sunday long run or your Monday recovery mile. This prevents your foot muscles from getting "lazy" due to the high level of assistance the shoe provides.
If you’re using them for medical reasons, like recovering from surgery or dealing with chronic joint pain, start with short walks. Let your brain adjust to the height. The "stack" can feel a bit unstable if you aren't used to being an inch and a half taller than usual.
Check the wear pattern on the bottom after about 50 miles. Because the foam is exposed in the midfoot, you'll see some "scuffing." This is normal. It’s purely cosmetic. As long as the rubber pods on the heel and toe are intact, the shoe is doing its job.
The New Balance Fresh Foam X More is a tool. It’s a specific, highly engineered piece of equipment designed to take the bite out of the road. It won't make you faster, but it might make you enjoy running again if you've been struggling with aches and pains.
Stop overthinking the "bulk." Put them on, hit the road, and let the rocker do the work. Your knees will thank you the next morning.