New Balance has dropped the freshest iteration of its Hierro trail shoe and Jack got a sneak peek and a cheeky run in.
Over ten years, the New Balance team has been chipping away perfecting its leading trail running shoe, and the result is the just-released New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9.
After crafting nine iterations of a product, each one building upon the last with refinements and improvements, you begin to understand what works and which changes are necessary.
Is the ninth time a charm? The New Balance product designers have made some significant tweaks. Let’s take a look.
Revamped Vibram Megagrip Outsole
The dainty scattering of traction lugs that we saw in the Heirro v8 is out, and a revamped Vibram Megagrip outsole is in.
You’re likely familiar with the yellow pop of colour spelling Vibram on some of the most popular trail shoes. Megagrip is Vibram’s extremely durable rubber compound, designed for dry and wet surfaces, and it’s fast become commonplace on the outsole of well-loved trail runners (and hiking shoes).
In the Fresh Foam X Hierro v9, New Balance has taken the technology and meticulously placed larger multidirectional lugs, at a depth of 4.5mm, that are ready to rumble with whichever terrain you’re trodding.
A better fit that’s ready for the trail
If you’ve heard ‘too much tongue’ in a passing trail conversation they may have been chatting about the New Balance Hierro v8. The non-gusseted tongue was a common gripe with the Hierro v8.
Instead of opting into the thin tongue trend we’re seeing in trail runners, they’ve gusseted the mesh tongue on the Hierro v9.
What in the world is a gusseted tongue? It means it’s stitched into the upper on either side and stops it from sliding around all over the place. In short, it’s comfier and will keep a bunch of pesky rocks and stones out.
The Hierro v9 fits like a road shoe with a trail-ready sole, and it has a rubber ToeProtect toecap. This is coupled with a few millimetres of printed overlay that’ll keep your precious digits protected and is strategically placed to stop the mesh from copping a beating on the trails.
Dual Density Fresh Foam X Midsole
‘Look at all that luxurious foam!’, my joints gleefully exclaimed as I first whipped open the box.
It was the 42mm of stack height in the heel that caught my eye. It’s become the signature look for New Balance’s Fresh Foam range, propping up both its trail and road running shoes.
With only a 4mm drop, a decrease from the v8’s 6mm, there’s still 38mm of foam at the toe of the shoe that consists of a spongy-soft mid-layer and a firmer bottom layer designed to keep you stable and upright on the trails.
A Fresh Range of Colourways
I’ve got my hands on – or feet into – the Dark Juniper with Black and Dried Apricot colourway. The green, I mean dark juniper, is an interesting choice that may not be to everyone’s liking, which New Balance has safely covered with a blacked-out pair, which they’ve called Black Cement with Black.
Each colourway features the iconic large N on the side, completing its stylish look which could be spotted at the bottom of some Japanese denim on a Tokyo street, or the feet of a gorp-lord at a Melbourne cafe.
First Impressions on the Trail
As I slipped the Hierro v9s on, the first thing I noticed was their comfort. There was some rigidity in the heel, but the mesh upper was soft.
The rocker was ready to catapult me forward, so I let it push me out the door and into the forest for a quick 5km spin on a local and relatively flat, compact trail.
To no surprise, that cushion went straight to work softening any impact. As I plodded along I appreciated the rocker propelling me forward on the flats, while on the downhill the toe protector felt sturdy and the Vibram Megagrip outsole got to work preventing slippage.
This, combined with the comfort, had me thinking they’d also make a great hiking shoe, which is why New Balance has slapped an ‘All Day Wear’ label, next to trail running on the product page.
As we see more and more people opting for trail runners over hiking boots, I think this could be a comfy contender. Maybe it’ll be the shoe you have on hand for those trips where you’re doing a little bit of everything.
You’ll need $250 for a pair of the Fresh Foam Hiero v9’s which has become standard fare for a new release trail shoe.
I’m keen to see how all of that knee-saving cushion holds up on technical trails – will the cushion allow me to feel the trail underneath my feet, while the wind blows through my hair?
Keep your eyes peeled on our review page and I’ll report back after a few months of hunting single track.
