{"id":112521,"date":"2025-02-27T03:32:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T03:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/the-new-balance-fresh-foam-x-hierro-v9-brings-cushion-for-trail-pushing\/"},"modified":"2025-02-27T03:32:12","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T03:32:12","slug":"the-new-balance-fresh-foam-x-hierro-v9-brings-cushion-for-trail-pushing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=112521","title":{"rendered":"The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 Brings Cushion for Trail Pushing"},"content":{"rendered":"


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New Balance has dropped the freshest iteration of its Hierro trail shoe and Jack got a sneak peek and a cheeky run in.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Over ten years, the New Balance team has been chipping away perfecting its leading trail running shoe, and the result is the just-released <\/span>New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>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. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Is the ninth time a charm? The New Balance product designers have made some significant tweaks. Let\u2019s take a look.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Revamped Vibram Megagrip Outsole<\/h2>\n

The dainty scattering of traction lugs that we saw in the Heirro v8 is out, and a revamped Vibram Megagrip outsole is in. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>You\u2019re likely familiar with the yellow pop of colour spelling Vibram on some of the most popular trail shoes. Megagrip is Vibram\u2019s extremely durable rubber compound, designed for dry and wet surfaces, and it\u2019s fast become commonplace on the outsole of well-loved trail runners (and hiking shoes).<\/span>
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\n<\/span>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\u2019re trodding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A better fit that\u2019s ready for the trail<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve heard \u2018too much tongue\u2019 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.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Instead of opting into the thin tongue trend we\u2019re seeing in trail runners, they\u2019ve gusseted the mesh tongue on the Hierro v9.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n<\/span>What in the world is a gusseted tongue? It means it\u2019s stitched into the upper on either side and stops it from sliding around all over the place. In short, it\u2019s comfier and will keep a bunch of pesky rocks and stones out.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>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\u2019ll keep your precious digits protected and is strategically placed to stop the mesh from copping a beating on the trails.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dual Density Fresh Foam X Midsole<\/h2>\n

\u2018Look at all that luxurious foam!\u2019, my joints gleefully exclaimed as I first whipped open the box. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>It was the 42mm of stack height in the heel that caught my eye. It\u2019s become the signature look for New Balance\u2019s Fresh Foam range, propping up both its trail and road running shoes.<\/span>
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With only a 4mm drop, a decrease from the v8\u2019s 6mm, there\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Fresh Range of Colourways<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve got my hands on \u2013\u00a0or feet into \u2013\u00a0 the <\/span>Dark Juniper with Black and Dried Apricot colourway. The green, I mean dark juniper, is an interesting choice that may not be to everyone\u2019s liking, <\/span>which New Balance has safely covered with a blacked-out pair, which they\u2019ve called Black Cement with Black.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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First Impressions on the Trail<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

This, combined with the comfort, had me thinking they\u2019d also make a great hiking shoe, which is why New Balance has slapped an \u2018All Day Wear\u2019 label, next to trail running on the product page.<\/p>\n

As we see more and more people opting for trail runners over hiking boots<\/a>, I think this could be a comfy contender. Maybe it\u2019ll be the shoe you have on hand for those trips where you\u2019re doing a little bit of everything.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need $250 for a pair of the Fresh Foam Hiero v9\u2019s which has become standard fare for a new release trail shoe.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m keen to see how all of that knee-saving cushion holds up on technical trails \u2013\u00a0will the cushion allow me to feel the trail underneath my feet, while the wind blows through my hair?<\/p>\n

Keep your eyes peeled on our review<\/a> page and I\u2019ll report back after a few months of hunting single track.
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