New Balance Balos Review: A Soft, Light Daily Trainer With a Premium Twist

Introduction

The New Balance Balos is a brand-new name in the Fresh Foam line and the first time New Balance has put PEBA foam into this family. The idea is a premium daily trainer: a PEBA-EVA blend midsole with bounce and resiliency, a light and comfortable upper, and enough stack to feel genuinely cushioned.

New Balance has essentially positioned it as the super trainer in its lineup without a plate, sitting alongside the SC Trainer, which does include one. Here is what stood out in testing.

Who This Shoe Is For

This is a daily trainer for runners who want a soft, smooth, easy-day feel. If you like max-cushion shoes but not the heavy stacks that often come with them, the Balos is worth a look. The PEBA blend gives it bounce without a plate, and the rocker geometry helps the stride turn over naturally.

It also fits a specific niche: tired legs on double-run days or easy recovery miles where you want comfort and light weight rather than speed.

Main Strengths

The upper is a real highlight. It is thin but comfortable, with a gusseted knit tongue that is breathable and almost see-through, plus just enough pillowy padding in the heel collar. For testers who usually struggle with New Balance uppers, including hot spots on the toes, this was a favorite. It fits true to size and accommodates wider feet well.

Underfoot, the midsole is bouncy, resilient, and noticeably soft. The stack is 38mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot for a 6mm drop, so there is plenty of cushioning, but because much of the outsole is exposed EVA, the shoe feels softer than its stack suggests while adding a bit of ground feel.

Weight is another win. A women’s 7.5 came in at 7.2 oz (207 g), and a men’s 9 at 8.6 oz (244 g), which is very light for a daily trainer and in the range of some super trainers. The pronounced rocker makes it easy to roll through your stride, and one tester ran the last four miles of a 16-mile run in brutal heat and humidity and found it genuinely comfortable.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price is $200, which puts it in super-shoe territory while New Balance’s own lineup is crowded nearby: the More sits at $155 and the 1080 at $165. It is fair to ask whether the Balos earns that premium over its siblings.

Durability is also worth watching. With mostly exposed EVA on the outsole, there was visible forefoot wear after around 50 miles in testing.

Finally, the ride skews soft. It feels a little blocky, with a wide base that can read as a foam block, and it is too soft to really pick up the pace. If you were expecting an uptempo shoe from the PEBA foam, this is better suited to easy and recovery days than hard efforts.

Buying Advice

The Balos is a preference shoe. If you like a softer feel, the Fresh Foam character, or you are a New Balance fan wanting something lighter, smooth, bouncy, and cushioned, it makes a lot of sense. It works well for anything up to around 10 miles, and it can even cover long runs thanks to its low weight and bounce.

If you mainly want a fast uptempo shoe or you are price-sensitive, other options in the New Balance line, including the Super Blast, may fit better.

Conclusion

The New Balance Balos gets a green light, with reservations. It is a great shoe on feel: light, soft, bouncy, and comfortable with one of the best uppers New Balance has made. The trade-offs are the $200 price and a ride too soft for faster days. If easy-day comfort is your priority, it is a genuinely pleasant daily trainer.