New Balance Fresh Foam More V4 First Run: A Softer, More Natural Max Cushion Shoe

Introduction

The New Balance Fresh Foam More V4 has been a long-awaited arrival for fans of easy, comfortable miles. Its predecessor, the More V3, earned a reputation as one of the best-balanced max cushion shoes around, so the V4 arrives with high expectations. At £140 or $149.99, it sits firmly in the premium daily-cushion category.

Weighing 298 g (10.5 oz) for men in a size 8 with a 4 mm drop, the More V4 is designed for plush, easy-paced running. After an initial 10K easy run, the verdict is positive: this feels like an impressive upgrade that keeps what made the More V3 special while adding a little more softness and bounce.

What Has Changed in the More V4

The headline update is even more Fresh Foam X midsole foam. The shoe is now higher and wider than the More V3, a change New Balance says also improves the stability of the ride. The outsole has been refreshed too, with new cushion zones running the length of the shoe and flex zones that give a more natural feel on the run.

Other carry-over features include a rocker profile for smooth transitions, a modified engineered mesh upper built to feel plush while staying breathable, generous rubber coverage for grip and midsole protection, and a reflective logo for visibility at night.

Fit and Upper Comfort

The More V4 fits true to size and is very comfortable out of the box. The toe box is nicely wide, making this a strong option for runners with wider feet. The updated upper feels noticeably softer and more relaxed than the More V3, which was already well liked. It is a small change, but it adds up to a more comfortable overall experience.

First Run Impressions

On a 10K easy run, the More V4 feels very similar to the More V3, but with a distinct character of its own. The midsole foam feels softer and, importantly, softer in a good way: it also feels more responsive and a little bouncier. Every step feels like the shoe is nestling your feet into the ground, then giving a pleasant pop back off the top.

The ride character difference is the most interesting part. The More V3 has a fairly pronounced rocker that tips you forward efficiently, but it is a firmer shoe, so that rocker feels quite rigid. The More V4 loses much of that rigidity. It is more flexible and more natural feeling, and the combination of softer cushioning with that flexible, tipping motion arguably makes it an even better easy-run shoe than its predecessor.

Where the More V3 Still Makes Sense

None of this makes the More V3 obsolete. It remains a superbly balanced shoe, sitting right between soft cushioning and a firmer ride: efficient and comfortable without being too soft and sluggish or too hard and unforgiving. Runners who loved that firmer, rocker-driven feel, and who did not want any extra softness, may prefer to stick with the V3, which is still easy to recommend.

Who Should Buy the More V4

The More V4 is not a speed shoe. Picking up the pace felt okay but unremarkable, and it is not a shoe for fast daily training miles. Where it shines is exactly what it is built for: recovery runs, long comfortable distances and relaxed easy mileage. It sits alongside shoes like the Brooks Glycerin 20 and Saucony Triumph 20, which followed a similar evolution by adding a little more softness, bounce and comfort with their newer midsole foams.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The extra softness is the main trade-off. If you are a More V3 loyalist who valued that firmer edge, the V4 may feel like a step in a direction you did not want. On the other hand, it retains the fluid, efficient tipping feel of its predecessor, so many runners will find the softer ride simply more fun and more comfortable.

Grip and Outsole

There was already plenty of rubber on the More V3 outsole, and the V4 keeps generous coverage while feeling slightly stickier. On a wet-weather run, grip was confident with no hint of slipperiness, and the More V3 never had problems in the wet either. The updated rubber compound looks like a genuine, if subtle, improvement.

Conclusion

The Fresh Foam More V4 is an impressive shoe and a thoughtful upgrade. Softer foam, a more flexible and natural ride, and a plusher upper make it a little more fun and comfortable than the More V3, while keeping the smooth rocker and easy efficiency that made the original so popular. If your running revolves around easy miles, recovery days and long comfortable distances, the More V4 deserves a place on your shortlist. Just factor in the added softness if you prefer a firmer ride, and expect a more detailed verdict once the shoe has had more miles under its belt.