New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 Review: Deep Cushioning Without the Clunk

Introduction

Max-cushioned daily trainers have gone from curiosity to mainstream in just a few years, and the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 sits right at the soft end of that spectrum. After a strong experience with the trail version of this shoe, we laced up the road model for a first run of just over seven miles to see whether the deep Fresh Foam X midsole holds up on firm, repetitive tarmac. The short version: it is softer and more fun than the oversized midsole suggests.

Who This Shoe Is For

This is a daily trainer for runners who prioritize cushioning and comfort above all else. If you like a plush, bouncy ride for easy miles and long sessions, and you do not mind carrying a bit of extra shoe underfoot, it deserves a place on your shortlist.

Runners who want a lightweight, fast-twitch shoe should look elsewhere, but that is not the point of this model. Its appeal is a soft, energetic ride that makes everyday mileage feel effortless.

Price and Specs

In the UK the Fresh Foam X More v4 retails for £140, though earlier colorways could be found online for as little as £84, which is very good value for a shoe at this cushioning level.

The key numbers from our pair:

• UK 10 sample weight: 325g
• Heel stack: 34mm
• Forefoot stack: 30mm
• Heel-to-toe offset: 4mm

With that much Fresh Foam X foam in the midsole, it is never going to be the lightest shoe on the rack, but the weight disappears more than expected out on the road.

Upper and Fit

The upper is a fairly standard, well-executed running shoe construction: lightweight engineered mesh with zonal structuring, plenty of micro perforations for breathability, and a moderately padded tongue that protects the top of the foot when you cinch the laces down. The heel and ankle collar get similar padding, plus the slightly flared heel shape common on modern trainers. Overlays around the lace eyelets add a touch of durability, and high-visibility detailing helps you stand out when running at night.

Straight out of the box it felt good, as most New Balance running uppers tend to, with solid heel hold and a plush ankle feel. One note: the midfoot volume runs fairly deep. With a shallower foot shape, the laces needed pulling tight to feel locked in, and they needed a retie mid-run. That is likely more about narrow foot shape than a fault in the upper itself.

Midsole and Outsole

The midsole is the headline feature, quite literally. New Balance uses its softest ever Fresh Foam X cushioning here, with 3% biobased content from renewable sources. It is soft without feeling like you are sinking into it, which we can vouch for having also run the Fresh Foam X More trail version.

Flipping the shoe over, blown rubber covers the high-wear areas for grip in all conditions and extra durability over training miles. Multi-directional flex grooves are worked into the outsole to help with braking, acceleration, and changes of direction.

Those grooves matter. Despite the deep stack, the midsole flexes easily in hand, which turns out to be central to how the shoe actually runs.

Ride Performance

The first thing noticed as soon as the run started was how soft and comfortable the Fresh Foam X midsole feels, without any dead, mushy sinking sensation. It still returns a surprising amount of energy, and on the firm, repetitive surface of the road, that big soft platform felt stable and well balanced.

The biggest surprise was the weight, or lack of it. Looking at the depth and width of that midsole, expectations were heavy, clunky, and sluggish. In practice the shoe felt nimble for a deeply cushioned neutral trainer, and at a couple of quicker tempo efforts it stayed responsive and bouncy, almost helping the pace along. The flexibility from those flex grooves seems to be a big part of it. Deep-stacked shoes in the past have often felt stiff and rigid, but that was not the case here at all.

Honestly, the ride felt preferable to a carbon-plated super trainer midsole tested recently: more comfortable, more responsive, and simply more fun to run in. The shoe has an easy, all-day quality that makes long miles disappear.

Things to Consider Before Buying

• The 325g weight means this is not a lightweight option, even if it runs lighter than it looks.
• The midfoot upper volume is deep, so narrow-footed runners may need to lace aggressively.
• Full product specifications are thin on the official New Balance site, which is worth knowing before you buy.
• This was a first-run impression; long-term durability of that very springy midsole is still to be confirmed over higher mileage.

Buying Advice

If you like a heavily cushioned, very soft daily trainer, the Fresh Foam X More v4 is worth a close look, particularly at the discounted prices seen on earlier colorways. At the full £140 it is a solid buy for max-cushion fans; closer to £84 it becomes excellent value. Wait for a full long-term review if you want confirmation on durability, but first impressions are very positive.

Conclusion

The New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 manages the rare trick of looking like a lumbering max-cushion shoe and running like something far nimbler. Very comfortable, super bouncy, more responsive than expected, and genuinely fun to run in, it is an easy recommendation for easy-day runners who want maximum softness without losing the joy of the ride.