New Balance 860
Every version of the 860 we track, compared on ratings, specs and current price.
The score is the median Better Shoes Rating of the line's shoes, out of 100. The average product line scores 76, and the 860 scores above 1% of the lines we track.
New Balance 860 vs. Other Shoes
Each dot is one rated shoe: the 860 in gold, all other shoes in gray.
Rating by version, oldest first
Each dot is one version of the 860, placed by its rating and release year.
Release year
See our analysis of whether a new version is usually as good as the one it replaces.
| Version | Released | Weight | Stack | Score | Change | Reviews | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 | 2024 | 8.9 oz (men's) | 38/30mm · 8mm drop | 50 | -4 | 5 | $140 MSRP |
| New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v13 In stock | 2022 | 9.8 oz | 35/25mm · 10mm drop | 54 | 0 | 3 | — |
| New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v12 | 2021 | 9.1 oz (women's) | 34/24mm · 10mm drop | 54 | -1 | 1 | — |
| New Balance Fresh Foam 860 v11 | 2020 | 10.2 oz | — | 55 | -20 | 1 | — |
| New Balance 860 v10 | 2020 | 10.3 oz | 34/24mm · 10mm drop | 74 | +21 | 4 | — |
| New Balance 860 V9 | 2019 | — | — | 54 | -6 | 5 | — |
| New Balance 860 v8 | 2019 | — | — | 60 | +8 | 9 | — |
| New Balance 860 v6 | 2018 | — | — | 52 | -3 | 2 | — |
| New Balance 860 v7 | 2018 | — | — | 55 | -11 | 4 | — |
| New Balance 860 v5 | 2016 | — | — | 66 | +13 | 4 | $120 MSRP |
| New Balance 860 v3 | 2014 | — | — | 53 | +6 | 2 | — |
| New Balance 860 v4 | 2014 | — | — | 47 | — | 16 | $100 MSRP |
12 shoes
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
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New Balance
Fresh Foam X 860 v1450 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 11 reviews · Confidence 88/100
v14 (2024) · Daily trainer · Stability · 8.9 oz (men's) · 8mm drop · 38mm stack
Reviewers rate comfort 4.4 out of 5, and two praise the stability on road runs.
Durability 56MSRP $140
Overall50Comfort72Cushioning64Appearance61Value58Durability56Confidence88Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Reviewers rate comfort 4.4 out of 5, and two praise the stability on road runs.
It stacks 38mm at the heel on an 8mm drop.
Cons
Reviewers rate durability 3.7 out of 5, and two report it wearing faster than expected.
Two reviewers who came from earlier 860s say it no longer feels like a stability shoe.
It lists at $140, and reviewers rate value 3.8 out of 5, its second-lowest dimension.
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New Balance
Fresh Foam X 860 v1354 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 5 reviews · Confidence 81/100
v13 (2022) · Daily trainer · Stability (Moderate) · 9.8 oz · 10mm drop · 35mm stack
Reviewers rate durability 4.6 out of 5, and one gets 800 to 1000 miles from a pair across five purchases.
Durability 69Overall54Durability69Appearance65Comfort62Cushioning61Value58Confidence81Buy it now
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Pros
Reviewers rate durability 4.6 out of 5, and one gets 800 to 1000 miles from a pair across five purchases.
Two reviewers call it a solid, dependable everyday trainer.
Cons
Reviewers rate comfort 4.0 out of 5, its lowest dimension.
One of five reviewers so far needed 150 miles to break in an upper that dug into the foot and ankle.
Averaging 9.8 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is heavier than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers on sale.
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New Balance
Fresh Foam X 860 v1254 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 1 review · Confidence 64/100
v12 (2021) · Daily trainer · Stability (Moderate) · 9.1 oz (women's) · 10mm drop · 34mm stack
Its one reviewer so far calls it a reliable daily trainer with plenty of cushion for long runs and light enough for road repetitions.
Durability 56Overall54Comfort65Cushioning61Appearance58Durability56Value54Confidence64Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Its one reviewer so far calls it a reliable daily trainer with plenty of cushion for long runs and light enough for road repetitions.
Cons
Its one reviewer so far rates durability, appearance and value 3 out of 5, its lowest marks.
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New Balance
Fresh Foam 860 v1155 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 1 review · Confidence 45/100
v11 (2020) · Daily trainer · Stability · 10.2 oz
Its one reviewer so far rates comfort and appearance 5 out of 5.
Durability 60Overall55Comfort68Appearance67Cushioning61Durability60Value58Confidence45Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Its one reviewer so far rates comfort and appearance 5 out of 5.
Cons
Averaging 10.2 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is well above the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers on sale.
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New Balance
860 v1074 Decent Decent · 8 reviews · Confidence 74/100
v10 (2020) · Daily trainer · Stability · 10.3 oz · 10mm drop · 34mm stack
Reviewers consistently praise the comfort and cushioning on daily miles.
Durability 66Overall74Comfort79Cushioning76Appearance66Durability66Value56Confidence74Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Reviewers consistently praise the comfort and cushioning on daily miles.
It is by far the best-rated 860 version we cover, the next best scoring 65.
Cons
Value is its lowest-rated dimension, at 3.6 out of 5.
Averaging 10.3 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is well above the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers on sale.
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New Balance
860 V954 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 5 reviews · Confidence 83/100
v9 (2019) · Daily trainer · Stability
Reviewers rate durability 4.6 out of 5, and two report 500 miles or more per pair.
Durability 69Overall54Comfort70Durability69Cushioning59Value59Appearance58Confidence83Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Reviewers rate durability 4.6 out of 5, and two report 500 miles or more per pair.
Reviewers rate comfort 4.6 out of 5, and three say the medial post gives support without feeling clunky.
Two reviewers describe a firm midsole they favor for long, steady road miles.
Cons
Reviewers rate appearance 3.8 out of 5, its lowest dimension.
One of five reviewers so far finds it clunky and inflexible through the transition.
One of five reviewers so far finds the heel loose enough to need sock and lacing adjustments.
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New Balance
860 v860 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 10 reviews · Confidence 78/100
v8 (2019) · Daily trainer · Stability
Two reviewers describe a firm, stable ride for long training runs.
Durability 69Overall60Value77Comfort72Durability69Appearance68Cushioning61Confidence78Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Two reviewers describe a firm, stable ride for long training runs.
One reviewer with a wide foot calls it a pleasure to run in.
Two reviewers switched from Nike and prefer it.
Cons
One reviewer has two successive pairs tear where the upper meets the midsole at about 200 miles.
Cushioning and durability are the lowest of its dimensions at 4.0 out of 5 across ten reviews.
Two of the nine reviewers who answered report an injury while running in it.
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New Balance
860 v652 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 2 reviews · Confidence 65/100
v6 (2018) · Daily trainer · Stability
Both reviewers so far rate comfort, cushioning and durability 4 out of 5.
Durability 61Overall52Comfort63Cushioning61Durability61Appearance59Value55Confidence65Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Both reviewers so far rate comfort, cushioning and durability 4 out of 5.
Cons
One of two reviewers so far finds it heavy and cumbersome coming from a minimal shoe.
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New Balance
860 v755 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 4 reviews · Confidence 66/100
v7 (2018) · Daily trainer · Stability
Comfort averages 5 out of 5 across four reviews, with appearance at 4.8 and cushioning 4.5.
Durability 59Overall55Comfort79Appearance73Cushioning67Value59Durability59Confidence66Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Comfort averages 5 out of 5 across four reviews, with appearance at 4.8 and cushioning 4.5.
Two reviewers get 450 to 600 miles from a pair, one of them once past 700.
Cons
Durability averages 3.5 out of 5, the lowest of its dimensions, and two reviewers have the upper tear or separate before the soles wear out.
One reviewer finds it cumbersome on the track or in quick intervals, and another misses the rolling forefoot feel of the earlier versions.
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New Balance
860 v566 Below average Below average · 4 reviews · Confidence 69/100
v5 (2016) · Daily trainer · Stability
Comfort draws 4.8 out of 5, the highest mark of any dimension, and reviewers welcome the multiple width options.
Durability 56MSRP $120
Overall66Comfort70Cushioning62Appearance60Value58Durability56Confidence69Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Comfort draws 4.8 out of 5, the highest mark of any dimension, and reviewers welcome the multiple width options.
One reviewer describes the perfect mix of lightness, responsiveness and support.
Cons
One reviewer had the fabric around the ankle wear through very quickly, and durability draws 3.8 out of 5, the lowest mark of any dimension.
One reviewer at about 60 miles a week wants more cushioning and says she wears them out too fast.
The 860 v10 after it scores 75 on eight reviews against its 65.
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New Balance
860 v353 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 2 reviews · Confidence 68/100
v3 (2014) · Daily trainer · Stability
Both reviewers so far rate comfort 5 out of 5, and one praises the balance of cushioning and support.
Durability 56Overall53Comfort70Cushioning61Appearance58Value57Durability56Confidence68Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Both reviewers so far rate comfort 5 out of 5, and one praises the balance of cushioning and support.
Cons
Reviewers rate durability and appearance 3.5 out of 5, its lowest dimensions.
One of two reviewers so far says the model is becoming hard to find.
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New Balance
860 v447 Bottom-tier Bottom-tier · 16 reviews · Confidence 94/100
v4 (2014) · Daily trainer · Stability
Two reviewers say the toe box is less narrow than the 860 v3.
Durability 54MSRP $100
Overall47Cushioning58Appearance55Durability54Comfort53Value50Confidence94Buy it now
Not available at tracked retailers right now.
Pros
Two reviewers say the toe box is less narrow than the 860 v3.
Reviewers rate comfort 4.1 out of 5, and two say it works for them coming back from injury.
Cons
Reviewers rate durability 3.8 out of 5 and value 3.7 out of 5, its lowest dimensions, and two report the forefoot wearing out before the rest of the shoe.
The 860 v5 scores 65 on four reviews and the v10 scores 75 on eight, against this version's 47, the lowest in the line.