New Balance 890 v2

Name: New Balance 890 v2
Brand: New Balance
Rating: 4.6 (5 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance 890 v3 replaced it

How it ranks

The New Balance 890 v2’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 5 runner reviews so far, with brand history also informing the score.

Below average

Overall

Below average 66

Appearance

Decent 75

Value

Decent 75

Comfort

Below average 61

Durability

Bottom-tier 59

Cushioning

Bottom-tier 58

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

82 Moderate

Moderate 82

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Brand rating
Our ratings
External ratings

What runners say

“Light, responsive but cushioned at the same time”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“Quite flexible, with a smooth transition”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“A little snug/shallow in the toe box”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw 1,195 miles in this shoe training for a marathon

“Sole doesn't hold up that well”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 1400 v1

“Used it successfully from easy runs 'til tempos”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“It was great, even though the mileage is lower than most shoes”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw 1,195 miles in this shoe training for a marathon

“Held up for about 300 miles”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw 1,195 miles in this shoe training for a marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

17% 1/6

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Reviewers call it light and responsive yet cushioned enough for easy runs through tempos.
One reviewer ran a 50k trail race in them and rates durability 5 out of 5.

Cons

Durability draws 4.0 out of 5 across five reviewers, the lowest mark of any dimension, and one says the sole does not hold up well.
The 890 v7 later in the line scores 89 on nine reviews against its 70.

890 v2 rates 66. This shoe has moderate confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance 890

Each dot is one version of the 890, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

66 2012 62 2013 53 2014 62 2015 67 2018 84 2019 67 2020

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

890 v8

2020 · 2 reviews

67 Below average

75 Confidence
890 v7

2019 · 9 reviews

84 Good

88 Confidence
890 v6

2018 · 8 reviews

67 Below average

91 Confidence
890 v5

2015 · 4 reviews

62 Below average

81 Confidence
890 v4

2014 · 57 reviews

53 Bottom-tier

97 Confidence
890 v3

2013 · 27 reviews

62 Below average

93 Confidence
890 v2 This shoe

2012 · 5 reviews

66 Below average

82 Confidence

Runner Ratings

5 ratings

5/5 3

4/5 2

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Release: 2012

Runner reviews

Write a review

4/5

Overall

Great shoe, sole doesn't hold up that well, but some of that is related to my gait

Anonymous runner · Apr 6, 2015

45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 1400 v1

Comfort: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 5/5

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Apr 3, 2015

45 mpw came from the ASICS GEL-Lyte 33 2

Comfort: 4/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

5/5

Overall

Freshman Matt · Sep 21, 2014

65 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

5/5

Overall

Light, responsive but cushioned at the same time. Used it successfully from easy runs 'til tempos. This means from 5' to 3'30/km (writing from Spain). LOVE its simplicity, particularly the sole. Just some rubber, quite flexible, with a smooth transition, no medial posts, etc. Didn't like version 3, it wasn't awful though.

sergiomm · Aug 31, 2014

50 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

5/5

Overall

Just your basic light weight, lower profile shoe. It was a little snug/shallow in the toe box so I took out the insole and put in Superfeet. That gave me some extra room. I don't necessarily need the Superfeet otherwise. Held up for about 300 miles so I think the cost should be a bit less for a lower profile shoe. I gave it a perfect rating durability wise because I wore it during a 50k trail run and it was great, even though the mileage is lower than most shoes. A little less of a rating on comfort only because I had to take out the insole to get just enough room for comfort. I couldn't size up because the cut is long and pointy so it would have been too big. Otherwise, just the right amount of cushioning for for my small frame (125-130lbs) and held up well during long runs of 18-22 miles. Did not like newer models, esp the v4 with it's caterpillar like mid-sole. I found the v2 at my specialty running store but bought a couple of extra pairs online due to them being updated and changed.

Slow Poke · Aug 28, 2014

55 mpw 1,195 miles in this shoe training for a marathon