Great spike but causes blisters
4/5
Overall
Kenenisa Kipchoge · Feb 9, 2021
40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante Pursuit
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
New Balance XC5K v5
Track spike · Neutral · Road · 5.0 oz (men's)
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance XC 5K v6 replaced it
How it ranks
The New Balance XC5K v5’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 1 runner review so far, with brand history and external ratings also informing the score.
Current estimate: Below average
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.
Confidence
8 Very low
External retailer ratings
We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.
The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.
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
- External ratings
- Our ratings
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 23.
Pros
- At 4.8 oz, very light, and the one reviewer so far says it is comfortable straight out of the box with a secure, glove-like fit.
- That reviewer rates appearance 5 out of 5.
Cons
- That reviewer got horrible heel blisters from a square of fabric pressing into his Achilles during a workout.
- He also reports the spike plate showing wear after a single session.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance XC5K
Each dot is one version of the XC5K, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2023 · 1 review
73 Decent
48 Confidence
-
XC5K v5 This shoe
2019 · 1 review
65 Below average
8 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 5.0 oz (men's)
- Release
- 2019 Q3
- MSRP
- $110
Runner reviews
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
New Balance XC5K v5 In Context
More on the New Balance XC5K
- New Balance XC 5K v6 next version
- New Balance XC5K previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante Pursuit 1 runner