Type a shoe name, like Pegasus, Clifton or Kayano.

New Balance 870 v5

Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 8.8 oz · 8mm drop · 27/19mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock.

How it ranks

The New Balance 870 v5 ranks below most daily trainers in our data. Looks and value are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 5 runner reviews and 3 other rated shoes in the 870 product line. Another 7 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

New Balance 870 v5

of 5

Below average

68/100
Overall
68
Appearance
75
Value
71
Comfort
61
Cushioning
58
Durability
52
Confidence

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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

22/100

22

What runners say

“Firm, responsive, but plenty of cushion for a relatively efficient runner to use as a daily trainer.”
3/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 3
“First run in them, I twisted my left ankle. Second run, I twisted my right.”
1/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the New Balance 870 v4
“The plastic overlay the laces go through at the top of the shoe was halfway off on the left shoe.”
3/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 3
“The 870v5 has killed my ankles.”
1/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the New Balance 870 v4
“The transition is smooth; works well from sub-4:00 to 7:30 paces.”
3/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 3
“They wear out fairly quickly.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 880 v9
“Fit a little small at first, but loosened up after the first run and fit like a glove since.”
3/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 3
“The material of the rear upper was the same as those mats they put down in public schools.”
3/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 3
“The rubber portion of the outsole breaks down faster than the exposed foam.”
3/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 3
“The shoe felt cheap.”
3/5 Full review 85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 3

Prefer this shoe over another

40% 2/5

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.


Pros

  • Reviewers find the ride firm and responsive across a range of paces.
  • At 8.8 oz, reviewers use it for easy, long and fast runs.

Cons

  • Several reviewers report the outsole rubber wearing down quickly.
  • The 870 v4 before it scores 96 on three reviews, and the v3 84 on seventeen.
  • One reviewer received a pair with the lace overlay half off, and calls the build cheap for the price.

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.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

870 v5 rates 68. This shoe has very low certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance 870

Each dot is one version of the 870, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • 870 v5 This shoe

    2019 · 5 reviews

    68 Below average

    22 Confidence

  • 870 v4

    2016 · 3 reviews

    96 Excellent

    80 Confidence

  • 870 v3

    2013 · 17 reviews

    82 Good

    82 Confidence

  • 870 v2

    2014 · 2 reviews

    78 Decent

    15 Confidence

Reader Ratings

5 ratings
5/5 2
4/5 1
3/5 1
2/5 0
1/5 1

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
8.8 oz
Release
2019 Q2
MSRP
$110
Stack Height
27mm heel - 19mm toe
Drop Height
8mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 1–5 of 5 written reviews

Great Everyday Trainer

5/5

Overall

I have been using this shoe for my current marathon training. I use it for my track, easy, and long runs. I have had zero issues with it and enjoy the 6mm drop and responsive midsole. I guess my one gripe would be that they wear out fairly quickly. However for a do it all daily trainer that cost $100 it’s hard to complain.

Anonymous runner · Jan 12, 2020

50 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 880 v9

Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

They broke this shoe, and it's breaking my ankles

1/5

Overall

I have LOVED the 870 series. I ran my marathon PR in 870v2. And I bought 4 pair of the 870v4. But the 870v5 has killed my ankles. First run in them, I twisted my left ankle. Second run, I twisted my right. And a month later, I twisted my left again - so badly, I'm currently in recovery mode. And I'm not one to turn my ankles - in the past decade, I can't remember having an ankle injury. The only thing I've changed is the shoes. Tomorrow, I'm heading back to my running store to swap these out.

Anonymous runner · Dec 31, 2019

30 mpw came from the New Balance 870 v4

Comfort
2/5
Cushioning
3/5
Durability
2/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
2/5

Great potential, poor quality

3/5

Overall

I was immediately disappointed by these shoes. The plastic overlay the laces go through at the top of the shoe was halfway off on the left shoe. The material of the rear upper was the same as those mats they put down in public schools. The grey polyester ones with ridges of rough fuzz. The shoe felt cheap. I know we are in an age of $160 premium daily trainers, but I figured for $110 New Balance could produce a light trainer that was at least passable as premium. They do with the new 890s! I felt ripped. The shoes fit a little small for me right when I put them on, and I was worried they would be too tight. They loosened up a lot after the first run, and have fit like a glove since. The ride is perfect for my tastes. Firm, responsive, but plenty of cushion for a relatively efficient runner to use as a daily trainer. The transition is smooth; I've run paces from sub 4:00 to 7:30 in them. All feel good. The rubber on the outsole is race car tire soft, and the grip is good. An unfortunate side effect of this: the rubber portion of the outsole is breaking down faster than the exposed foam. If the quality were passable, this would have been my new go to shoe. I would have used it for everything. New Balance would have had my $110 every month and a half (until they inevitably go on sale). Unfortunately, I will never be buying them again. Maybe for less than $50? That's what they feel like they are worth.

tipperboi · Aug 10, 2019

85 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 3

Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
2/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
2/5

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Qu · Jul 12, 2019

50 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Jul 7, 2019

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

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Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
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Reference shoe
Lightest / Newest / Best overall
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Stability
Stability
Neutral
Weight
8.8 oz M
9.3 oz M
8.5 oz M Lightest
Stack
27/19mm
27/19mm
40/35mm
Drop
8mm
8mm
5mm
Release
2019 Q2
2016
2023 Q1 Newest
MSRP
$110 Lower MSRP
$115
$145
Best price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Below average (68)
Excellent (96)
Exceptional (99) Best overall
Comfort
Below average (61)
Decent (74)
Exceptional (99) Best comfort
Cushioning
Bottom-tier (58)
Below average (68)
Exceptional (99) Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom-tier (52)
Bottom-tier (58)
Very good (92) Best durability
Appearance
Decent (75)
Decent (79)
Very good (91) Best appearance
Value
Decent (71)
Good (87)
Good (88) Best value
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