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New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay v3

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.3 oz · 4mm drop · 24/20mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock.

How it ranks

The New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay v3 sits about average for daily trainers in our data. Value and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 5 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Fresh Foam Boracay product line. Another 7 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay v3

of 5

Decent

79/100
Overall
79
Value
88
Durability
77
Comfort
75
Cushioning
73
Appearance
67
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

62/100

62

What runners say

“Durable and cushioned enough for longer runs, but fast enough for tempos and longer races”
5/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante
“Nearly 500 miles on the Boracay and there is still rubber”
4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Zealot ISO
“Cushioning is solid but isn't overly soft”
4/5 Full review 90 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4
“Comes in wide (2E)”
5/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante
“Far more durable”
4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Zealot ISO
“Quality and appearance could be better”
4/5 Full review 90 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4

Prefer this shoe over another

33% 2/6

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.


Pros

  • One reviewer reports rubber still left on the outsole near 500 miles.
  • Runners use it for easy miles, long runs and tempo work, and it comes in a 2E width.
  • Reviewers rate value 4.8 out of 5.

Cons

  • Appearance draws the lowest ratings of any dimension at 3.8 out of 5, and one reviewer says the quality and finish could be better.

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

Fresh Foam Boracay v3 rates 79. This shoe has low certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay

Each dot is one version of the Fresh Foam Boracay, 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.
  • Fresh Foam Boracay v3 This shoe

    2017 · 5 reviews

    79 Decent

    62 Confidence

  • Fresh Foam Boracay 3

    2017 · 1 review

    89 Good

    52 Confidence

  • Fresh Foam Boracay

    2015 · 10 reviews

    78 Decent

    80 Confidence

Reader Ratings

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

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
9.3 oz
Release
2017 Q3
MSRP
$120
Stack Height
24mm heel - 20mm toe
Drop Height
4mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 1–5 of 5 written reviews

NB Boracay v3

5/5

Overall

I never had quality running shoes in high school and suffered from plantar-fasciitis going into the summer right before my freshman year of college in 2014. The first pair I had that were quality were a Nike pair with arch support (elevated sole with curvature). The next pair I had was the NB Boracay until the spring. I then had the v2. I went through three cycles of the v2. Currently I am in a rotation of the v3 an adidas pair a NB racing flat and a new nike pair that reminds me of the shoe I firstly mentioned. Everyone is different but for me the v3 Boracay from New Balance is a shoe that has a balance of qualities that within my rotation of shoes gets all stars in all categories.

Anonymous runner · Jul 24, 2019

30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay v3

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

It can handle the miles, but otherwise unremarkable

4/5

Overall

First ever pair of New Balance and I wore these as an easy run shoe and for a few longer runs. Decided to wear these in the winter over another pair of Saucony Zealots since the upper had a lot of rubbery overlays and would be warmer on the feet. Although it may be helpful in the winter, it was really unnecessary, serving no purpose in the construction of the shoe. These aren't as soft, light or flexible as the Zealot, but they are far more durable. Wore the lateral forefoot of the Zealot down to the EVA before 400 miles. Nearly 500 on the Boracay and there is still rubber.

Anonymous runner · Jun 29, 2018

60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Zealot ISO

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

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Feb 8, 2018

60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 7

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

New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay v3

4/5

Overall

I liked this shoe a lot for the price point I got it for. The cushioning is solid but isn't overly soft. The quality and appearance could be better but again for the price point I received them for it is solid. It is the shoe that is in between a Zante and 1080, so there is not a huge need for it.

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

90 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 4

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

Solid Shoe

5/5

Overall

Good neutral, low drop (4mm) trainer, that comes in wide (2E). Durable and cushioned enough for longer runs, but fast enough for tempos and longer races.

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante

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

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Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Best value
Lightest / Newest / Best overall
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.3 oz M
9.6 oz M
8.5 oz M Lightest
Stack
24/20mm
40/35mm
Drop
4mm
5mm
Release
2017 Q3
2017
2023 Q1 Newest
MSRP
$120
$120
$145
Best price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Decent (79)
Good (89)
Exceptional (99) Best overall
Comfort
Decent (75)
Good (83)
Exceptional (99) Best comfort
Cushioning
Decent (73)
Below average (67)
Exceptional (99) Best cushioning
Durability
Decent (77)
Decent (73)
Very good (92) Best durability
Appearance
Below average (67)
Decent (76)
Very good (91) Best appearance
Value
Good (88) Best value
Good (86)
Good (88)
Specific shoe

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