New Balance More v6

The most cushioned shoe New Balance has ever created - New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6

Sometimes the name of a shoe says exactly what it’s meant to do – and New Balance More takes this logic to the extreme. It’s the most maximally cushioned model in the entire Fresh Foam lineup, designed for runners who want to feel as little of the hard surface beneath their feet as possible. Since its inception as the brand's first maximalist attempt, it has undergone a significant transformation to reach its current form with a stack height of over 40 millimeters. The sixth generation offers the highest impact absorption capability in the forefoot of all tested shoes on the market.

History: from the first maximalist attempt to a full-fledged giant

The Fresh Foam family was born in 2014 with the 980 model, which later evolved into the successful 1080 series. More emerged as New Balance's first true maximalist attempt in the v4 version, initially as a single block of extremely soft and pliable foam. A significant shift occurred with the v5 version, where the stack height increased by nearly 10 mm, and the shoe finally became a full-fledged maximalist model – at the same time, New Balance switched to the same formulation of Fresh Foam X used in the premium 1080 model, instead of the simple block of soft foam from previous versions.

Technology: Fresh Foam X midsole with a stack height of 44 mm

What makes the sixth generation More exceptionally cushioned are these elements:

• Fresh Foam X midsole: The same foam formulation as in the 1080v14 and 880v15 models, but here applied at a height of 44 mm in the heel and 40 mm in the forefoot with only a 4 mm drop – one of the highest stack heights in the running market.
• Higher energy return: Compared to the previous version, New Balance improved energy return to 60.1% in the heel and 58.8% in the forefoot, making the v6 feel noticeably firmer and more stable than the softer and less controlled v5.

In laboratory tests, the v6 achieved values of 152 SA in the heel and 144 SA in the forefoot, making it the softest cushioned shoe among all tested models – a feel designed specifically for heavier runners, distance specialists, or anyone who wants to feel as little of the hard surface as possible at any pace.

Durability

The More v6 is built for durability – reviewers report a soft and pliable feel even after more than 240 km (150 miles) of use, with minimal wear on the outsole in rubber-covered areas. The exposed foam in the midfoot holds its shape without visible degradation even after extended use, making it a reliable companion for regular easy miles.

Who this model is for

The More v6 is a performance shoe for you if you run easy paces, recovery jogs, or long slow miles and want maximum cushioning regardless of speed – it’s less suitable for faster training, where the high stack limits ground feel.