Details
Brand
New Balance
Heel To Toe Drop
10 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Road
Type
Lightweight
Key Features
• Revlite midsole• Very lightweight• Breathable, seamless mesh• Padded tongue and collar• Great heel cushioning
Upper
The struggle when reissuing a popular shoe is that you might take out something your consumers love, and add something else they hate, but New Balance was careful when tweaking the V2, and none of that happened here. The company removed an overlay issue that runners were critical of on the V2, and went seamless instead. The V3 has no irritating seams, giving runners the options to run without socks if that’s their preference. The new upper also allows the foot to spread out a little more while keeping the same support. The laces on the V3 are flat with good texture that helps them stay put for your entire run.
Midsole
In the company’s challenge to create a comfortable shoe without adding extra weight, this is where they found their solution. It’s called Revlite, and it’s significantly lighter than the standard foam New Balance typically uses in its running shoes. Reviewers say it provides just enough cushion for the athlete who is primarily interested in speed. It allows for quick contact with the ground, with enough protection from the impact to keep the runner smoothly engaged. It also allows for a faster toe off when the athlete is picking up speed.
Outsole
New Balance is confident that this shoe can go the distance without breaking down, and here’s why. The outsole consists of mainly blown rubber, with an addition of NDurance carbon rubber in the high-impact areas. The blown rubber is lighter, but the carbon is more durable, protecting the places where runners strike and toe off, to keep the integrity of the shoe for a higher number of miles.
Breathability
This shoe does well on breathability, but not so great on odor. In short, reviewers said these shoes stink! If you live in a hot climate or are especially prone to sweaty feet, you’ll need to take a little extra care after each run to make sure you keep the odor under control. To clean your 1400 V3, New Balance recommends using a light brush, like a toothbrush, and a light detergent. After they’re clean, let the shoes air dry for 24 hours. That means if you’re a fan of these and an everyday runner, you’ll want a backup pair or two to make sure your shoes are ready for the pavement when you are.
Comfort
For a racing shoe, the New Balance 1400 V3 got good marks for comfort. These aren’t a plush option, so if you haven’t worn racing flats before, it would be a good idea to get a feel for them at a store before purchasing online. Reviewers who understood the objective of this competition shoe were surprised at how much comfort the company was able to inject into the midsole. A few reviewers who said they usually added insoles, didn’t need to with these shoes. And as we mentioned in the notes on the upper, you don’t need to wear socks with this version if that’s how you usually run. The new seamless upper rids itself of any irritation zones that may have been present in the earlier generations. A few athletes noted the toe box was a little narrow for their liking, and their toes were uncomfortable. As for sizing, most customers said they bought a half size up from what they usually wear in a casual shoe.
Style
New Balance claims this shoe looks as fast as it feels. Not for the shy, these shoes come in what one reviewer called “wild” colors, and they are on the flashy side. However, some reviewers said they found the color options on the V3 less gaudy than the ones on the V2. No matter how you feel about the color scheme, you’re not going to miss the branding. These shoes have the signature “N” brightly displayed on the side.;Here are your color options. For the men, these come in red with black and “toxic” and red with blue. For the women, the company offers a bright purple and orange, or a more subdued grey and white. If you’re an athlete who loves to match your accessories to your shoes, check out some other bright nail polish options here.
Durability
One reviewer reported she put 45 miles a week on these shoes with no problem. New Balance claims their shoes should last between 300 and 500 miles, but a competitive shoe like this one isn’t likely to make it to the far end of the range. The best way to tell if you need new shoes is to keep a log, and study that in conjunction with the sole of your shoes. If the rubber is worn down to being smooth in some areas, you’ll need to replace your shoes, even if you haven’t yet hit 500 miles. Shoes that have been worn past their durability can lead to a host of joint issues, since the runner is no longer given the same cushion and support.;If you are putting on that many miles on your shoes, you might be in the market for a good playlist. Check out our ideas for music that will help those miles fly by here.
Protection
The New Balance 1400 V3 aims to keep the runner protected, while it allows him or her to tick off long miles at record speed. The cushioning in the heel provides protection for the runner toward the end of a long run, when the athlete may begin to heel strike. Some runners said they preferred this shoe for races where the course had a lot of down runs, for the same reason.;When it comes to protection for night runs, these shoes don’t glow in the dark, but they do contain reflective material. If you are going for runs after dark, protection shouldn’t begin and end at your feet. There are headlamps, gloves, belts, and tights – all in reflective options to help drivers see you when you’re running at night.
Responsiveness
Another key element to a competition shoe is responsiveness. Athletes need to feel that reaction from the ground giving back to them on each strike. One runner called these shoes “surprisingly springy” for a racing flat, and another credits the responsiveness of this shoe for making him feel like he’s floating. On a whole, reviewers agree this show allowed them to feel the ground in a way that kept their runs, and their time, on track.
Support
New Balance created these shoes to work without an after-market insole, and a lot of the reviewers said they didn’t need one. The 1400 V3 provide support in the Revlite midsole and the heel is designed so that runner’s foot doesn’t slip. Reviewers found it had great arch support and the shock of each landing didn’t bother their knees and ankles.
Terrain
This is a racing shoe, so it’s designed for concrete, pavement, and treadmills. A couple of reviewers said they took these shoes for a trail run, but that’s not their intended purpose. Another athlete gave his 1400s a workout, gliding them over asphalt, concrete, gravel and cobblestone streets, and says they passed with flying colors.
Price
We found the New Balance 1400 V4 and V5 on the company’s website, but not the V3. Oftentimes that means they can be found at a discount somewhere else. We spotted them on Amazon and at several sporting goods stores. You might need to search around a little to find the size and color combination that you want, but you’ll likely find them at just about half the cost of their original retail amount.
Drop
This racing shoe comes with a 10mm drop, which met the approval of runners who like the light weight but didn’t want to be forced into a zero drop shoe. Reviewers said because of the height they didn’t feel like they were coming down on their heels hard, and that the drop supported their Achilles nicely.
Stability
The 1400s are for neutral runners, so if you’re a pronator you might wear it out more quickly. Reviewers said the heel cup on this shoe kept their foot in place and sliding was not an issue.
Flexibility
Part of the success in this shoe is its flexibility and the way it allows the runner to move naturally through their stride. New Balance puts a lot of flex along with the comfort in their midsole.
Traction
The blown rubber outsole is pretty “grippy” for your traditional training runs. Reviewers cited no problems with slipping on pavement, concrete, or even crushed rock. We didn’t find any mentions of rainy day runs in these shoes, so there’s no evidence available about its traction on wet surfaces. If you do enjoy a run in the rain, don’t forget the other rainy day gear that will make you more comfortable when the sky opens.
Bottom Line
New Balance says it’s dedicated to helping athletes achieve their goals, and this line of running shoe is another step in that process. The competitive runners enjoyed the ground feel, flexibility, and light weight, and were happily surprised at the amount of cushion provided by the Revlite midsole. Reviewers describe the style as being interesting without being overwhelming. Consumers should be aware that the lighter grey option could probably pass as an everyday shoe, but the brighter options definitely look like they belong on the track. When it comes to price, the fact that New Balance has created a V4 and V5 can work to the consumers’ benefit. Discounted options on the V3 are available from multiple in-store and online retailers, such as Amazon.
