New Balance Hierro v5 Shoe Review:
New Balance Hierro v5 Quick Facts:
Weighs 11.3 oz
Heel to Toe Drop: 8 mm
The New Balance Hierro v5 is a trail shoe designed for some of the most rugged terrain out there. To be honest, I needed a new trail shoe and gravitated towards the New Balance Hierro v5 because of the look. If it weren’t comfortable, I wouldn’t buy it, but it ended up being comfortable. So I’ve been using the New Balance Hierro v5 for hiking. It’s a little too bulky for running (for me), but I enjoy it for hiking.
New Balance Hierro v5 Fit:
While I haven’t used any of the previous versions of the New Balance Hierro, I have seen and tried them on. The upper of the New Balance Hierro v5 has been redone with a new highly-durable TPU-coated textile material. The New Balance Hierro v5 has a second layer of softer mesh underneath fora comfortable fit. One thing I do appreciate is the toe protecting makes me feel more comfortable on the trails.
Compared to the New Balance Hierro v4, the V5 no longer has a sock-like heel collar and went back to a traditional heel. Thankfully, as most of the time, the higher cut sock-like heels don’t do well. The New Balance 1080v10 seems to be an exception.
New Balance Hierro v5 Ride:
The New Balance Hierro v5 is designed for trails. The New Balance Hierro v5 has a thick Fresh Foam midsole stacked on top of a Vibram Megagrip outsole. As far as trail shoes go, the New Balance Hierro v5 has a lot of cushion. That’s partially what caused me to gravitate towards the Fresh Foam Hierro v5, more cushion and the look.
The issue I have with the New Balance Hierro v5 is you’re very disconnected from the ground. If you’re looking for the ground feel, the New Balance Hierro v5, isn’t what you’re looking for. The 8 mm drop makes it slightly more forgiving on the calves and Achilles.
That being said, New Balance Hierro v5 is a shoe with plenty of cushion; however, if running fast, I might feel as though I would miss a root or rock and trip. That’s why I prefer hiking in the New Balance Hierro v5, because while there is plenty of cushions, I can take it nice and easy. It’s a smooth-riding shoe that I feel comfortable going up technical terrain (nice and slow).
As far as trail shoes go, the New Balance Hierro v5 is one of the smoothest and comfortable trail shoes. It’s stiff and I don’t have to worry about gripping the ground. It’s one of my favorite shoes for sloppy days or scrambling on rocks.
A small rubber toe bumper and a tongue shroud for debris protection round out the changes.
For me, the New Balance Hierro v5 is a great hiking shoe and might feel comfortable at the beginning and end of a long day hike. Do I think I would run a lot of miles in it? No, probably not, as the New Balance Hierro v5 just feels too bulky to me. I do, however, like it for hikes!
New Balance Hierro v5 Conclusion
I like the New Balance Hierro v5 and I think it’s a great hiking shoe. It’s comfortable and very well cushioned. I do wish it was a couple of ounces lighter because that breaks it for being a good running shoe for me. If you are doing a long race, hike, or want to enjoy a few easy miles, the New Balance Hierro v5 is a great option for that.
Current Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs: Mizuno Rider Waveknit 3, New Balance 1080 v10, Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5, Hoka One One Arahi 4, Asics Cumulus 21
Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike Pegasus Turbo 2
Long Runs: Brooks Ricochet 2 Shoe Review, New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Altra Escalante 2.0, Hoka Cavu 2
Races: New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook I talk about why you need a good running shoe, the anatomy of a shoe, neutral vs stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
What is your favorite trail shoe?