Of any shoe, more people ask me to review the New Balance Beacon v3. The NB Beacon v3 is a fairly lightweight and versatile shoe. While I didn’t run in the NB Beacon v1 or v2, I did try them on.
New Balance Beacon v3 Quick Stats:
Weight: 7.1 oz
Heel to toe drop: 6mm
New Balance Beacon v3 Fit:
The NB Beacon v3 has a rounded heel and nontraditional heel with an engineered mesh upper. New Balance now has a “signature” heel that can be found in most of their shoes. This heel doesn’t rub against the Achilles, and I find it more comfortable. It’s a bit extreme looking when you first notice, but I’ve found it to do what it needs too and protect the foot.
The New Balance Beacon v3 has plenty of space in the toe box and more volume towards the front. There are minimal overlays and seems. If you have bunions or a wider forefoot, the New Balance Beacon v3 might be a great option. One of my favorite parts of the New Balance Beacon v3 is that it isn’t over-engineered, and there isn’t really anything extra. It’s lightweight and breathable without anything you don’t need. I’ve run in some hot days (why is it above 90 degrees in the “fall” and my feet have been able to breathe during the run).
Compared to the previous Beacon, the NB Beacon v3 upper is lighter weight and more breathable.
Typically I wear between a women’s size 10-11 wide, and the New Balance Beacon v3 size 10 fits well. While I don’t think the New Balance Beacon v3 fits “big,” I do think it’s a little longer. If you have a narrow foot, I might go down a half size.
New Balance Beacon v3 Ride:
New Balance said the goal with the New Balance Beacon v3 was to achieve a light, cushioned, and airy experience. Each model using Fresh Foam helps to achieve that. The New Balance More has the most cushion; the New Balance 1080v10 has more cushion than the Beacon. Each ride is different, but still lightweight and responsive.
The New Balance Beacon v3 is firm, yet cushioned. They are a lot more responsive, softer, and bouncy compared to previous versions of the beacon. It’s a shoe if I could only bring one pair with me. I would probably choose because it can get away with long runs, workouts, and easy runs. That being said, my favorite use of the New Balance Beacon v3 is for daily runs, where I want to go a little faster. I like a little more shoe for recovery runs and a little less shoe for faster workouts.
One thing that does worry me about the NB Beacon v3 is the durability. There isn’t a lot of blown rubber at the bottom, which means that foam is more likely to deteriorate after runs. I’ve run about 50 miles in the New Balance Beacon v3 and have not had any issue. Still, I can see the foam wearing faster than a traditional and more cushioned trainer. The lack of an outsole makes it lighter, but I think durability will become an issue. I doubt I’ll get 300 miles out of it. Due to the lack of rubber, it’s not a shoe I would probably take on the trails. Trails might shred right through the bottom of the shoe, and if the trails are wet, you might slide around.
New Balance Beacon v3 Conclusion:
The NB Beacon v3 a relatively inexpensive but well-cushioned shoe. I appreciate the upper is no-frills with nothing you don’t need. That being said, I’m slightly worried about the durability. If you are looking for a versatile trainer that can do most types of runs, the New Balance Beacon v3 is a good option. For me, it fits right into a daily trainer. If you are looking for something lighter than the 880v10, 1080v10, or More v2, the NB Beacon v3 is a great option.
Current Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs Saloman Sonic 3 Balance, Brooks Glycerin 18, Mizuno Rider Waveknit 3, Nike Pegasus 37, New Balance 1080 v10, Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5, Hoka Bondi 7, Asics GlideRide.
Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Saucony Kinvara 11, NB Beacon v3
Long Runs: Hoka Clifton Edge, New Balance FuelCell Rebel,
Trail Running/Hiking: Hoka Torrent 2, Saucony Peregrine 10, New Balance Hierro v5
Races: Asics MetaRacer, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Saucony Endorphin Pro, New Balance fuelcell TC, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
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Questions for you:
Have you tried the NB Beacon v3?
What is your favorite running shoe?
I agree with the durability. I’ve had a few pairs of both the original Beacon and v2, and they aren’t lasting past 350 miles. The price point kind of makes up for it a bit.
Thanks for the review! How does this compare to the vazee pace or the new tempo? Thanks!
Thank you for reading Jesse.
They are all about the same cushion and durability wise, the ride is softer in the NB Beacon versus the rest.