Shoe review: New Balance 890v7

£110

Some shoes just scream out ‘run fast in me’: the NB 890v7 is one such shoe. This new version of NB’s popular 890 is lighter and faster than ever before, thanks to some serious tweaks that have been incorprated without comprising the shoe’s integrity.

For starters, NB has used an entirely different upper for the new 890v7 model, swapping a single-layer knit fabric in for the engineered mesh in the 890v6. This minimal knit upper is surprisingly accommodating and super-comfortable on the foot, with a mixed weave providing a closer fit where you need it most.

The tongue is anchored with two stretchy bands inside the shoe that help hug the foot and give it a ‘slipper-like’ feel when you put it on. The heel collar in the 890v7 is reinforced with some stretchier material and feels beautifully soft around the ankle, although it might not be a tight enough fit for runners used to a more conventional shoe.

The New Balance 890v7 is definitely made for speed. The first thing you notice about this shoe is the weight. Designers have cut weight from the previous model by switching the construction and shaving rubber from the outsole.

The shoe now features New Balance’s REVlite midsole, which promises the same responsiveness and durability of NB foams 30% heavier, while much of the outsole is left bare, save for a few strips of more durable rubber in high-wear areas on the toe and in a horseshoe around the heel, which protects the foam but keeps weight down.

So how does it ride? As you’d expect from something that weighs in at just over 200g, this is a seriously competitive shoe. It feels incredibly light on and hugely responsive in faster interval work. We ran a couple of speedier 5K runs and were impressed with the level of support that such a lightweight shoe can deliver. We wouldn’t use this for our long runs but for faster-paced efforts, this shoe is ideal.