The plastic midfoot shank is also gone. Outsole rubber fills the spot where the shank used to be. As a sum of parts, the 1500V6 is more business-like and feels faster than the V5 due to the increased coverage. The weight goes up by 0.3-ounces due to these tweaks.

The heel is firm but has the right amount of cushion all around as does the rounding of the ankle. The upper is mostly woven with some flex but also some rigidity. You’ll get efficient firmness from the V6 too, except that it is served in a different flavor. The medial post adopts a less aggressive design. Instead of being a rectangular wedge, it is sloped and confined to the lower part of the midsole. The asymmetrical NB, color combination and the “New Balance Racing” logo with the bird on the insole had me hankering to take these out ASAP.As we said at the start of this review, there aren’t many competitors in the stability racer class. The upper follows the 890 template and uses knit mesh with nearly no overlays. Though the forefoot fit has just the right proportions, some runners might not prefer the new heel design. The rear upper substitutes the padded heel of the V5 with a knit band and suede lining. The right equipment, such as the right running clothing, is the basis for good performance, and these shoes are certainly part of quality basic equipment. The design is classic as well as the lacing but, it is the sole and the grip on the ground that offers to make the difference compared to other models. New Balance 680v6: Best Price UK

I don’t use orthotics preferring to leave the insole be. The insole is pretty basic with minimal features and cushioning. My only complaint about this shoe is the heel and it prevented me from giving the shoe a perfect rating. I wish it stopped at personal preference, but when I finished some runs with a raw heel with blood, I felt let down. It’s not just about the slow decline of the stability shoe category. The industry trend and the consumer expectation(s) on how a shoe should look and feel like have also evolved.

MR”: The first two letters identify the gender and the sport activity. “M” is for MEN, “W” for WOMEN. “R” is for Running. “WW” will be Women’s Walking, “MX” will be Men’s Cross-Training and so on. The Brooks Asteria is another mild-support racer with a higher offset of 8 mm. On this Brooks racer, the medial post is two-sided; it wraps around the heel instead of being just on the inside. At the same time, this is nothing like the adidas adios or Reebok Floatride Run Fast, so rein your expectations. Besides, if you have run in the 1500 before, then the V6 is more of the same. No surprises here.

It’s a modestly priced shoe that gains traction in popularity every year, but is still a sleeper hit. Mostly this is due to the fact that there isn’t a big demand for a racing flat that also gives support. The last two digits of the number used to indicate the level of cushioning: a “60” being a stability shoe while a “80” a neutral shoe. This is the actual list: These shoes have not been “hot” for me though I am a heavy sweater. The internal structure has no rough edges that cause any rubs or hotspots. So when the first generation of the New Balance 1500 hit the shelves, it entered a niche that was occupied by only a few. The Saucony Fastwitch was one, and the Asics DS Trainer was another.The outsole lugs have a flatter profile and are spread over a larger surface area. This helps spread the wear and tear more evenly to slow the outsole wear. The biggest change on the 1500’s bottom is the medial post redesign. If the earlier versions were barely noticeable, the V6’s medial post does a straight-up disappearing act.

The outer midsole has a raised sidewall like the 890 for support. Everyone’s doing the ‘Guiderail’ thing, so might as well do it on the 1500.

Note: The 1500V6 NYC edition has a loop going over the tongue flap. The standard 1500 does not get this treatment. From the outside, it’s virtually unrecognizable from the past versions. At its core, you get the same speed-friendly ride experience and a non-intrusive medial post. THE NEW BALANCE 1500V6 vs. V5 Even with the sweeping updates, the 6 mm drop midsole has a ride that you’ve come to expect from this series. The firm Revlite foam has a consistent underfoot feel that helps when you’re running faster than 7 min/mile or 5 min/km. One doesn’t have to expend energy trying to work through the softness – for the 1500 has very little of it. I have landed only a handful of shoes that have treated me as well as these. This is the second pair of this series after retiring the previous version. These are my go-to shoes for the half-marathon without question. These numbers were not exactly customer friendly – but I have to admit that once you know the logic, it actually makes a lot of sense. Running Shoes Buying Guides