New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Intro

The New Balance Fresh Foam Roav shoe is designed for athletes who are on-the-go. This is the common phrase I came upon when researching this shoe. After testing it out, I came to the same conclusion.

The fresh design of this shoe was a delight. I was able to do a few miles in the morning and keep them on for the rest of my day with no issues. This shoe is just for that, a few miles here or there.

I took them out for various distance runs and felt comfortable with a 5k distance. When I would push past that distance, I would start to notice some minor discomforts.

I used this shoe for other workouts and it performed very well. To me, I would use this shoe for short casual runs with friends and taking my kids to the playground for a playdate. I love the look and comfort this shoe offers.

The New Balance Fresh Foam Roav weighs in at 8.7oz, has an 8mm drop, and will cost you about $80. I think it’s a reasonable price considering the many hats this shoe can wear.

It offers some updated technology that also validates this price point.

The new technology tailored in this shoe is a breathable mesh upper, a Fresh Foam midsole, lace-up closure for a secure fit, NDurance rubber outsole, and the Ultra Heel design.

I will discuss what all of this means throughout the rest of this review.

If I were to compare the New Balance Fresh Foam Roav to another brand, it would have to be Nike Air Zoom Winflo 7.

The Winflo 7 offers the same great cushioning at that bargain price. Each of these shoes is engulfed in a breathable updated mesh upper that allows for your feet to stay comfortable all day.

If New Balance is your brand and you wanted something similar to the New Balance Fresh Foam Roav then I would tell you to take a look at the New Balance Fresh Foam Sport.

When glancing at both pairs you wouldn’t be able to notice a huge difference, but try them on and it’s pretty obvious. The Fresh Foam Roav’s are the pick for you if you plan to do some light running and errands.

The Fresh Foam Sport’s are for everyday errands and they make the perfect travel shoe.

New Balance Fresh Foam Roav First Impressions

The only New Balance shoes I have ever worn have strictly been for fashion. The New Balance Classics 574’s were my go-to shoes for dress-down days in college.

That retro style was my jam. This pair was my first pair of running shoes from New Balance.

So, I get the box. I open it up. My initial thought was these look pretty sweet but they don’t look like my other typical running shoes.

They look like casual sneakers. I would again, wear on dress-down days or trips to the playground with my kiddos. I received the turquoise color.

The color was a little bold for me at first, but I warmed up to them fairly quickly. New Balance offers the shoe in many other colors.

I love the look that this shoe gives to complete my outfit. I have even thought about buying it in a different color.

The thing that stood out to me at first was the Ultra Heel design. It instantly reminded me of an accordion. The new design of this shoe is very modern. Seeing this shoe in person for the first time was impressive.

However, when I tried them on I immediately noted the unique heel cup. I took a few steps in them and right away my heel would slip slightly. That is one of the first things I feel for when trying out new running shoes.

I knew right away that this shoe wasn’t going to be my friend for the long run I had planned in a few days. I did like the feeling that the mesh upper gave my foot from the first moment of putting them on.

It felt like it was giving my feet a nice tight hug. The extra cushy midsole was noticed as soon as I put them on as well.

New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Sole Unit

The midsole unit of the Fresh Foam Roav uses New Balance’s signature Fresh Foam. The innovative midsole is created from a single piece of foam that provides a plush ride for the short runs or errands around town.

I enjoyed this fresh foam for shorter runs and cross-training workouts. When I took them for a longer run I would not notice the cushy midsole anymore.

I tend to strike the ground midfoot. With the further distances, the Fresh Foam midsole would become not as responsive. There didn’t seem to be a lot of structure to the shoe either.

The Fresh Foam did offer some comfort but did not guide my foot in the way I would expect in a running shoe. When it comes to arch support, it’s almost non-existence in this shoe.

I would suggest this shoe to an individual whose heels strike first. The extra cushioning in the heel was greatly appreciated when I had to be on my feet all day.

This one-piece midsole does allow for an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride.

On the outsole, they used rubber and NDurance with a flex groove pattern. This material did alright when it came to traction but after only 70 miles on them, it started to wear down.

I tested them out in various weather conditions and surfaces. In the rain, they tended to lose grip and my feet were soaked within seconds of being out in the rain. I would recommend only using them for the road in optimal conditions.

New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Upper Unit

The upper is made out of breathable mesh material. It is a very lightweight mesh that seems to be very flexible. It is made up of one piece.

One-piece uppers are difficult to make your foot feel secure. They felt great when I initially put them on but taking them out for a few miles I noticed the problems.

When I would try to tighten the laces the material would bunch up near the laces. The bunching caused a little discomfort. I did not like how there were only 4 eyelets for the laces and no extra eyelets.

I tried to do some different lacing techniques but my options were very limited. The laces themselves are round and thick. I had to stop and re-tie a few times.

Around the midfoot is an elastic band that is used to add support. I wear a size 8 but would order a half size bigger next time. The toe box is a bit snug and I could see the outline of toes due to the mesh being so light.

Now, let’s get to the main event. The Ultra Heel! This is where your eyes are drawn as soon as you see this shoe. The Ultra Heel design is said to hug the back of the foot for a supportive, locked-in fit.

When putting the shoe on for the first time it does feel very comfortable. But, as soon as I started to run I had minor slipping that was hard not to notice.

Another major issue I had with this shoe was the high collar. It would rub during runs that caused me some frustration. When wearing them for daily activities I didn’t notice any of these complaints.

New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Conclusion

New Balance is a brand that has been around for over 100 years. They have perfected shoes that offer function and style. The brand makes sure to give you the good looks you want and the performance technology you need.

The New Balance Fresh Foam Roav to me is not a running shoe. Of course, it’s great for a few miles, but as I stated before, it’s a fantastic choice for any runner who is looking for a daily trainer.

It is an athleisure shoe that is made for multipurpose activities.

We purchased a pair of New Balance Fresh Foam Roav from runningwarehouse using our own money. This did not influence the outcome of this review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.