Customer Reviews New Balance Fresh Foam 840v1

I walk a lot - 2,000 + miles per year. I also wear shoe inserts - I greatly appreciate the big toe box of the 840's but I loathe the extreme arch support -almost as if it is a fulcrum. I would not recommend these shoes to anyone who wears shoe inserts for their arches. These are not a substitute for the original 840's.

I really want to write a review because I feel like these shoes deserve more attention and credit. To begin with, these shoes bear the model number 840 (takedown model of 940), which New Balance traditionally categorizes as a medium cushion high stability shoe for people with severe overpronation. However, the category for New Balance Fresh Foam 840 v1 really changed upon its design’s departure from the ABZORB midsole and introduction of the Fresh Foam X midsole. This significant shift of the shoe’s category is what I believe to be the source of this shoes’ negative reviews. Upon first impression, these shoes appear identical to the New Balance Fresh Foam More v3, but with a closer examination, there are distinct differences that set them apart. Fresh Foam More v3 is a max cushion shoe with a stack height of 38mm heel and 34mm toe weighing at 10.80 oz. Fresh Foam 840 v1 is a high cushion shoe with a stack height of 35mm heel and 31mm toe weighing at 9.4 oz. Fresh Foam More v3 has a softer cushion in comparison to the firmer cushion of Fresh Foam 840 v1. Furthermore, Fresh Foam 840 v1 has a streamlined fit with a wide toe box and tighter midfoot for a more secure lockdown. Although New Balance does not categorize Fresh Foam 840 v1 as stability shoe, it is inherently very stable. The firmer but still comfortable foam allows the foot to rest on a solid foundation, the wide flare platform along with lateral and medial sidewalls prevent the foot from rolling inward and outward, and the rocker design smoothly guide and transition the foot forward with each step. All these features come together by offering guidance and promoting stability, and unlike traditional methods of stability, it does not feature a medial post. Engineers and designers of running shoe companies are exploring and experimenting with new ways of making a more comfortable stability shoe. It is worth mentioning the New Balance Vongo v5 is another similar shoe that features all these stability methods but with the addition of a gradient medial post for even more stability. With that said, the New Balance Fresh Foam 840 v1 really belongs to the category of a high cushion mild to moderate stability shoe. I recommend these stable neutral shoes for someone who enjoys high cushions in need of above average stability that do not play well with traditional methods of stability that are often more intrusive and cause discomfort and even pain. These shoes can be great for long distance runs, recovery runs, or just walking long distances. I am a running and health enthusiast, and I initially purchased these shoes for my aging father who has flat feet and experience overpronation. The New Balance Fresh Foam 840 v1 offered my father lots of comfort and support and he really enjoys wearing these shoes. I really hope my review can shed more light on these shoes and help more people in finding the right comfort and support for good health.

These are my very first New Balance sneakers. I was reluctant to purchase them for a while (due to the high price) But I figured why not try them. I've had them now for over 3 months and they still support me very well as a 6'0" man @ 280lbs. I am looking forward to really using them once it warms up a bit more with my new hip replacement.

Terribly built shore, feels like clown shoes

This shoe, in my opinion runs a bit small and, a bit narrow however, once I found the right fit, this shoe is amazing! If your looking for a shoe that lasts a year, while still providing max cushion and support , probably not the shoe for you. But, this shoe is so comfortable right out of the box, its worth having to replace them more often.

Great shoes. Just as comfortable as Hoka’s.

Very pleased with the service, the delivery time and method, the price, and the product.

This may be the most comfy shoe I have owned.

I'm very happy with these shoes, after being skeptical due to owning a pair of Fresh Foam from a few years ago. I usually go with a wide 9 from New Balance, but this shoes in a D 9 is perfect. Wide enough and a comfortable round toe. I had to adjust the lace(ing) some and not use the two upper eyelets and they were comfortable on my first trip into town. For me, the is style is modern and sleek and they go well with my cargo hiking pants and sweatpants.

Perfect size. Nice fit.

Excellent sneakers

I like the shoes so much I ordered another pair. For some reason new balance 2 E is too narrow so I had to get the 4E which fits great.

These shoes fit awesome. the width is to me a true 4E width, the sole absorption is excellent, I enjoy wearing very much! Thank you very much zappos and New Balance.

Great pick!

Very comfortable shoes. Love them!

I loved these shoes, but discovered that I required half size larger than my normal size for New Balance sneakers. These shoes provided ample depth to support my orthotics. That said, I was disappointed that Zappos would not allow me to exchange them for half size larger, I assume because I had used a Zappos coupon for money off. For now, I was able to purchase what I wanted at a local store (Fleet Feet). If and when Zappos provides another coupon to me, I will consider purchasing a 2nd pair. Bottom line -- sneakers are excellent, Zappos was disappointing!

the toe box is super roomy

Orthofeet had a snug heel that irritated my foot which pronates.

These sneakers are great! They are very supportive, and the removable insoles allowed for me to use my custom orthotics. The sole has a lot of bounce, so they feel like you’re walking on a cloud.

Perfect!

I really like the cushiony feel to them with walking; these are the best pair of walking shoes I've every had. . They pick up dirt easily and are very hard to clean however.

The sneakers felt a little small.

These are not worth the price. Just a mediocre shoe. There is too much upward toe curve and not enough flexibility in the sole (a huge problem for 2024 running shoes in general). The outsole needs thicker rubber treads. The soft foam will quickly contact the ground, and cause them to look ratty. I also did not like the asymmetrical tongue. For 2024, your best option might be the Gel Kayano as a less-bad comfy shoe, or something more minimalist like the Propet Tour Knit or Orthofeet.

The shoe was too small.

Not exactly I expected