Hit the Trails in the New Hierro v8
Early spring trail running is a messy experience, but oh so eventful! To tackle the wet and muddy conditions, it is important to be wearing trail runners you can trust. New Balance has just dropped the latest Fresh Foam Hierro v8, a solid contender for handling the rigours of west coast terrain. This model is the center of New Balance’s line of trail runners, so it is important that they get things right.
The Hierro first popped on the scene as a well-cushioned all-terrain vehicle for your feet. More robust than their other trail offerings, this is one of the rare shoes that can seamlessly cross over from technical trails to hard-packed or concrete surfaces.
Often trail shoes will feel clunky, stiff, and hard on pavement, but the light Fresh Foam X midsole and the moderately protruding tread pattern provide the balancing act between types of terrain. For best performance though, the trail is the Hierro’s optimal environment.
Starting from the ground up, the Hierro’s outsole consists of very grippy Vibram rubber. Oval lugs run through the center, with chunkier lugs along the outside border. This is a much different pattern than the previous model and likely to have better purchase on wet, rocky surfaces. The angle of the foot within the shoe (heel-to-toe drop) has lowered from 8 to 6 millimetres, which should create a closer-to-the-ground feeling throughout the gait cycle. The midsole, as mentioned above, provides plush cushioning but still retains the firmness needed to feel stable on uneven ground.
The mesh upper of the Hierro has reinforcements around the toe area, perforations for breathability, and a midfoot locking system with the lace configuration. When tightening the laces, the upper comfortably hugs and supports the arch. Under foot, the arch profile feels slightly higher than the previous model. The toe box is roomy, and as usual, New Balance makes this model in different widths. Women’s sizing ranges from medium (B) to wide (D) and men’s are available from medium (D) to wide (2E). There will be colour options, but the wide widths are not available in all of them.
The trajectory of the original Hierro was to take baby steps towards sustainability, but version 8 has bounded ahead to being New Balance’s most “green” shoe so far. The upper mesh consists of 100% recycled polyester from textile waste, and it is print dyed which uses less water and energy. The midsole foam is 40% bio-content, a huge difference from their usual 3%. What this means is that the foam is reformulated to include plant products- in this case, sugarcane- to reduce reliance on petroleum. The outsole’s Vibram is a trademarked construction of recycled rubber with 90% petrol free ingredients. On the newbalance.ca website, you can find more information on product content and goals for sustainability at the bottom of the home page under “Responsible Leadership.”
Who would benefit from the Hierro v8? Anyone looking for a light, cushioned shoe for either walking or running on diverse terrain. This update feels more responsive than previous versions so if you are looking for steady support on moderate pathways, yet still want to stay nimble on the tricky, technical sections then this just might be the perfect option.