The Basics
- Gender: Women’s | See Men’s
- Type: Road
- Manufacturer: New Balance
- Price: 110.00
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Runner’s World Review
In its first three years, the 890 has proven itself to be a workhorse for neutral runners logging big miles. It's always had slightly softer than average cushioning, but suffered a fairly stiff forefoot. That has been corrected in this overhaul of the lightweight trainer. Featuring a totally new midsole/outsole configuration, the shoe is softer than ever before, while deep grooves and the placement of rubber allows the forefoot to be considerably more pliable. Perhaps the biggest improvement, however, comes from a change in the last, the foot-shaped mold the shoe is constructed around. The new last gives the shoe a little more toe spring (it curves upward a bit more at the front of the shoe) and fixed the fit, especially in the toebox. Previously, the shoe had a slanting, cone shape; its new sloping silhouette brings the mesh closer to the foot. Lighter, stitch-free materials used to construct the upper also helped New Balance shave nearly an ounce of weight from the shoe.
Bottom Line: Lightweight, daily trainer that'll stand up to a lot of miles.
Runner’s World Wear Testers Say
"The New Balance 890 seemingly gripped the road, trail, track, or grass surfaces underfoot like my life depended on it. I felt these adapted to different surfaces better than a lot of other shoes like it."—Brian Dalek, Emmaus, Pa.
"I like this version much better than the last 890. It seems lighter and less bulky."—Kim Aeschliman, East Lansing, Mich.
"I am seriously considering running my next marathon in these shoes. I have so much confidence in them and they are so comfortable and light that hopefully the miles will fly by."—Louise Holman, East Lansing, Mich.
All the Stats You Need!
- Weight: Demo Run: On Cloudmonster Hyper
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Health - Injuries
- Heel Height: The 8 Best Treadmills for Runners
- Heel Cushioning: Very Soft
- Forefoot Height: Best Running Shoes 2025
- Forefoot Cushioning: Soft
- Flexibility: Very Flexible
- Stability Features: Some
- Energy Return: More
We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective — and exclusive — data. In addition to a shoe's weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.
