TFS Shoe Review: New Balance MR790 Trail Running Shoes
Posted January 6th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by Paul Petersen
Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews
Product: New Balance MR790
Price: $80.00
Shoe Type: Lightweight Trail / Racing
Fit: Half a size small
Weight: 7.9 oz
Pronation Factor: Neutral
Best for: Lighter runners with access to softer surfaces
Many trails near my home in northern Utah are steep, rocky, and foreboding, requiring heavy tank-like trail running shoes that can withstand the punishment of the terrain — and protect my feet as well. Many of these dedicated trail running shoes weigh up to a pound apiece in order to offer high levels of support and protection.
However, there are times in my trail running when I don’t quite need that level of stability and “armor”, but rather, I want speed and agility. In other words, I want a lightweight trail shoe, the trail equivalent to a road racing flat.
Fortunately, New Balance has come through with this wish, with their MR790 model trail shoe. At a feather-light 7.9 ounces, this trail shoe is lighter than my road-racing flats! But how will they perform on a trail?
I wore the 790s on mixed road-and-trail runs ranging from 6 to 15 miles. On trails, these shoes feel fast! I enjoyed their responsiveness and the feeling of blazing up and down hills. They brought a whole new dimension and feeling to running my old favorite trails. Ascents were particularly enjoyable in the 790s, as the lightness of the shoe definitely paid off on the uphills. The traction provided was more than enough to keep a firm grip on the trail.
The downside to wearing any minimalist shoe is loss of support and protection. The 790 is built very low to the ground, with minimal heel lift. I definitely used my calf muscles more than usual, but I experienced no soreness during subsequent runs. If you are accustomed to wearing very supportive running shoes, the 790s may cause you to work muscles in your feet and calves that you have not used recently while running. You will want to not just break in the shoes, but also break in your legs! However, I was pleased that my Powerstep inserts fit with no problem, and were quite comfortable.
As expected, I felt rocks and other terrain elements much more while wearing the 790s, compared to my more “tank-like” trail shoes. I definitely had to pay more attention while picking my path through rocky areas, since the shoes will not “do the work” for me. However, on sections with very fine gravel, smooth dirt, grass, and even road, the 790s excel.
I really enjoyed the New Balance 790s. They fit like a slipper (although a little small) and helped me find my top speed on both trails and road alike. Due to the rocky terrain that I usually run in, they will not be my “everyday” trail shoe, but the 790s will have a place in my shoe rotation for trail runs dominated by softer surfaces. These shoes would be fantastic for shorter trail races, and potentially cross country races with mixed dirt, grass, and pavement. If you are seeking a lightweight trail trainer or racing flat, give the New Balance 790 a try.
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Tags: 790, hiking shoes, lightweight, minimalist, MR790, new balance, New Balance 790, New Balance MR790, New Balance MR790 trail running shoes, product review, racing flat, running shoe review, shoe review, sneakers, TFS review, tfs show review, trail running, trail running shoe review, trail running shoes, trail running sneakers
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January 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pm[…] New Balance MR790: new lightweight shoes from New Balance made with softer trails in mind. Though they will not provide a great support and protection on rocky terrain, after Paul Petersen´s experience, they seem to excel on smooth dirt, grass or even road. […]
January 10th, 2008 at 2:10 pmUsually have great luck with NB. With my Fred Flintstone feet, I am very aware of toebox size, and this shoe is narrow in the toe! From the ball forward it fits like a normal width shoe, look at the picture and you will notice how it tightens up in the toebox.
April 6th, 2008 at 4:57 am