New Balance 759 Review
It's always a risky business buying running shoes. Will I get blisters? Will my knee pain flare up again? so, with trepidation, I set off to the park with my straight-out-of-the-box New Balance 759 running shoes strapped on. Two minutes into the run I stumble badly and twist my left ankle. The expletives flow freely cursing my shoes and I sit down to survey the damage.
The 759 is a cushioned shoe for runners with a neutral gait. It is lighter than the top of the range 1226, which boasts the highest level of cushioning and support. The 759 is ideal for runners that have progressed from the beginner stage and have built a degree of foot strength. It is not the right shoe for the overweight beginner with a Body Mass Index of 25+.
New Balance is an American company that has built a factory in Cumbria, so you will see a 'Made in England' tag inside the shoes. That is quite a rarity these days when most trainers are made in China. Runners rank New Balance highly alongside the likes of Brooks, Mizuno and Saucony. They are a particular favorite amongst the wide-footed as they offer shoes in the 2E width as well as the standard D width.
I felt immediately comfortable in the shoes. There is plenty of room in the toe box without any sense of cramping. The lacing feels secure, and there was no heel slippage or rubbing.
The shoe flexes in the right place at the ball of the foot just behind the toe box. The stability web - tech speak for a rigid plastic plate - prevents the shoe from bending in the middle to avoid overstretching of the muscles on the bottom of the foot. There is plenty of cushion at the back of the shoe for heel strikers.
Ventilation is good and the web like material allows heat to escape. In a recent downpour my feet did get quite damp, but at least the sole continued to provide grip. I cannot say much about durability after only a few weeks. In any case I replace my trainers every six months, figuring fixing my knees and ankles would cost far more.
And my twisted ankle? It was quite painful for a few days with localised bruising. However, it wasn't the fault of the shoes. I returned to the exact spot on the path the following day and discovered a hole the size of a pair of cupped hands. Big enough to cause me to stumble, and yet small enough remain unseen while running.
It was a suspiciously perfect hole. Too perfect! I imagine a sneaky local podiatrist with trowel dug it at midnight to drum up business.
