New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 GTX
Well, well, well, this is a nice surprise. I didn’t think much about trying the 8th (and newest) makeup of the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro Gore-Tex since I recently tried on the v7 model and the similar mid Hierro. But I was wrong.
I admit that the Hierro v8 wasn’t high on my watch list due to the lack of colorways. While the non-waterproof version has a few colors to pick from, the Gore-Tex model has one color – black. Technically, black with phantom and magnet, the colorway isn’t bad, just very subdued. Beside the monochromaticism of the v8, the shoe is totally different compared to the v7 and mid. Well, maybe not totally different, but there are significant changes to its design.
The overall aesthetic reminds me of the current NB lineup of the 1080 and More. Chunkier midsole with a more curvy and organic inspired upper. It’s actually a nice shoe and does embody the trail runner aspect of this model.
Where do I begin? Let’s start at the bottom – the outsole. It’s still Vibram produced, but the compound is a lot tackier than the v7 with lots of audible squeaks as each step peels off the ground. And the traction pattern doesn’t feature the chevron-y shapes but rather little islands of grip.
The upper of the Hierro v8 looks much more perforated than the v7 with pinholes covering a good portion of the toebox and tongue and even the inner lining. To me, all the holes would made the Hierro 8 less water proof but the shoe weighs more at 340 g versus 328 g so maybe there’s additional unseen layers for that waterproofness.
This is an odd one but the shoelaces of the black 8 feel nice – waxy smooth but supple. The v7 laces have contrasty colors for style but feel more abrassive. Does it matter? Probably not.
The fit is still tight in the toebox, I think due to the rigid Toe Protect overlay. I might have to go wide if I go with these. The arch seems more supportive on the 8 since the midsole appears to extend higher than the 7. I can see my arch falling in the 7 but not so much with the 8. This is usually a good sign for me.
Unfortunately the Gore-Tex model is not yet on sale unlike the regular Hierro 8. Maybe soon, the $169.99 price tag will see some relief. Even with all its pros, this shoe still costs $110 more than the clearance v7. But so far, the New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 Gore-Tex is my favorite waterproof hiking shoe (keep in mind that I won’t really bet testing the waterproofness of the shoes since most of them would be returns… though waterproof shoes that are not would be grounds for a return…).
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- Gore-Tex and Vibram labels
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- Plain tongue tag
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- GORE-TEX
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- Redone outsole
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- Outsole of Hierro v7 (top) and v8 (bottom)
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- Less of a weird outsole tag
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- Hierro v7 and v8
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- Toe Protect on both
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- Buttery laces
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- Not as elegant laces but still good
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- Revel in the magnificent outdoors
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- Perforations in the liner too
Here’s a little bonus comparison to the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14. To me, the Hierro v8 and 1080v14 share similar design elements. The overall appearance of both are on the beefier side with the thick padding of the Fresh Foam X. This has no bearing on the performance of either shoe, just more of an observation.
