The New Balance Beacon V3 opened my eyes to a new world of running shoes. Going from only using Brooks running shoes to my first ever run in New Balance was a special experience. It allowed me to change my persistence on only running in Brooks. The New Balance Beacon V3 was most definitely not a disappointment. Read my subjective review of the running shoe from New Balance.
Before starting as a Running Expert at RunningXpert.com, I had would only opt for the American brand, Brooks. For this reason, I was both nervous, excited, and optimistic about broadening my world of running shoes – and what a start the New Balance Beacon V3 provides. After only a couple of kilometres on my first run, my instinctive thoughts were: “this is a shoe that makes the run absolutely effortless”. And this thought seems to hold true. I have tested it in different tempos and on various distances and surfaces, and I have really come to like this shoe.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW BALANCE BEACON V3
Brand: New Balance
Shoe type: Neutral, Tempo running shoe / Lightweight everyday trainer
Weight: 212 grams (Women US 9)
Drop: 6mm
Surface: Firm (e.g. asphalted road, road trails, and gravel)
MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE NEW BALANCE BEACON V3
When I first saw the New Balance Beacon V3 in the box, my first impression was that of a regular running shoe. Not too much hocus pocus or anything in particular to highlight. The colours and the general look were beautiful, but it was nothing exceptional, compared to other running shoes on the market. I would, probably, define the design as minimalistic. Neutral but, fortunately, not merely a black/white running shoe.
When I started wearing the shoe, I was surprised by the Beacon V3’s light weight. It is almost weightless, which goes against my first impression of it in the box. The midsole looked very, very soft and a tad heavy. However, with its impressive 212 grams in a women’s size US 9 (40.5), I was quickly reminded that the Beacon V3 belongs in the category of lightweight running shoes. The question, however, was whether it was as soft as it looked.
THE FIT OF THE NEW BALANCE BEACON V3
By now, I have been running approximately 50km in the New Balance Beacon V3, and I have to admit that it delivers an incredible piece of work. Normally, I am quite picky around my choice of running shoes, as I do not want to waste time and energy worrying about my running shoes. There is plenty of work to do in concentrating on the pace, so the running shoe simply needs to perform!
Right from the outset, when you put the shoes on your feet, you will experience the great fit of the shoes. They fit incredibly well on the feet! They are fairly regular in the width of the toe box while it ‘hugs’ around the heel with its slim fit around the hindfoot. As a result, you should have enough room to move your toes without any hindrance whenever you are running. Further, there is enough room to allow any potential swollenness on a hot, sunny run.
To this end, it is also worth mentioning that the shoe is true-to-size. Therefore, you should pick the size you would normally wear in a running shoe
The heel cap is relatively stable, which delivers a good, firm running experience where you do not have the feeling of slipping out of your shoe. The heel cap is a bit taller than I am used to, but this is nothing that affects the freedom of movement. On the contrary, this shoe fits nice and tight, and the small cushion along the edge of the heel cap prevents any gnawing annoyances. The heel cap, however, is quite tall around the inside of the foot, which may result in the edge causing some nuisance if you are running long-distance in ankle-length socks. For this reason, I would recommend running in a pair of regular length running socks on the first couple of runs in order to break in the shoe.
The shoe tongue of the Beacon V3 is fairly reasonable – not too short nor too long. It does not extend too high, which means it will not cause any nuisance in the stance phase, and it is not too short, which means you can still pull on the shoe tongue to ensure the lacing is correctly tightened across it.
A small detail to bear in mind, the shoe tongue does not have a small pocket for the lacing to be put through to keep the shoe tongue in place. I have, however, not had any complications on my tests of the New Balance Beacon V3. It is simply a matter of placing the shoe tongue correctly from the beginning and to properly tighten the shoes.
THE VERSATILE RUNNING SHOE
Once you start hitting the road, you quickly realise how the clean look of the Beacon V3 is capable of delivering an entirely unique running experience. The upper of the forefoot is lightweight and breathable, but the most noteworthy about the Beacon V3 is the combination of comfort and weight. As mentioned, the shoe only weighs 212 grams (in a size US 9), which would make you believe that it is a tough and hard running shoe. However, the sole under the foot manages to meet my first impressions of being very soft and comfortable.
The midsole comprises Fresh Foam X, which is also found in the top model from New Balance, 1080 V10. Fresh Foam X is New Balance’s stab at providing a soft, shock-absorbing, and fast-rolling action of the foot. And this is evidently clear with the Beacon V3 where I feel like running on skies.
In my view, this is very positive, as it makes the shoe incredibly versatile. The padded and springy-feeling underfoot and the surprisingly light weight of the shoe makes it effortless to regulate your tempo and cadence. This makes the Beacon V3 effortless and engaging to run in – no matter the run.
Henceforth, I will be using the Beacon V3 on my long-distance runs with added tempo intervals. And if you are a trained runner, my assessment tells me that the Beacon V3 would be a brilliant choice for your long-distance runs, as you will experience superior light-weight comfort. On the other hand, if you are a beginner or intermediate runner, you would benefit from using the Beacon V3 for your short and high-paced runs.
Besides testing how the shoes perform in various tempos, I have also tested how the Beacon V3 performs in different types of surfaces. It is no surprise here that it performs well on the firm surfaces, like asphalted roads, paths, and gravel. However, you need to be careful when running on grass or a wet surface, as it can get a little bit slippery.
Finally, it is worth commenting on the outsole of the Beacon V3. You will quickly notice the orange rubber parts, which are strategically placed on the outside of the heel and the inside of the forefoot. These are the areas that the shoe will experience the most wear, as you will, typically, land on the outside of your heel and roll inwards to the inside of your forefoot where you will make the toe-off. Therefore, the orange rubber parts will help to increase the durability of the Beacon V3.
CONCLUSION
After many, various runs in the New Balance Beacon V3, I must stand corrected by my first impressions of the shoe’s simple design. There is more to the Beacon V3 than meets the eye, in a positive way. It is a fantastic running shoe where you cannot base your purchase solely on the design. It has to be tried on, and then the simple design of the Beacon V3’s will be compensated by the superior performance.
In my view, the Beacon V3 is a shoe for the runners who do not want to compromise the running experience – regardless of the tempo or distance. It is soft in the landing, but it is also responding quickly in the toe-off – lightweight but also durable. It will make your feet happy for every stride you take on your run.
There is no doubt in my mind, the Beacon V3 will be at the top of my running shoe rack when I am going for my half-marathon or marathon training sessions. Because I will stand by the opinion that the Beacon V3 is a super versatile running shoe that will make running effortless – whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or trained runner.
I can strongly recommend the New Balance Beacon V3.
Enjoy!
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