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New Balance Lerato Running Shoes - AW21

£47.495£94.99Clearance
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It is absolutely runnable and a great choice for easier no agenda runs. I was surprised how effective the material combination of FuelCell as in New Balance’s latest highest performance shoes and a carbon plate was here for different more easy going purposes. The Lerato delivers a mellow, soft, pleasant ride with some fun energy (plate and foam rebound) one tthat is nearly bottomless in cushion but also never bottoms out or feels ponderous and hard to move at moderate paces, and especially so given the weight of the shoe at 11.78 oz / 338g in a US9

The premature wear of collar fabrics seen by several of us was a note of caution (I had slight wear where the ridged tongue rubs lining of top eyelet) when we first posted the review several months ago but New Balance listened and immediately went to work on a fix for production and sent us 2 pairs to retest. The fix appears successful! The midsole is designed with New Balances’ unique FuelCell foam which we are familiar with from New Balance FuelCell TC. Insanely comfortable and soft foam which makes your runs very comfortable and reduces the strain on your legs. Others have referred to its weight and yes it is heavier at 11.78 oz / 334g (US9) than most of my trainers but not out of the realm of heavy duty premium trainers such as the Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit or the same weight Saucony Xodus 10. At it considerable lighter than the adidas Ultraboost 21. I just gotta say that this is just a very, very impressive running shoe which I can easily characterize as one of the most luxurious carbon plate running shoes. It suits all kinds of runners. The eliter runner as well as the exercise runner.Sam: Concur with Renee here. More cushion, more comforting the Lerato, much more versatile the 880v11 for daily run training. The Lerato is comfortable, has a soft, responsive midsole with a carbon plate AND good outsole coverage.. Renee: The Lerato is a luxurious and overall comfortable shoe. As a running shoe, it’s just too heavy for my long, easy runs (despite the carbon plate and great midsole). I probably weighed 110-115 lbs while testing the shoes and I’m not that strong of a runner, which does affect my dislike of the weight. I can see the Lerato being a great easy/long run shoe for bigger and stronger runners. For me, I’ll choose it on days when my legs are tired and I just want a few miles in comfort at an even speed. Nils: There are some shoes that just fit. And the New Balance Lerato is one of them. The well (but not overly) padded upper and luxury all around it holds my feet and especially the heels safely in place. Ivan: Both are top tier “hybrid” shoes and great for both running and everyday wear. The Lerato feels much heavier, but also more bouncy and cushioned. The Ultraboost has a more efficient and snappy ride with it’s torsion system.

A running shoe that fits well will be comfortable and snug without being too tight. Ideally, there should be about ½ to a full thumb width of space from the front of the shoe to your big toe, offering enough space to wiggle your toes freely without feeling too restricted or too loose. The right running shoe should feel like a natural extension of your body. How do you best wash running shoes?I’m not that happy with the outsole pattern. Dry or wet roads haven’t been a problem as long as they are clean. But I experienced some traction issues on dirt covered sidewalks as well as on forest roads. The upper is designed in light mesh providing great ventilation for your feet, so they can stay dry and comfortable throughout your workout. In addition the area around the heel is produced in hard TPU to keep your heel in place and ensure a stable gait. Midsole Jeff: The Lerato is unique, in that it toes the line between bouncy and springy very well. To some, those words mean the same thing, but I like to think of bouncy as a function of vertical movement and springy as a function of forward movement. Perhaps its a result of a relatively flat plate paired to a bouncy midsole material. Either way, the result is a fun shoe to run in that doesn’t have a clearly defined purpose. It isn’t a race shoe, but it feels like too much of something to be your go-to daily trainer. Heavy at 11.78 oz /334g men’s US9, 9.98 oz /283 g women’s US8 Sam/Jacob/Derek/Ivan/Nils/Jeff/Sally/Adam I.e. Lerato is engineered with an insanely soft midsole with an incredibly efficient carbon plate - which probably sounds quite crazy for many runners. But it is exactly here that the stiff and stable heel cap provides a counterpoint making the shoe suitable for all runners.

However I also have to mention the weight as a limiting factor for the Lerato. I wouldn’t take them for anything longer than a mid distance run as well as nothing faster than general aerobic efforts. And the shoe is actually asking for exactly this more moderate use, because it’s plate loads up the most while heel striking. It’s comfy all around but still not too plush for my liking. There are others on the market that overdo it sometimes with the padding (looking at you, Saucony) but not so the Lerato. I am going to use it myself for my long runs regardless if I am cruising or will do pacy stretches during the workout. As it is quite a heavy shoe, it won´t work as a shoe for intervals or racing for me but instead it will certainly be my preferred shoe for long runs thanks to its ultimate comfort, responsiveness and stability.

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I think the plastic frame around the heel is a little much for me, but I completely agree with Nils, and could see runners that want more stability and structure not complaining a bit about it. Nils: As said by the others there is outsole rubber to last for ages. The rubber however is soft which led to some minor wear signs on my pair after roughly 80k of running.

Sam: Neither fit in the daily training category for me due to weight with the Triumph at 11.1 oz and thus a bit more than 0.5 oz less than Lerato but up there. In additionI find the Triumph 18 flat riding at mid foot if with a lively midsole foam in PWRRUN+. If heading into the heavy premium for multiple uses run and other wise and despite higher cost I lean Lerato, The outsole on here is combination of blown and solid rubber giving it maximum durability and traction. Note, this does increase the weight a bit and we did experiences some degradation on the outsole sooner than we would have expected. Literally had rubber pieces separating after less than 50 miles. Nils: I jump on Renee’s comment about the height of the shoe entrance (tongue, heel collar and heel counter). I experienced the exact same and additionally I had some weird pressure points around my ankle caused by the tongue. I think it was actually too wide for my feet. The pain disappeared after 2-3 runs but needs to be mentioned nonetheless. Other than that I can’t say any bad about the upper of the Lerato. The soft and dense tongue does a good job adding to the plush feel and easy lace-up without being bulky and in the way. It is a fun, pleasant, easy-riding shoe. Bottomless cushion and an ultra-smooth ride make it a relaxing cruise-along shoe. The geometry and well-directed energy return are leg saving and lead to effortless long runs.

While the OG 990's triple-figure price tag indicated how New Balance wanted to market serious tech to serious runners looking to invest in a better shoe, the cost also cemented the shoe as a status symbol. Not everyone was interested in reducing their mile time, and—like a designer luxury piece—the 990's monetary inaccessibility would make it even more desirable. Being casually spotted on the sidewalk with a pair of 990s said something about you: either you were an avid sneakerhead willing to invest in your shoes or your finances were on the up. “ On top of the FuelCell-foam you will find the carbon plate which clearly provided me with enormous propulsion on my runs. The full-length and curvy carbon plate forces your motion on to the forefoot to provide a very speedy take-off. Ivan: The TC is lighter and feels even more cushioned. It’s without doubt more versatile and I use it for all kinds of runs. No matter the pace I prefer for the TC. With that being said, I’m not a big fan of the fit in the TC, which feels somewhat sloppy to me. The Lerato conforms better to my footshape.

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