Today we review the New Balance FuelCore 5000.
With the shoes on, that's how I like to write the reviews of the models I test. It seems to me that it is the best way to remember what you have felt when you have run with them. Because yes, this shoe thing works a lot by sensations.
What for me may be a light Running shoes but with good cushioning, flexible, reactive and with a nice design for someone else may be something completely different.
That is why it is so important that before buying a shoe we put our foot in it and perceive what it transmits to us.
If you are buying a model for the first time, the best thing to do is to let yourself be advised by the person who attends you, and if you already have experience, you can be sure that as soon as you put them on you will know if they are right for you or not.
So, I put on the New Balance Fuel Core 5000 to recall feelings, sensations, training and races with them and tell you what they have transmitted to me.
I admit that the brand has won me over in advance because I have run two of my best marathons with them, both in Valencia, but each shoe is different and has different features.
Let's go by parts.
For whom?
The New Balance Fuel Core 5000 is ideal for runners up to 65 and 70 kilos who are looking to run at 4.30 per kilometer but who will be able to use them without problems in faster paces.
The middle distance is ideal for these shoes although if you get the hang of them and warm up you can use them for longer distances. The feeling of being able to run fast while wearing good cushioning is one of the best strengths of this New Balance model.
The design
They say that we only need fifteen seconds to know if we like someone or not. With shoes something similar happens. We don't need to look at them a hundred times to know if they go with our running personality or not. When I opened the box of the Fuel Core 5000 the first thing I said was: How nice! And since the ones I have tried are the ones in pale pink combined with gray, I found them "romantic".
It is true that I thought that if they were not good for my running style and my goals, they would be good to wear them with jeans or a cool skirt because yes, they are very pretty. Now that the vast majority of people use sneakers in our day to day lives, a well designed and stylish model can serve us for much more than just running. But never choose shoes based on their aesthetics. They can be the most beautiful in the world, but if they don't suit your weight, your stride, your challenges and your running technique, it's best to pass them up. There will be others that are prettier and whose colors you like better.
But as what we are talking about here is to give the characteristics of these shoes we will say that this new model of New Balance is, in terms of design, elegant, versatile and functional.
The sole
If there's one thing I look for in a shoe with respect to the outsole, it's that it grips well. Having the feeling that I'm going to slip at any moment takes away my ability to concentrate on the kilometers I'm running so that I can focus my attention on being careful not to fall. Even more so when you are preparing for an important goal. One silly slip can wipe out months of training. So grip is one of the fundamental aspects when deciding which shoe to choose.
It is striking that the sole is almost an extension of the midsole and is made of the same material. In the toe and heel there is part of the sole as such, something that helps to better withstand the wear that the shoe suffers in that area but the rest could be called "no sole". In the forefoot area there are seven diamonds in two rows, four and three, covering the entire width of the tread.
It is a very light sole made with minimal materials. If this favors the shoe in any way, it is in its lighter weight and greater lightness. Keep in mind that we are talking about a shoe that, in the model I have tested (woman 85) reaches a weight of 170 grams. To fly!
The midsole
We have already said that the outsole and midsole of the Fuel Core 5000 get confused; rather one is an extension of the other. The protagonist is once again the REVLITE, a derivative of EVA, foam injected into the midsole, which favors firmness but does not detract one iota of flexibility to this shoe so attractive to popular runners. Whether you're racing or doing speed workouts, this NB model will get you to the finish line in record time.
With a 6-millimeter drop, these shoes allow us to train fast and feel like we're wearing the right cushioning.
The upper
If you like the feeling of having your foot in a sock, you have to try these shoes. That's precisely what it feels like when you try them on, they fit your foot like a glove on one hand.
The mesh, double, looks clean, fresh and breathable, something that becomes a reality when you use them on asphalt. In addition, the total absence of seams enhances the image of a flexible and lightweight shoe that any runner likes to feel comfortable.
To highlight the inner toe reinforcement. I am especially grateful for this reinforcement because I have already mentioned on other occasions that I tend to puncture the upper of the shoes in the big toe area. The heel area is also reinforced with the intention of minimizing the damage caused by rubbing and continued use.
Since we mention the heel area, it is worth mentioning the lightness of the upper collar that wraps around our heel. There are other shoes that stand out for placing almost a cushion at the heel.
If you come from a cushioned shoe you will notice a lot of difference but it is easy and quick to get used to the thinness of the Fuel Core 5000. Also, the current trend is for the collar to be as thin as possible.
The tongue is attached to the sidewalls and links to the back of the shoe. This gives us a bootie-like feel which, together with the sock-like feel we mentioned earlier, makes it an extremely comfortable and adjustable shoe.
The laces are flat, which do not come loose easily, which increases the feeling of security and that a poorly tied lace will not ruin a workout or a race.
THE NOTES
- Flexibility 9
- Lightweight 9
- Cushioning 8
- Responsiveness 8
- Stability 8
- Grip 8
Read more news about: Running News
