New Balance Lerato Running Shoes - AW21

Product Information

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. 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. I never ran a 990 but an older good friend, a very accomplished entrepreneur, swore by them in the 1990’s and it was all he ran road or trail. For example the “decorative” cord reinforcements around the lace up area are for visual appeal but also are functional as while the laces run through holes for the first 3 eyelets they run through cord loops for the front two. I assume to provide a bit more give where the foot flexes towards the toe off. 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.

Despite the hefty weight it provides a pleasant ride due to a bouncy FuelCell midsole controlled/stabilized by the carbon plate. It has actually handled shorter tempo sections quite well, but this is by no means a speedy long run shoe. All in all, it has been a nice all-round shoe for me and I’m happy to have it in my collection. New Balance men’s running shoes are renowned for their sleek designs, lightweight materials and supreme cushioning. For something better suited to long-distance running, opt for the 880, which features a breathable mesh FantomFit upper with a no-sew overlay engineered for ultra-light support. If it wasn’t clear, we weren’t super happy with the performance of the New Balance Lerato. It is a first of its kind from New Balance so we definitely give them some leeway. The shoe has a lot of cool things going for it, but in the end, it’s hampered by being too heavy and almost over-engineered. We would love to see a more consumer-friendly heavily cushioned carbon plated shoe that everyone can use, but this is just too bulky and makes for a better walker than a runner. Adam: The Lerato is a carbon plated shoe featuring New Balance’s highest end Fuel Cell foam (which I found wonderfully bouncy in the Rebel v2 and RC Elite 2), fully intended for training. It looks like a modern incarnation of the 990 “Dad Shoe”, with the finest materials and top quality construction. This is very much a modern reimagination of a classic running shoe with the intention of using cutting edge foams and plates to make running more comfortable rather than just faster. 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.

Luxurious upper with a superb fit 

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. Sam: New Balance accomplished exactly what it set out to do with the Lerato, deliver a 21st century and then some, successor to the 990: a super premium very comfortable run shoe built with the very latest state of the art materials and with a richly detailed deep in textures, appealing and conservative look that can fit in “anywhere”.

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? Renee: I found the upper overall comfortable. The toebox is amble for me (and I like a wide forefoot/toebox) and the heel hold is solid. However, the height of the tongue, heel collar, and heel counter were a bit too high on my foot for my preference in a running shoe. For a walking shoe, this was fine, but the height did deter me from having a light, nimble foot landing. The upper looks to have some water resistance, but it does not. I ran several times through the snow and had plenty of moisture entering. The upper looks warm, but it has breathability. Like the entire shoe, the upper looks and feels like luxury. That said, like Jacob, I have wear on the tongue and heel collar, which happened well before 50 miles. While I did not get a second revised collars pair to test I am happy to hear the changes in material seemed to have resolved the issue. Renee: The details of midsole are well described by the others. The midsole is luxurious: soft, comforting, with the carbon plate in the mix to propel and save energy. The midsole is a great balance of comfort and responsiveness. I agree that the midsole creates a soft ride but not a mushy or unstable one. Ivan: As my fellow reviewers all have pointed out, there is no doubt that this is the New Balance version of a premium trainer. Quality all the way around and a modern take on a classic look, which I really like in this case. There seems to be a trend of heavier trainers/sneakers going on, but this is the first time I’ve tried one with an incorporated carbon plate. I can’t wait to give it a go. Derek: There is a lot of grey in this shoe. A lot. So don’t expect it to be very eye-catching on the run. It is one of the most nondescript shoes I’ve tested of late, and I started testing his shoe at roughly the same time I was testing the ASICS Noosa Tri 13, so the contrast was just amplified.

Fit is true to size athough not a particularly flexible fit due to the bulk of the upper. Step in feel is a perfect balance between cushion and stability. I never felt like I was going to roll my ankle or pitch over, yet it does an excellent job isolating you from the ground. Walking around and standing in the shoe felt amazingly comfortable, as it’s the perfect mix of support and cushion. I found myself wearing it less for my long or fast runs and more casually. It’s understated, immensely comfortable, and easy on your feet. As a bonus, there are a bunch of reflectors on the Lerato which is always a good idea for nighttime visibility. 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 Adam: Jacob described the materials very well, and I agree with Ivan on the plushness. Personally I’m a fan of extremely minimal and lightweight uppers (Matryx on the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar is my current favorite), but the Lerato’s upper fits the character of the shoe. Jacob: The Lerato upper uses a blend of several materials for support and style. The primary mesh (the light gray) is a dense but thin plastic-like material that holds its shape well.

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. “ Jeff: I’d like more shoes to use this rubber formula. It hits in the right spot of soft/durable, which sounds like a half-hearted compliment, but it’s a little detail that makes a big difference. As a midfoot striking supinator who puts a lot of wear on the mid side of a shoe, I appreciate a very robust patch of rubber right where I touch down. Many of the same totally state of the art materials as in their RC Elite 2 racer and Rebel v2 are here: and most particularly a very light, bouncy high energy return FuelCell foam and a carbon plate. The resulting feel is one of bottomless soft bouncy cushion that is never mushy or sloppy in feel thanks to the combination of the carbon plate, rear clips, and outsole.The cushion feel is soft but never bottoms out.The shoe comes in 2 colors for men and women and it definitely evokes some varying levels of response. Some folks thought it felt very old and overdone, while others saw it as more upscale, but not many felt it was sporty. More like something to wear with jeans than something to run in. Jeff: While the TC has some issues (mostly upper related - kind of sloppy fit, tongue likes to move, etc) it bring much more to the table than the Lerato. Lighter, faster, more fun to run, the TC also has a more accommodating toebox. Extreme heel strikers could have stability issues in the TC, but otherwise the TC runs the table. The midsole is a two-layer design with a carbon plated in between two slabs of foam. The plate is visible from the exterior of the shoe in the heel as it forms a cup under the heel. The plate’s position throughout the length of the shoe is apparent from the division between the two (white and gray) midsole colors. The plate is positioned closer to the foot in the heel and closer to the ground in the forefoot—a typically propulsive configuration. The plate is not overly stiff and the Lerato flexes smoothly and consistently. On foot the cushion is bottomless and bouncy. It feels really fun and pleasant to have on foot. 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. Jeff: These two feel and kind of look like they are cut from the same cloth (my Triumph 18 are the gray with gray colorway), but there’s no doubt that the Lerato is the bigger/softer model. The Triumph isn’t what anyone would think of as a “firm” shoe, but in a left/right comparison with the Lerato, the Triumph feels scaled down and dull. I much prefer the upper construction and fit of the Triumph, though from a comfort perspective the T18 just dropped a number of rungs by sheer comparison. Out on the road it’s a different story, with the Triumph slotting in very cleanly anywhere from a regular daily trainer to your long slow day/recovery run big protection shoe. The Lerato is an incredible answer to the question nobody is asking.

Time has moved on and with the evolution of materials it was time to “update” the concept of the ultimate deluxe gray trainer. 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.Sam: I concur with Derek’s take for easy runs, Lerato. After all that is the focus of its design. As a more general daily trainer the Invincible is a blast of bouncy fun. The New Balance Lerato came in a bit under the covers for most of us. It was treated very cautiously because it was definitely a behind-the-scenes-style project where New Balance wanted to really launch something new. And once we receive the shoe there is no question that this is clearly hitting a new area that a number of brands will be trying to touch on. Who will be the first to make a carbon plated, high cushioned, stable road shoe, that normal people can use instead of elite athletes or performance enthusiasts. Derek: The Lerato is the one shoe I don't see any rumblings on the net about. That’s quite hard to do these days. It is what I consider New Balance’s attempt at a sort of premium trainer with an incorporated carbon plate. 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 If you are an experienced runner and/or elite runner, you should/can use the shoe for the same purpose as me. And if you then need a similar experience in a lighter racer-version, you should consider FuelCell TC or the ultimate racer FuelCell RC.