The folks at New Balance were kind enough to send over a pair of the New Balance 880v6for me to test out.  I was able to put some decent miles on them over the past six weeks, and here are my thoughts:

Out of the box:  The aesthetics of the shoes were impressive.  Nothing flashy, just well designed shoes.  

Initial feel:  The shoes felt a little tight initially.  They “hugged” my feet more than I prefer.  The gortex added to the tightness.  I’m not going to lie, I was worried.

The Run:  I like my shoes to fade into the background during runs. That’s exactly what these shoes did.  My concerns quickly disappeared and the shoes quickly became my go-to pair of shoes. 

Durability:  I had the shoes for six weeks, during which time I was able to put around 150 miles on them.  These shoes held up well and I was impressed with the durability.  

These were really good shoes.  Their versatility left me impressed.  The gortex liner was great for cold, windy runs, but breathable enough to be comfortable for long, boring treadmill runs.  I would have been comfortable wearing these shoes on non-technical trails, as well.  I would pass, however, on more technical trails.  

Keep an eye out for these!  If you’re looking for a versatile, neutral trainer, give these a try.

Cheers