New Balance Leadville MT1210 Runners version 2 Spotlight Review

[Stephanie Jordan]

Companion forum thread to:

New Balance Leadville MT1210 Runners version 2 Spotlight Review

[Jeff McWilliams]

I have I think a v1.0 pair. I wore them when attempting to do the Adirondacks Great Range Travese in 24 hours last October.

Due to some unexpected ice on the higher peaks, plus a fatigued team member, we bailed at about the halfway point or so (Between Gothics and Saddleback). Toward the end of our hike, I noticed that the bottoms of my feet were VERY sore.

I'm not sure if this was attributed to a lack of training on my part, or a lack of a decent rock plate in the Leadville 1210's.

What are your thoughts?

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Jeff

I run over some rough ground every morning, and the soles seem stiff enough to me. I do not want super stiff rock plates as they kill proprioception, which can lead to ankle injuries. Ditto for my wife.

I hate to say it, but I suspect that a bit more training might be the answer. Maybe make sure your training includes running over very rough ground too – not just on smooth trails (or pavement).

Cheers

[Mitchell Ebbott]

Not the best model name for a lightweight trail runner. The first thing that came to mind when I read it was "lead foot."

[Jeff McWilliams]

Thanks for the thoughts Roger.

Here in southeast Michigan, it's hard to find rough, rocky trail to toughen up the feet on, but I'll do my best for my next major adventure.

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Mitchell

> Not the best model name for a lightweight trail runner.
Ah – obviously you have not heard of the Leadville Race. Google it, and you will understand.

Cheers

[Monty Montana]

I have the first iteration of the Pbville, thanks to your previous review, and indeed, they are a fine shoe to hike in. However, my mediums seem to be a bit pointy in the toe area compared to the picture of you sitting in the forest detritus wearing the v2, which definitely look like they have a boxy and more rounded toe area. Do you think that is a function of yours being an E width, or is that a design change?

By the way, what is all that detritus? It looks like maybe someone was debarking some logs to build a new bridge, or maybe jack up the fire hazard. Just curious.

[Ken Thompson]

"By the way, what is all that detritus? It looks like maybe someone was debarking some logs to build a new bridge, or maybe jack up the fire hazard. Just curious."

Looks like eucalyptus leaves and bark strips.

[Roger Caffin]

> my mediums seem to be a bit pointy in the toe area compared to the picture of you
> sitting in the forest detritus wearing the v2

Well, what width shoe did you buy? If it was a D width, then yes, that's a lot more pointy than my 4E width shoes! WE (both of us) have wide feet. No design change.

Detritus? That's just ordinary eucalyptus leaf litter – our equivalent of your pine duff. Except … ours burns a whole lot better/faster/hotter/wilder if someone spills an alky stove on it. What you can see is a pretty light layer though.

Cheers

[Roger Caffin]

In the review I wrote: 'the collapsed bridge shown in the original review is still collapsed.'

Ah, but we have a State election coming up next week. The local Member of Parliament (MP) recently managed to find some $$ to rebuild the bridge. Of, course, since it's a political thing rather than a common-sense walker thing, they are budgeting $250,000 for the replacement. I assume it will have gold-plated photos of the MP all over it.

Cheers

(Don't complain Roger: just make sure they build the darn thing.)

[rogerio brito]

The wife and I both hike with the V 1's. They are great, I only use mine to hike in, while the wife uses them all the time for everything from gym time, day hikes or just running to the Grocery store. Should have got her a second pair. I might just buy another pair just incase they decide to change something and it doesn't work out. another best part is that the male versions are made in America, just something that I like to see. Thanks for the review.

Roger

[Eugene Smith]

Great shoe, love the hell out of it.

Ran a 100k back mid February in the Altra Lone Peak 2.0, but my calves really paid for it days later during recovery. Love that shoe for mixing into my training quiver, but it's not the shoe for me for that distance. In my search for a shoe with similar protection, I came across the NB 1210v2 "Leadville" through a friend who is a wear tester for Trailrunner Magazine, and he had nothing but good things to say of this for a comfortable trainer/ultra distance running shoe.

I have about 150 miles on my first pair and have cycled in a second pair that I'll be wearing for the Zion 100 miler next week and I'm flipping ecstatic about finding a shoe that is really really comfortable on just about any terrain I've been able to throw at it so far. These shoes feel just fine on my feet running long miles on pancake flat dirt roads, with sufficient turnover and not too much aggressive outsole lugging as to be overkill. What I really like is that I can transition running flat jeep roads and turn off onto a technical singletrack section and climb without missing a beat. I like a shoe that can move from road, to gravel, to singletrack, to off trail travel, and do it all relatively well. The 8mm heel to toe offset is on the upper end of what I prefer, but it's not detracting or altering of form in any way for me.

The weight? Eh, honestly, I have no issue doing tempo runs in these out on the trail and haven't once thought, "God, these are portly!". The weight naysayers are just fussing over specs on paper, but on the trail its a non issue. They're light enough for whatever. You will always compromise somewhere when it comes to weight/durability in a trail shoe built for long distances. I've run in 7-9oz. trail shoes and outsole/midsole lifespan and upper durability is always the first to go, usually prematurely.

Traction? NB nailed it with the outsole/lug pattern. Lug depth is spot on, IMO, not overly aggressive where running on buffed out trail and jeep road feels laborious, but not too minimal where getting solid purchase on technical footing is compromised. Vibram outsole is very grippy, and handles dry slab exceptionally well, and tackles pebble and pea sized stone typical of desert trails nicely. Unfortunately, it's been seasonally dry here in the Chihuahuan desert, so no wet traction feedback to speak of.

Fit? These provide more volume than any of the Altras do on my feet, especially the Superior. Width is really good in a size D for me, and generous. Upper is a little heavy on the overlays, but breathes well enough for spring desert running so far this season. Heel cup is well thought out and supportive, without being intrusive to the foot moving comfortably. Despite NB labeling this as a "Stability" shoe, it really is just a well cushioned NEUTRAL trail shoe with mild posting which benefits most people doing long distances off road. It is by no means a motion control shoe as most runners would describe a stability shoe.

Flexibility? They took some persuasion getting them to break in, but they have a nice sweet spot. If you're looking for a "natural" shoe that flexes with every feathery undulation of the trail and with your foot, then these probably aren't the shoe for you. If you don't want to think about every damn step over the course of a long endurance event, or thru hike, or whatever, then this could be the shoe for you. Turnover is nice, there's lots of protection due to the rock plate, but you can still feel objects underfoot and get the feedback you need to stay upright and make split second decisions as you move along.

Style? Whatever, they're a tool.

Conclusion.

I'm coming around full circle again in regard to footwear, again. It's nice to run in a supportive, comfortable, and durable trail runner again that has more traditional pedigree to it. New Balance has been making shoes forever, so I like to think they know a thing or two about making a proper trail running shoe. They've thrown a lot of research and development into this shoe and it's paid off, so hopefully they don't throw it all away like they seem to do with all their various MT/V2/V1 blah, blah, blah, blah, and move onto to the next trend in the running market.

[Ken Thompson]

Even though I don't believe the Vibram sole adds anything special to this shoe compared to NB's other soles I am on my third pair and will most likely buy them again. Eugene's post sums them up pretty good. And hey, they come in size 15. The real limiting factor in buying shoes.

[Chris K]

Eugene,

Great mini-review! How do you feel these compare to the PI Trail N2's? Different style of shoe, for sure, but just curious as they are also pretty versatile and comfy. I haven't worn a New Balance shoe in a long time, but I've been living in the Pearls (N1 and N2) since they came out.

[Curtis B.]

Has anyone discovered with what these MT1210v2 shoes are going to be replaced?

I’m on my 2nd pair of the v1 shoes and they’re just about done. I figured the v2 would be on sale for a while, but I’ve been looking all over for them in 102E (in any color other than orange!) and everyone is sold out, even NB.

Is there a design change on its way?

[Roger Caffin]

The NB1210 Leadvilles were so popular that NB took the very rare step of issuing the NB1210 V2s in the following year: same shoe, different colours.

It is my understanding that the V2s are proving every bit as popular as the V1s. So much so that they seem to caused a bit of a rethink inside NB about the current marketing-driven industry practice of creating a big range of completely different models every year. Some leather boot companies keep the same boot model going for decades, very profitably – think Scarpa Trek for instance. In Australia the Dunlop Volleys and Dunlop KT-26s shoes have been going for at least 20 years, and are still icons. Switching to a smaller range of repeating models actually cuts development costs, makes keeping shelf space at the distributors easier, and attracts dedicated repeat customers.

Will there be a NB 1210 V3 next year? Well, I have seen the Press Release for the V3 for 2016, so I guess the answer is good. New colours again. A new icon is forming.

Cheers

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