New Balance 910v1 and 1210 (Leadville)

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/new_balance_mt910gt_joggers_review.html

Cheers

*Caveat: Shoe needs vary too much for me to ever recommend a specific pair for anyone. So, grain of salt, etc.*

I just got a pair of 1210s.

Some background: I have narrow, low-volume feet, so the conventional wisdom I was always given was to look for similarly-shaped shoes. But the best pair of shoes I've ever worn (Montrail Hardrocks pre-2008) fit so well that I usually didn't even lace them, even for off-trail use in Denali when I was a hiking guide, teaching me that shoes with plenty of room in all directions make my feet much happier (something which Roger's been espousing on BPL for a long time). Once the last of my pairs of those fabled beauties finally died, I tried more minimal shoes that still kept a wide fit. That worked pretty well until I moved to the Mid-Atlantic last year and experienced some of the super-rocky trails in this area. Even after "conditioning," my feet were too sore after 20+ mile days. So I've been hunting for shoes with a lots of room and good protection from rocks and general pounding but with a light, breathable construction.

I took the 1210s out of the box, tried them on for a few minutes to check the sizing, called it good, then took them out the next day for 30 miles in 24 hours. Not a single blister, hotspot, or sore/"bruised" area, even with hours of wet feet from water crossings. For me, these shoes provide a great combination of roominess, light weight, rock protection, cushioning, and (relatively) fast drying time. I just wish they weren't so expensive… when they go on sale, I'm going to be buying lots of pairs.

I have the 1210s and I've put around 200 miles on them whiletraining for a thru-hike.

Things I like:
the outsoles – good traction
the midsole – somewhat cushioned but not plush. The heel is firmer than the forefoot. I had some metatarsalgia (sorness at the ball of the foot) before starting to use these shoes, but it has not been a problem with the 1210s.
the lacing system – they use flat laces that are really comfortable against the top of my feet. I'm prone to getting soreness there, but these shoes have worked for me.

Things I don't like:
the inner lining – too thick. I haven't used these shoes on a hot day yet or had to ford streams, but there's a lot of padding on the inside of the shoe, which I think is going to hinder the breathability and make them slow to dry. But it'll have to warm up more, or I'll have to jump into a stream, to find out for sure. On the other hand, I've had fewer blisters with the 1210s than I have with other trail runners I've used recently, so maybe the inner lining is beneficial in some ways.

As for the fit, I find that they run a bit wider than other NB shoes I've owned, but I know that fit is individual.

Bottom line, I'm please enough that I'm going to be starting my thru-hike with the 1210s, but the breathability could be an issue.

I bought a pair of the 1210s and did a 38 mile hike in them last weekend. I found them to be a great pair of shoes. They are light, but have a decent amount of cushioning as well as stability. I also found that as advertised the toe box is a bit roomier than most other models of New Balance shoes that I have tried.

I'm a big guy. 5' 10" and 260 lbs. As I'm sure you can imagine, I'm pretty hard on shoes. The lighter they are, the harder they fall …lol. I bought a pair of the New Balance Leadville about two months ago and have used them exclusively for walking as I get in shape for my hiking :)

I have never had a pair of shoes like these. I average 7-10 miles a day and never a sore spot, hot spot, ache, blister or anything other than smiles. They breath well and are just super comfortable to wear.

A very few people complain about the very top of the tongue not being padded and they say that the knot of the tied laces will sometimes apply pressure there which can be felt. If it bothers you, couple of solutions . . .loosen the shoes or replace the laces with the New Balance stretch laces.

I will agree that they are expensive, but imo worth every bit of it. I have tries Nike, Merrell, Saucony and a slew of others and none of them came close. Here's the other thing that I noticed. . . because of the beating I give the shoes and the way I roll my steps, the outside heals usually compress or wear down very quickly . . . not on these shoe. I wish they made them in a couple of extra colors, because the Grey is cool and the Blue is pretty bright . . .but how will I accessorize the rest of my weekly attire :)

I wear them every day and all day!

Dave

Considering these shoes, but before I go out and try them, what kind of weight do people carry with them when hiking? I'm 6', 188 and carry 22-25 lbs TPW for 4-5 days.

Rick

Since the weight of your pack is but a very small fraction of your body weight, I doubt that it will have any effect on your feet. It's your body weight which they will feel.

Cheers