Price: $120
Type: Road
Weight: 7.5 oz (M), 6.2 oz (W)
The right shoe for: Runners looking for something lightweight that’s great for both long runs and speedwork
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If you want an all-purpose shoe, the New Balance Beacon is for you. It’s light and fast, yet has enough cushioning to pound out high mileage. “The shoe allowed for great range. I did both long runs of 20-plus miles and speedwork at 60 seconds/400 meters, and the shoe felt great in both scenarios,” said tester Trevor Van Ackeren.
Assessments like that immediately bring to mind the Hoka One One Clifton—especially the original version that was extremely lightweight for the amount of cushioning it offered. And, it’s easy to see why the comparison is made, given the thick foam sole that sits between your foot and the road.
New Balance used a durable version of its midsole material, called Fresh Foam Ground Contact, that can withstand road abrasions. By being able to expose the foam to pavement, New Balance could eliminate a lot of rubber that would otherwise be needed for outsole durability.
The result is an exceptionally lightweight shoe that’s incredibly smooth and quiet—and fast.
Midsole
New Balance is known for making its shoes with Fresh Foam technology, a compound that makes the midsole springy yet stable. The Beacon’s Fresh Foam Ground Contact midsole is more durable than earlier versions. And because the foam can hold up to contact with asphalt and concrete, New Balance doesn’t need to glue as much rubber to the bottom of the shoe. In testing, we saw a slight bit of wear to that exposed foam, but there’s plenty there underfoot, so durability isn’t a concern.
While most testers appreciated the thick layer of foam underfoot, a few said there was too much cushioning, which they weren’t used to.
Outsole
The outsole is made up of small hexagons that offer traction and response throughout your run. There are a few lightweight rubber pods limited to the high-impact heel and toe-off areas that ensure the foam won’t wear down too quickly in those spots.
Our testers seemed to agree that the Beacon had good traction on wet and dry roads, sidewalks, dirt trails, and the treadmill. “But it was terrible on crushed stone or cinder paths,” said one tester. “A 10-mile run on a cinder path took much more effort.”
Some testers also said the sole was a bit stiff, which tests in the Runner’s World Shoe Lab confirm. Despite that, the bottom of the shoe has a curved profile, which allows you to smoothly roll through your stride instead of bending the forefoot.
Upper
New Balance’s engineered mesh upper is soft and light, and is designed to be breathable, comfortable, and secure on your foot. It also has a two-toned, unique design that will set you apart from everyone else without it being too crazy or different.
“I really like the fit of the upper. While simple, it was super comfortable and fit my foot perfectly,” said one tester.
The shoe also incorporates a very thick heel counter. While it’s soft, it doesn’t have much give–some testers said that it rubbed against their ankles, even after a full month of wearing them. Others found it provided just the right amount of security to keep the foot in place.
All the Stats You Need!
Men’s
- Weight: Very Light | 7.7 oz
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Moderate | 9.3 mm
- Heel Height: Moderate | 31.4 mm
- Heel Cushioning: Soft
- Forefoot Height: Moderate | 22.2 mm
- Forefoot Cushioning: Soft
- Flexibility: Stiff
- Stability Features: More
- Energy Return: More
Women’s
- Weight: Very Light | 5.9 oz
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Low | 7.6 mm
- Heel Height: Moderate | 30.1 mm
- Heel Cushioning: Very Soft
- Forefoot Height: Moderate | 22.4 mm
- Forefoot Cushioning: Very Soft
- Flexibility: Moderate
- Stability Features: More
- Energy Return: More
We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective—and exclusive—data. In addition to a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.
