Acclaimed Fresh Foam Cushioning
What is Fresh Foam, you ask? This is the cushioning used by New Balance. Fresh Foam to New Balance is what Boost is to Adidas.
New Balance takes pride in Fresh Foam as they promote it to be lightweight, comfortable, and responsiveand it is! Your feet wont hurt standing and walking in these all day long.
New Balance Roav Is Not A Performance Shoe
The first few times I used it for a run, I found it to be lightweight, but I slipped in these shoes a couple of times. My ankle hurt for a couple of days.
The Fresh Foam Roavs are cushioned, but my legs still hurt after a run. I would not recommend it if you plan to have an intense workout at the gym .
I only use it in the gym when I know Im not going all out .
Also, I suggest that you must always wear ankle socks with these because not wearing socks will cause your heel to hurt or blister.
The Fresh Foam Roavs are marketed by New Balance as running shoes for on-the-go athletes with the tagline from morning miles to the rest of your day, but I find this misleading. Just go find another pair of running shoes.
Im wearing my pair as Im writing down this review. It served its purpose well today because I went to work and wanted to be in comfortable shoes.
After work, I went to the gym and did a light workout. Its convenient in that aspect. I wore it all day and felt no pain.
New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Conclusion
New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Closeup Heel
New Balance is a brand that has been around for over 100 years. They have perfected shoes that offer function and style. The brand makes sure to give you the good looks you want and the performance technology you need.
The New Balance Fresh Foam Roav to me is not a running shoe. Of course, its great for a few miles, but as I stated before, its a fantastic choice for any runner who is looking for a daily trainer.
It is an athleisure shoe that is made for multipurpose activities.
We purchased a pair of New Balance Fresh Foam Roav from runningwarehouse using our own money. This did not influence the outcome of this review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.
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What I Didnt Like
On the other hand, what I appreciated more at Nike LunarGlide 9 was the strong arch support. I should have maybe mentioned it in the beginning, but I tend to strongly overpronate. Nike LunarGlide 9 was great. Unfortunately,New Balance Fresh Foam Roav is very wide and weak in the toe box. As a result, the shoe is less supportive and for you if you tend to overpronate, trust me you will feel it very soon after running out on a track. It is a bit of a shame though, because the shoe definitely has otherwise a lot to offer. It can boast with a striking heel counter, looking very unique and that helps to lock your heels nicely inside. The design is quite untraditional from other running shoes. The heel counter resembles a bit an accordion in my eyes, so I would call the design pretty unique.
Learn More About New Balance Roav

Selection
Innovative Comfort for Every Day: New Balance® Roav
Take your comfort to the next level with New Balance Fresh Foam Roav shoes from DICK’S Sporting Goods.
The New Balance Roav is the next evolution of popular New Balance Cruz shoes. New Balance Roav shoes still feature Fresh Foam midsole cushioning but boast a new look and upper that’s even more comfortable and stylish. Whether you’re going for a run or looking for a great everyday shoe, the lightweight Fresh Foam Roav is sure to be a new favorite.
Features of New Balance Fresh Foam Roav
- Fresh Foam midsole for a plush, cushioned ride
- Bootie construction for comfort and easy on and off
- Breathable mesh and synthetic knit upper
- Stretch webbing across midfoot for extra comfort
- Ultra Heel adapts to your foot
- N-Durance® rubber compound for outsole durability
New Balance Fresh Foam running shoes feature a midsole created from a single piece of foam that offers a plush, more natural ride. While the tech is still the same, the New Balance Roav’s midsole has an updated look. Find the Roav in a range of color combos and sizes for men and women.
If you find a lower price on New Balance Roav somewhere else, we’ll match it with our Best Price Guarantee.
Check out the complete collection of New Balance shoes, including all New Balance running shoes. For even more from the biggest brands, shop all running shoes at DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Featured Categories
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Womens New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Athletic Shoe
Color:
- Breathable mesh upper with stretch webbing midfoot
- Bootie construction provides a snug fit
- Lace closure offers a secure fit
- Ultra Heel design made to hug the back of the foot for locked-in support and comfort
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning ensures lasting comfort
- Rubber and NDurance outsole delivers flexible traction
Point the camera at your feet to see the shoes!
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New Balance Fresh Foam Roav First Impressions
New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Pair
The only New Balance shoes I have ever worn have strictly been for fashion. The New Balance Classics 574s were my go-to shoes for dress-down days in college.
That retro style was my jam. This pair was my first pair of running shoes from New Balance.
So, I get the box. I open it up. My initial thought was these look pretty sweet but they dont look like my other typical running shoes.
They look like casual sneakers. I would again, wear on dress-down days or trips to the playground with my kiddos. I received the turquoise color.
The color was a little bold for me at first, but I warmed up to them fairly quickly. New Balance offers the shoe in many other colors.
I love the look that this shoe gives to complete my outfit. I have even thought about buying it in a different color.
The thing that stood out to me at first was the Ultra Heel design. It instantly reminded me of an accordion. The new design of this shoe is very modern. Seeing this shoe in person for the first time was impressive.
However, when I tried them on I immediately noted the unique heel cup. I took a few steps in them and right away my heel would slip slightly. That is one of the first things I feel for when trying out new running shoes.
I knew right away that this shoe wasnt going to be my friend for the long run I had planned in a few days. I did like the feeling that the mesh upper gave my foot from the first moment of putting them on.
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New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Upper Unit
New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Top
The upper is made out of breathable mesh material. It is a very lightweight mesh that seems to be very flexible. It is made up of one piece.
One-piece uppers are difficult to make your foot feel secure. They felt great when I initially put them on but taking them out for a few miles I noticed the problems.
When I would try to tighten the laces the material would bunch up near the laces. The bunching caused a little discomfort. I did not like how there were only 4 eyelets for the laces and no extra eyelets.
I tried to do some different lacing techniques but my options were very limited. The laces themselves are round and thick. I had to stop and re-tie a few times.
Around the midfoot is an elastic band that is used to add support. I wear a size 8 but would order a half size bigger next time. The toe box is a bit snug and I could see the outline of toes due to the mesh being so light.
Now, lets get to the main event. The Ultra Heel! This is where your eyes are drawn as soon as you see this shoe. The Ultra Heel design is said to hug the back of the foot for a supportive, locked-in fit.
When putting the shoe on for the first time it does feel very comfortable. But, as soon as I started to run I had minor slipping that was hard not to notice.
Another major issue I had with this shoe was the high collar. It would rub during runs that caused me some frustration. When wearing them for daily activities I didnt notice any of these complaints.
Womens Fresh Foam Roav Collection
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Fit On The Large Side
Im usually an 8.5 or 9 in US shoe sizes. I got the 8.5 for these shoes, and they run large!
I placed running footpads and wear thick socks just so my feet wouldnt move around much in my shoes. Even with all those, my feet would still tend to move inside.
When buying a pair of Fresh Foam Roavs, I suggest that you go a size down. These shoes are great for people with wide feet and toes because you have an option if you want a standard or wide width.
New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Intro
The New Balance Fresh Foam Roav shoe is designed for athletes who are on-the-go. This is the common phrase I came upon when researching this shoe. After testing it out, I came to the same conclusion.
The fresh design of this shoe was a delight. I was able to do a few miles in the morning and keep them on for the rest of my day with no issues. This shoe is just for that, a few miles here or there.
I took them out for various distance runs and felt comfortable with a 5k distance. When I would push past that distance, I would start to notice some minor discomforts.
I used this shoe for other workouts and it performed very well. To me, I would use this shoe for short casual runs with friends and taking my kids to the playground for a playdate. I love the look and comfort this shoe offers.
The New Balance Fresh Foam Roav weighs in at 8.7oz, has an 8mm drop, and will cost you about $80. I think its a reasonable price considering the many hats this shoe can wear.
It offers some updated technology that also validates this price point.
The new technology tailored in this shoe is a breathable mesh upper, a Fresh Foam midsole, lace-up closure for a secure fit, NDurance rubber outsole, and the Ultra Heel design.
I will discuss what all of this means throughout the rest of this review.
If I were to compare the New Balance Fresh Foam Roav to another brand, it would have to be Nike Air Zoom Winflo 7.
The Fresh Foam Sports are for everyday errands and they make the perfect travel shoe.
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New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Review
- It’s the perfect athleisure shoe
- Comfortable and lightweight for all day wear
- Great price for versatile shoe
CONS
- Not built for distance running
- Got wet within seconds of running in the rain
- No arch support
OUR VERDICT
Heel DropIt is for the individual who wants to incorporate a run into their daily workout routine but nothing over the top.Its a versatile shoe for the athlete who wants to do more than just running.
New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Sole Unit

New Balance Fresh Foam Roav Sole
The midsole unit of the Fresh Foam Roav uses New Balances signature Fresh Foam. The innovative midsole is created from a single piece of foam that provides a plush ride for the short runs or errands around town.
I enjoyed this fresh foam for shorter runs and cross-training workouts. When I took them for a longer run I would not notice the cushy midsole anymore.
I tend to strike the ground midfoot. With the further distances, the Fresh Foam midsole would become not as responsive. There didnt seem to be a lot of structure to the shoe either.
The Fresh Foam did offer some comfort but did not guide my foot in the way I would expect in a running shoe. When it comes to arch support, its almost non-existence in this shoe.
I would suggest this shoe to an individual whose heels strike first. The extra cushioning in the heel was greatly appreciated when I had to be on my feet all day.
This one-piece midsole does allow for an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride.
On the outsole, they used rubber and NDurance with a flex groove pattern. This material did alright when it came to traction but after only 70 miles on them, it started to wear down.
I tested them out in various weather conditions and surfaces. In the rain, they tended to lose grip and my feet were soaked within seconds of being out in the rain. I would recommend only using them for the road in optimal conditions.
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What Surprised Me
Before I start, I need to say that I decided to compare it with Nike, specifically Nike Lunarglide 9. Those I really adored for their perfect arch support and thats what I expected from New Balance in this case as well. Because the shoes are very similar in some aspects, I think the comparison is definitely at a place here. So straight to the point. New Balance Fresh Foam Roav surprised for their overall low weight. No doubt, it only reached in US size 9 around 9.8 oz. Medium to lighter weight, lets say. Not ultimately impressive but better than many models from Adidas , Saucony and Brooks models.
If it were just for lightness, I wouldnt start this review of New Balance by singing the odes about the model. It is the Fresh foam midsole that is in my opinion really great. While Lunarlon midsole in my old Nike LunarGlide 9 feels firmer, Fresh Foam in New balance is rather cushy, thus, overall feels more comfortable on longer distances. More shock absorptive. I would say it is almost identical to Ultraboost from Adidas. It feels rebouncing back fairly good.