These shoes have not been “hot” for me though I am a heavy sweater. The internal structure has no rough edges that cause any rubs or hotspots. But, this shoe does not overcorrect. So, if you are more of a heel-runner, this will not force you to place any differently. This is a light shoe—very light for its features. The heel is firm but has the right amount of cushion all around as does the rounding of the ankle. The upper is mostly woven with some flex but also some rigidity.

If you’re going to use the 1500V6 mostly for 5K to 10K runs, then buying true-to-size is the way to do it.

The upper follows the 890 template and uses knit mesh with nearly no overlays. Though the forefoot fit has just the right proportions, some runners might not prefer the new heel design. The rear upper substitutes the padded heel of the V5 with a knit band and suede lining. This new variable lacing set-up could have potentially created unwanted top-down pressure, so adding the padded filter is a nice design move. It has a solid feel to it with just a hint of squish. You can feel the road though it is not heavily pronounced. There is a soft feel from the inside but a solid footing. I have worn squishy shoes, and squishy is not the word. The insole isn’t the only reason why the V6 is slightly firmer than the 2019 model. The new outsole leaves out most of the flex grooves – this includes the ones on the outer heel and forefoot. The Brooks Asteria is another mild-support racer with a higher offset of 8 mm. On this Brooks racer, the medial post is two-sided; it wraps around the heel instead of being just on the inside.

The tongue top now has a foam padded section to prevent lace bite. This is helpful because the lacing near the top is wider than the front. This is new for the 1500V6; the V5 had evenly spaced eyelets. Here, the distance between the center eyelets is around 20% greater than the front three rows. Most runners will want something cushier for long-distance runs, and the 1500 isn’t the shoe to give you that. Even for daily training, a more durable and cushioned shoe is easier on your feet.The last two digits of the number used to indicate the level of cushioning: a “60” being a stability shoe while a “80” a neutral shoe. This is the actual list: Once again, New Balance claims this shoe can go up to a marathon. I would not go past a half marathon in these. They have ample support, but I could feel my body break down in my longer double digit runs.

This category is home to road racers with a medial post or its equivalent. A ‘mild support racer’ describes this segment – because speed shoes with a stability feature are uncommon. Conversely, a half size larger is appreciated during longer runs; (half-marathon types) the extra space will result in a more comfortable fit experience when running for an hour or longer. The asymmetrical NB, color combination and the “New Balance Racing” logo with the bird on the insole had me hankering to take these out ASAP. It’s a modestly priced shoe that gains traction in popularity every year, but is still a sleeper hit. Mostly this is due to the fact that there isn’t a big demand for a racing flat that also gives support.Note: The 1500V6 NYC edition has a loop going over the tongue flap. The standard 1500 does not get this treatment.