I needed 50 km (31 mi) to fully understand these shoes, but I finally managed to find a spot for them in my shoe rotation and I am always tempted to take them on every easy run.
Introduction
The New Balance Propel line never caught runners' attention. However, that has changed with this new version, the 4th iteration of the Propel, which brought significant improvements and a price tag below the competition. Better still, you often can find it discounted!
Despite being advertised as a shoe capable of top speeds, the Propel V4 is a workhorse from New Balance that already has the great 1080, but the Propel V4 has a special foam and a plate that is making the difference.
But, if they have a plate, does it mean that they are a speed shoe like the Endorphin Speed 3 or the Puma Deviate Nitro 2, or even the Asics Magic Speed 3? No, the New Balance Propel V4 competition is not those speed shoes but instead, it’s looking for a special place among the best workhorses.
I bought these shoes for my long runs and I have already logged 120 km (75 mi) with them.
Stats
Upper
The New Balance Propel V4 features a synthetic mesh upper with a no-sew construction. Theoretically, this gives us greater step-in comfort, but to be honest, I really didn’t feel any difference when compared to other running shoes with sews.
This mesh upper is very breathable and one can perfectly see the fabric perforations from the inside of the shoe, but this is also due to the fact that the upper is not that structured. In fact, the upper doesn’t have much going on and for me, that’s great. I don’t like to feel that I have too much stuff hugging my feet.
The heel counter is not very rigid and I can easily bend it. The padding is enough for a workhorse shoe, but it’s not at the level of the competition.
The tongue is non-gusseted but has a loop to fix it with the laces and I had no problems with tongue slip in any of my runs. Speaking of the laces, they are thin, just as I like them to be, and they did not unlace while running.
The toe box is roomy with the right amount of space for my toes.
Despite being a very simple upper, it delivers everything I need.
Midsole
The midsole is where the New Balance Propel V4 shines!
The Propel V4 midsole features the soft and bouncy FuelCell foam which is the same high-performance foam that you can find in the SuperComp range and in the Rebel. Well, at least is the same foam name. I don’t know if the foam formulation is the same for all shoes.
In the middle of the FuelCell foam, we have the TPU plate that is present essentially to reinforce the rocker, to contribute to a smoother heel-to-toe transition and quicker toe-off, and also to give us more support and stability, counteracting the FuelCell softness that can bring some instability.
The midsole also features a decoupled groove that helps reduce some weight and also improves the foam's springiness. Looking at the bottom of the midsole, we can see that the Propel V4 has a somewhat wide base (not Hoka wide, however) that is also contributing to the overall shoe stability.
Lastly, the midsole also features a heel bevel and a rocker that will improve the ride's smoothness, and performance, and improve the toe-off.
Don’t forget that this midsole needs a break-in period before it unleashes its full potential. Give at least 30 km (18 mi)!
Outsole
In this colorway, the outsole and midsole are almost undistinguished, but a closer look reveals that the Propel V4 has a good amount of rubber strategically placed in the high-impact zones.
The rubber thickness is within the sweet spot and with 120 km (75 mi) I can’t even notice any wear, meaning that this outsole will surely last 800 km (500 mi). Nevertheless, we could have less rubber on the forefoot in order to reduce the shoe's total weight.
Regarding the grip, it’s pretty good. The rubber is very grippy and I even forced the pace over wet floor and had no issues.
Fit
With the upper being so simple one can imagine that the fit would not be that great, but it is! Well, the fit is not perfect (I always struggle to have a perfect lockdown in the heel), but it’s as great as the fit in the Puma Velocity Nitro 2 or the Hoka Clifton 9. So, I have a secure fit and a good lockdown.
Regarding the sizing, I will say true to size, but perhaps a half size down would be better because I noticed that when I am running downhill and my feet slide to the front of the shoe, I can better feel the rocker.
Ride
My first impressions of the Propel V4 were not very good. The shoe felt dull, with almost no energy return, with a dead forefoot foam, and I felt very tired on the long runs, blaming the weight. But that started to change when the foam started to break.
The ride improved a lot after 50 km (31 mi) and I started to enjoy the sensations that these shoes give me while running. I feel a soft and rockered landing, a good heel-to-toe transition, the energy return, especially if you’re a heel striker like me, and the forefoot foam came alive and you can also feel it compress and decompress. It has been a pleasure to do my easy and long runs with them, but I am limiting the long runs to 25 km (15 mi) because they are too heavy for me to go above 30 km (17 mi).
For runs beyond 25 km (15 mi), I prefer a lighter shoe, with greater energy return, just like the Saucony Speed, for example.
Now, regarding speed work, that’s another story. There are limits for the Propel V4 weight, but this midsole enjoys speed. They will give us a good response when we step hard on that midsole and despite the weight, we can enjoy some speed work on them, but leave the fartlek or other high-speed runs behind. It’s just too much for the Propel V4.
The Propel V4 midsole is not designed for pure speedwork, you won’t feel a pop from the plate. It doesn't have that kind of propulsion, but if you don't mind the weight, then you can use it for tempos.
Verdict
I initially bought this shoe for my long runs, but now I will use it as a daily trainer and as my (shorter) long runs shoe.
This means that every morning I am thinking of leaving behind the Puma Velocity Nitro 2, and that says a lot about the Propel V4.
Unfortunately, it’s too heavy. Right now, it’s my heaviest shoe and the only one above 300g (10,5 oz), and that is what is stopping me from using them for all my long runs. They are bouncy, smooth, and great for a long steady run, but the weight will drag me down after 25 km (15 mi).
The New Balance Propel V4 doesn’t stand out in any particular aspect, but they are a great shoe overall. This shoe will be a great workhorse for a one-shoe rotation.
If you want a two-shoe rotation, then I would add the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 for speedwork and races.
For a three-shoe rotation, you’ll need a softer shoe, without a plate, for easy runs and recovery runs. The Puma Velocity Nitro 2 can do that and much more!
Finally, for a four-shoe rotation, I would add a carbon-plated shoe for your races.
Have you already run in the New Balance Propel V4? Tell me about it in the comments below.
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If you're interested in buying the New Balance Propel V4, follow the links below:
- EU: Top4Running - Code "allaboutrunning" for an additional 5% discount.
- UK: Sportsshoes.com | Prodirectsport.com
- Global: Amazon
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