New Balance Lerato Running Shoes - AW21

Product Information

The midsole is designed with New Balances’ unique FuelCell foam which we are familiar with from New Balance FuelCell TC. Insanely comfortable and soft foam which makes your runs very comfortable and reduces the strain on your legs. Jeff: Two of the most comfortable shoes out there, and for me, the decision couldn’t be easier. I much prefer the feel of the ZoomX in the Nike versus the Fuel Cell in the Lerato. Even without a plate the Nike has a much better rebound for me. It doesn’t hurt that the Invincible is 2 ounces lighter, and has a more comfortable toebox. That said, I haven’t found the Invincible all that unstable (though I can see where heel strikers could), and a big part of that is how incredibly wide the platform of the Nike is. The Lerato is by no means narrow, and the Invincible is almost a full centimeter wider in the forefoot (8.7mm) and is a centimeter wider in the heel. Where FuelCell TC is extremely vibrant and makes great demands for your running technique and level as there is no stability to assist you, Lerato is at a completely different level. Lerato is equpped with a heel cap which keeps your foot completely in place and doesn´t let you down when your legs get tired and you have to turn a corner or you are running on wet surfaces.

Adam: Jacob described the materials very well, and I agree with Ivan on the plushness. Personally I’m a fan of extremely minimal and lightweight uppers (Matryx on the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar is my current favorite), but the Lerato’s upper fits the character of the shoe. This quote from a High Snobbery New Balance sponsored content article at least partially sets the scene for the Lerato: The upper is designed in light mesh providing great ventilation for your feet, so they can stay dry and comfortable throughout your workout. In addition the area around the heel is produced in hard TPU to keep your heel in place and ensure a stable gait. Midsole Jeff: I’d like more shoes to use this rubber formula. It hits in the right spot of soft/durable, which sounds like a half-hearted compliment, but it’s a little detail that makes a big difference. As a midfoot striking supinator who puts a lot of wear on the mid side of a shoe, I appreciate a very robust patch of rubber right where I touch down. Sam: While they share a similar but not identical FuelCell foam, carbon plate and a soft heel feel these two are in almost completely fields of play, The considerably lighter TC will handle a far broader range of daily training paces leaning for sure faster paces. The Lerato’s main running advantage is a far more stable heel for slower paced and recovery runs, something I will not take the TC out for. I do give Lerato the nod for execution of its carbon plate, outsole midsole foot comfort and all day versatility. TC’s plate at the forefoot is much more noticeable and it is for sure not much of a walking shoe as Lerato is.

FuelCell Lerato is a perfect running shoe for...

Ivan: The TC is lighter and feels even more cushioned. It’s without doubt more versatile and I use it for all kinds of runs. No matter the pace I prefer for the TC. With that being said, I’m not a big fan of the fit in the TC, which feels somewhat sloppy to me. The Lerato conforms better to my footshape. I was a bit surprised by the dense almost trail shoe-like front mesh as it is not particularly soft for a road shoe, even though lined, with the combination of length and over the toes mesh feeling a bit short, rough and low. For intended more casual run and other uses I would flip a coin as to sizing up as I am or not.

On top of the FuelCell-foam you will find the carbon plate which clearly provided me with enormous propulsion on my runs. The full-length and curvy carbon plate forces your motion on to the forefoot to provide a very speedy take-off. Also of note both visually and functionally we have a sewn strip of gray reflective material that not only completely wraps the rear of the shoe but extends completely around the eyelets material up front. There are also reflective patches at both sides of the toes. A tremendous safety feature that ties in with the visual design very effectivelyOthers have referred to its weight and yes it is heavier at 11.78 oz / 334g (US9) than most of my trainers but not out of the realm of heavy duty premium trainers such as the Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit or the same weight Saucony Xodus 10. At it considerable lighter than the adidas Ultraboost 21. At 383g / 13.5oz in my US12, it is the heaviest road shoe I’ve tested, taking the title from the Saucony Triumph 18 by about 10g. It is in a wholly different realm from it’s sleek, race-weight, performance companions, the TC, RC Elite, and Rebel v2. Hidden on the inside of the upper we read “be iconic”—New Balance is going for it here and I’m into the fun. I just gotta say that this is just a very, very impressive running shoe which I can easily characterize as one of the most luxurious carbon plate running shoes. It suits all kinds of runners. The eliter runner as well as the exercise runner.

Fit is true to size athough not a particularly flexible fit due to the bulk of the upper. Step in feel is a perfect balance between cushion and stability. I never felt like I was going to roll my ankle or pitch over, yet it does an excellent job isolating you from the ground. Walking around and standing in the shoe felt amazingly comfortable, as it’s the perfect mix of support and cushion. I found myself wearing it less for my long or fast runs and more casually. It’s understated, immensely comfortable, and easy on your feet. As a bonus, there are a bunch of reflectors on the Lerato which is always a good idea for nighttime visibility. It feels best at easy to mid endurance paces and is good for casual runs and easy long runs. It is very smooth and easy to run in, with good rebound and forward bounce, but it is not overtly fast. Renee: I found the upper overall comfortable. The toebox is amble for me (and I like a wide forefoot/toebox) and the heel hold is solid. However, the height of the tongue, heel collar, and heel counter were a bit too high on my foot for my preference in a running shoe. For a walking shoe, this was fine, but the height did deter me from having a light, nimble foot landing. The upper looks to have some water resistance, but it does not. I ran several times through the snow and had plenty of moisture entering. The upper looks warm, but it has breathability. Like the entire shoe, the upper looks and feels like luxury. That said, like Jacob, I have wear on the tongue and heel collar, which happened well before 50 miles. While I did not get a second revised collars pair to test I am happy to hear the changes in material seemed to have resolved the issue. You get comfort regardless of the distance, and you will be assisted/pushed forward on every run, but you will also get plenty of support all the way through. Don´t get intimidated by the word ”carbon”, as Lerato is a shoe which provides the best of the best - regardless if you are chasing your first 5km or marathon. If you are an experienced runner and/or elite runner, you should/can use the shoe for the same purpose as me. And if you then need a similar experience in a lighter racer-version, you should consider FuelCell TC or the ultimate racer FuelCell RC.In my view, Lerato is a world class running shoe which really sets new standards. It will help many runners reach their targets. Derek: There is a lot of grey in this shoe. A lot. So don’t expect it to be very eye-catching on the run. It is one of the most nondescript shoes I’ve tested of late, and I started testing his shoe at roughly the same time I was testing the ASICS Noosa Tri 13, so the contrast was just amplified. Our speed running shoes are just as innovative, and are powered by REVlite cushioning and lightweight solid rubber outsoles. New Balance Running Shoes: The History The outsole on here is combination of blown and solid rubber giving it maximum durability and traction. Note, this does increase the weight a bit and we did experiences some degradation on the outsole sooner than we would have expected. Literally had rubber pieces separating after less than 50 miles. Nils: I really was excited for this one. I’m a big fan of the New Balance 1080 but never had the pleasure to run in anything with FuelCell foam. I always thought it might be too soft for me as I need some stability in my running shoes. But by implementing a plate in this luxury trainer I hoped that the New Balance Lerato would provide exactly that: A bouncy plush ride with all the stability I need. Let's find out if that’s true!