New Balance RC 1400 Running Shoe Review
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With the minimalist movement in full stride, some runners are making the switch while many runners are asking questions and are on the fence. If you’re one of those runners that want to make the switch, but aren’t ready to make the switch to a true barefoot running shoe, I suggest transitioning a lightweight trainer or adding a lightweight trainer to your running shoe collection. Using a lightweight trainer or racing flat gives you a little cushion so you can ease your way into forefoot running instead of making a significant change in running your form in a short amount of time. Now I’m not saying making a drastic change isn’t good for you, you just need to ease your way into it.
The New Balance RC 1400 is in the racing flat category, which typically has shoe characteristics of being lightweight and not having a lot of support or cushioning. Sound familiar? It should if you’ve been paying attention to any of the past minimalist running shoe claims for the past couple of years.
The RC 1400 weighs in at 7.1 oz. for the men’s shoe and 5.7 oz. for the women’s shoe. Compared to the standard running shoe that weighs between 9-12 oz., this is a fairly significant amount of weight taken off a shoe. The midsole is comprised of foam called REV lite which is lighter than traditional EVA foam and provides plenty of bounce, or response. For most runners, you won’t notice a significant difference compared to other EVA foams used. The upper of the New Balance RC 1400 is very minimal is design. Instead of having multiple layers of mesh, the upper in the RC 1400 has one single layer of mesh. This helps cut down on weight and bulk.
One of the downsides to consider when using a lightweight trainer or racing flat as an everyday running shoe is the life of the shoe. Since the original design of the shoe was to go fast and be lightweight, durability and longevity sometimes takes a back seat. I have found in the New Balance RC 1400 that the outsole has broken down a little faster than a standard running shoe, allowing for you to get less mileage out of the shoe. With a price tag of $100, some runners are ok with a few less miles while other runners want to get their money’s worth.
I personally found the New Balance RC 1400 running shoe to be a fun shoe to run in. It’s light, comfortable, I can log long runs in them, and they definitely turn heads with the fluorescent color patterns being used.
For more info on the RC 1400 and other New Balance footwear, visit www.newbalance.com or www.amazon.com/newbalance.
A shoe that comes in the same colors for men and women? Yep, the women’s model looks identical and makes reaching for the right shoe in the dark a challenge. Fortunately, I would not get too far with my husbands shoe, as he wears a 12.5 and I wear only a 9.5.
With that said, I think they look great on both sexes; guys, if you haven’t noticed brighter and lighter is the trend and it seems that with the 1400 you get to embrace both qualities.
Now onto the specifics of the women’s 1400. For starters, it weighs a mere 5.7 ounces (for a size 7, I believe). This is an amazing feat by New Balance to create a comfortable shoe that doesn’t feel like you are pounding the pavement with each stride. I have requested the heel-toe drop from New Balance and will publish this when available. It feels greater than the Minimus WR 10s heel-toe drop of 4 mm, thus making the RC 1400s a good transition shoe for those that are used to the industry standard of about 10-12 mm. The RC 1400s are a great travel shoe because they are so flexible, light weight, and take up virtually no room in your bag.
The upper is seamless and has a nice snug, but not overly tight wrap for my average width foot. There is plenty of room in the toe box without feeling too clunky. My only beef is with the tongue (no joke intended), which has a habit of rolling up on itself while in use and creating some bunching when worn with socks. I found the RC 1400s to be comfortable in races up to a half marathon, and am looking forward to seeing how they do over time and in longer races, ie a marathon.
Okay, so it’s no secret – I love REV lite. The New Balance team put a TON of R&D into conceptualizing, creating, and manufacturing REV lite, and it shows. You won’t find a more comfortable running experience out there, and it snugly conforms to the individual shape of your foot after only a few runs. Yes, as Kevin points out, there is the drawback of decreased mileage. This is now the third pair of REV lite shoes we’ve tested this year, and each pair has lasted approx 300-350 miles. My feeling is that the RC 1400 will last slightly less than this, as there is (to put it simply) less material here. When stacked up against other shoes, this means that you would be buying shoes almost twice as much.
One great addition to this shoe over some others in the New Balance line up is the seamless upper. Shannon touches on it briefly, but it really deserves more mention. Seamless only begins to describe just how remarkable it feels. Really the only shoe on the market that even begins to compare to it are the Nike Frees. It almost feels like a sock itself. You would think this would get restrictive during longer runs, but it doesn’t. As for the sock issue described above, just use a synthetic sock with them as opposed to a cotton sock – bunching issue resolved.
I would definitely give these a spin before purchase. Any bonafide running store offers a 30 day try-it-and-return-it policy, so I’d take them up on the offer before committing. As for myself, the comfort and flexibility afforded by a shoe that matches up with your foot perfectly is well worth the extra money spent. Plus, if you’re buying shoes twice as often, you can try out all the colors. Happy running.