New Balance MT876 Running Shoe Review
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With the 876, New Balance continues to improve upon their already award winning line of versatile trail shoes. Supportive yet not bulky, the MT876 is the go to shoe for those looking for a great mix of speed, durability, and support. Definitely not a stability shoe by any stretch, the 876 seeks to provide just the right amount of cushioning for longer distance, easy trail and training runs. We tested these in a number of conditions, from steep rocky runs to easy, winding, and smooth runs. The 876 is currently forgoing the traditional large lugs for more compact studs – we didn’t notice a large loss in traction and felt comfortable in all but the sloppiest conditions. The nice part is that this made the transition to road and hard pack all that much easier. For the outsole, New Balance kept the “Abzorb” system for this year with “Rock Stop” tech in order to keep your forefoot and arch protected from sharp, jagged rocks – it continues to work well – keeping even our most tender tester’s feet from feeling too terribly beat up. As for new tech, New Balance added a “Debris Free” construction to the shoe, which is simply to say that the tongue is integrated into the last – it keeps those annoying goat head thorns out. Some of us felt that the large T-shape to the tongue was a little excessive, but it did it’s job efficiently, and wasn’t uncomfortable. New Balance continues to use the “Sure Lace” system, which adds spherical bulges to the lace, keeping the lace tight and secure during even the most hard core runs. We haven’t had a pair come untied yet, and we’ve been testing new balance for a long, long time. The bottom line – if these aren’t your go to trainers for trail runs, they will be soon. For more information on the MT876 and other New Balance footwear, please visit www.newbalance.com or www.amazon.com/newbalance.
New Balance’s new trail running shoe, the 876, is an update on the existing 875. Arriving in early 2010, the 876 has a new and improved tread pattern that provided great traction and protection without being obtrusive. The sticky rubber outsole prevented any slipping regardless of our dashing through mud, water and dirt. Winding through the trails, we were pleasantly surprised by the rubber sole’s ability to handle sharp rocks and roots while still giving us a feel for the ground.
Running off-road, our testers are used to finding bits of the trail in our shoes but the 876’s no-debris tongue blocked everything, allowing for a smoother run. Combined with the synthetic/mesh upper, which allowed for superb breathability, and the quick dry liner, the 876 provided for a comfortable run. Overall the shoe is a great warm weather trail runner that held up very well in all areas of off-road running that we put them through.