New Balance Lerato Running Shoes - AW21

Product Information

Ready to elevate your run? New Balance is proud to present a line of carefully cultivated and mindfully crafted running shoes that are designed to protect, conform, endure, and outperform. No matter the run, no matter the terrain, no matter the goal, New Balance makes a running shoe that's guaranteed to provide lasting comfort and stability.

However I also have to mention the weight as a limiting factor for the Lerato. I wouldn’t take them for anything longer than a mid distance run as well as nothing faster than general aerobic efforts. And the shoe is actually asking for exactly this more moderate use, because it’s plate loads up the most while heel striking. For example the “decorative” cord reinforcements around the lace up area are for visual appeal but also are functional as while the laces run through holes for the first 3 eyelets they run through cord loops for the front two. I assume to provide a bit more give where the foot flexes towards the toe off.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.

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. Adam: The Lerato is a carbon plated shoe featuring New Balance’s highest end Fuel Cell foam (which I found wonderfully bouncy in the Rebel v2 and RC Elite 2), fully intended for training. It looks like a modern incarnation of the 990 “Dad Shoe”, with the finest materials and top quality construction. This is very much a modern reimagination of a classic running shoe with the intention of using cutting edge foams and plates to make running more comfortable rather than just faster. Nils: I can just repeat what’s already been said. It’s a fairly soft midsole setup which gets guided by the plate and especially the heel clip. I really appreciate that as I wouldn’t be able to run and enjoy such a soft midsole sensation without those stabilizing features. 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. Nils: There are some shoes that just fit. And the New Balance Lerato is one of them. The well (but not overly) padded upper and luxury all around it holds my feet and especially the heels safely in place.

Renee: The details of midsole are well described by the others. The midsole is luxurious: soft, comforting, with the carbon plate in the mix to propel and save energy. The midsole is a great balance of comfort and responsiveness. I agree that the midsole creates a soft ride but not a mushy or unstable one.

I have taken a lot of runs in in FuelCell TC, as it is SOO cool. But with the introduction of Lerato I think it is AT LEAST as cool.This quote from a High Snobbery New Balance sponsored content article at least partially sets the scene for the Lerato: Ivan: I think that the build-up of the midsole has already been explained very well and I won’t get too much into details. The softness of the sole is very noticeable in hand and on the run, but the plate, the substantial heel cup and reinforcements secures that the ride and it doesn’t feel mushy and unstable. I also noticed the aggressive nature of the plate with a distinct propulsive geometry as described by Jacob. Stability is great and some flex from the plate helps transition staying smooth during all types of runs.

The New Balance Lerato came in a bit under the covers for most of us. It was treated very cautiously because it was definitely a behind-the-scenes-style project where New Balance wanted to really launch something new. And once we receive the shoe there is no question that this is clearly hitting a new area that a number of brands will be trying to touch on. Who will be the first to make a carbon plated, high cushioned, stable road shoe, that normal people can use instead of elite athletes or performance enthusiasts. Sam: Exactly as Jeff says. This is clearly, so far for me 2021’s super premium very run able Dad (and corporate exec) Shoe. With its more sober conservative colors this shoe will fit in anywhere with just enough visual pizazz to say you are not a bore in your comfort trainers.It’s comfy all around but still not too plush for my liking. There are others on the market that overdo it sometimes with the padding (looking at you, Saucony) but not so the Lerato. Sam: Neither fit in the daily training category for me due to weight with the Triumph at 11.1 oz and thus a bit more than 0.5 oz less than Lerato but up there. In additionI find the Triumph 18 flat riding at mid foot if with a lively midsole foam in PWRRUN+. If heading into the heavy premium for multiple uses run and other wise and despite higher cost I lean Lerato, The “N” has a translucent overlay filling it for support but also creates a subtle contrast while the knit collars and tongue add a darker contrast. The plate behaves much differently than the plates in the Endorphin Pro and RC elite V2 due to its flex and placement. The plate is visible in the heel, and you can feel how it forms a cup around the calcaneus that stabilizes the foot. You can land at any angle you want and the lerato remains stable. It’s definitely the most stable heel I’ve ever had on a carbon plated shoe, and it makes the Rebel V2’s heel stability look like balancing on a giant marshmallow. As Derek said, the Lerato feels more like a heel spring.