I haven’t done a shoe review in quite a while no thanks to being quite busy with work. However, today I’ve got some time to burn at the airport (four hours before flight departure!) and much to say about the New Balance Vazee Prism V2.
I’ve been running in the Vazee Prism since January, when Planet Sports so generously seeded it to me. It’s become my go-to shoe for runs longer than an hour and offers such a great ride when I feel like going for a cruise-y run.
While I’ve run in shoes that claim to offer lightweight stability, these more often than not felt like stiff and heavy blocks of foam. After a while, my feet would feel trapped and unable to move the way they’re used to, which causes me pain in my plantar fascia.
The Vazee Prism was such a revelation when I took it for my first run. Out of the box, it has just the right amount of cushioning as well as stability. The heel and midsole are just a bit beefier than my regular training/racing shoes, and the medial post still allows my foot to move through the natural pronation range. The upturned toe also facilitates transition from foot plant to toe-off, so I felt quite light on my feet.
Like my past New Balance shoes, the inner and tongue are plush but breathable. The lacing system holds the shoe securely on my feet and the tongue does not slip at all. The stock insole adds more cushioning, but you can swap it out for custom insoles if you need more stability. The shoe itself is quite roomy, so your feet won’t feel like overstuffed burritos if you wear thick socks.
I usually wear a size 8 1/2, but for the Vazee Prism I fell between the 8 and 8 1/2. I could have gone with the 8 for a more snug fit, which is what I prefer with the shoes I wear racing. The 8 1/2 was also comfortable, though, so I went with it because feet will swell during long-distance runs and I wanted to make allowance for that.
I’ve used the Vazee Prism both indoor at the gym and outdoor on varied surfaces. My footfalls on a treadmill sound quite soft compared to stiffer trainers. Traction is good on cement, asphalt, gravel, and packed dirt (although this is not an off-road shoe at all).
The black, white, and lime green colorway is a great design: dust buildup is hidden on the black toebox, the white looks crisp and the green details on the outsole keep it from being boring. The neutral colorway allows it to transition from running to street wear as well.
The New Balance Vazee Prism V2 is a great all-around shoe and I love that I have it in my arsenal.
good review… they look nice. i just ordered a pair, can’t wait to try.
P.S. if you are into trail running you should look into the Merrell All Out Charge. i use them for trails and they are a joy to run in.
Hi. I’m suffering from really severe plantar fasciitis. Do you think these trainers would be suitable? I’m looking for a good arch support and something to help with the heel pain. Thank you very much.
Hi Liz, the Vazee Prism isn’t very plush on the inside. But you could probably add an insole to make up for that, then use the same insole for your other trainers.