The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 is jam packed with innovations to make your run supportive, secure and comfortable. A new lightweight mesh upper is more protective thanks to strategically placed overlays in high abrasion areas. A toe protect and abrasion resistant details protect against loose rocks and debris, while the redesigned gusseted tongue gives a secure, comfortable fit. A new midsole make up features a dual-density construction, with a softer top layer of Fresh FoamX bringing that signature plush comfort, and a firmer layer of Fresh FoamX offering a more stable underfoot feeling, and with an extra 4mm of foam in the heel, and an extra 8mm in the forefoot (The drop has changed from 8 to 4mm too) you will be glad of the increased stability to give you excellent control off-road. In the outsole, not only are the lugs .5mm longer, but that Vibram Eco Step outsole features cut out sections to lower weight and allow the foam to displace better, giving you improved performance.