New Balance Lerato Running Shoes - AW21

Product Information

It is a fun, pleasant, easy-riding shoe. Bottomless cushion and an ultra-smooth ride make it a relaxing cruise-along shoe. The geometry and well-directed energy return are leg saving and lead to effortless long runs. Many of the same totally state of the art materials as in their RC Elite 2 racer and Rebel v2 are here: and most particularly a very light, bouncy high energy return FuelCell foam and a carbon plate. Jeff: With so many voices on this review, I won’t beat a dead horse too hard. Reflectivity is off the charts, tongue is definitely high (not quite ASICS Evoride 1 levels of high, but close), and the toebox is...adequate. Renee: The Lerato is a luxurious and overall comfortable shoe. As a running shoe, it’s just too heavy for my long, easy runs (despite the carbon plate and great midsole). I probably weighed 110-115 lbs while testing the shoes and I’m not that strong of a runner, which does affect my dislike of the weight. I can see the Lerato being a great easy/long run shoe for bigger and stronger runners. For me, I’ll choose it on days when my legs are tired and I just want a few miles in comfort at an even speed. My half size up from my normal were a bit large but still totally secure.. While those collars are high, the foot slides in easy with a resounding thunk once set, reassuring. Walking in them, the heel stability is clearly felt as is the soft pleasing midsole foam. The carbon plate is barely noticed as a subtle small rise just behind the ball of the foot followed by a mild final toe off. Very different from other carbon plated shoes where the plates tend to be highly noticeable “at rest” and which are barely walkable. Not so here. We all agree they also make a fantastic walking shoe.

Derek: I wear US9.5 in both shoes. The Invincible is much bouncier and softer with less ground feel, but also much less stable as Ivan points out. Even though the Lerato is a lot heavier than the Invincible, I find the Lerato more directed in its ride and easier to keep things going for those really tired days where you just need to log your miles. The plate really makes a difference. Unless you really need that mushy bouncy ride, I tend to prefer the Lerato for easy runs. The biggest weakness of the Lerato is its weight. I have trouble reaching the same cadence with this shoe as I do in the Rebel V2 and RC Elite V2 despite having the same foam. I don’t get the full benefit of the foam as I’m not typically a heel striker, but the plate feels necessary to stabilize it and add cushion. It is important to say that when walking, this weight and turnover limitation become irrelevant, and thus, I really love the Lerato for walking. Despite really liking the Lerato and running in it a lot, there are shoes that are more versatile and as fun riding, so it is hard to know how to recommend it. The TC for example (the ASICS Novblast also comes to mind) has a similarly soft, fun, propulsive ride but is much lighter and runs well at easy paces but also can rip hard intervals. Despite being an all-around trainer the TC would be a decent choice as a workout shoe or even racer, a realm the Lerato is not at all intended for. Renee: My first impression of the Lerato was confused. At 10 oz in a women’s size 8, the Lerato is my heaviest road shoe and close to the same weight as my heaviest trail shoe (Saucony Peregrine). On foot, the tongue and heel collar/heel counter come up high, reminding me of a hiking shoe. Is the Lerato a running shoe? A walking shoe? Both? That’s the confusing part. What is not confusing is that the Lerato is a luxury shoe with an overall comfortable feel for me. I wore a women’s size 8, my typical New Balance road shoe size. In other models/brands, I can wear a size 7.5. For runner’s between two half sizes, I suggest choosing the longer size.I think it’s not meant to be a daily trainer but more of a premium easy run trainer, and given its weight, would probably work best for heavier runners, and particularly heel strikers. Where FuelCell TC is extremely vibrant and makes great demands for your running technique and level as there is no stability to assist you, Lerato is at a completely different level. Lerato is equpped with a heel cap which keeps your foot completely in place and doesn´t let you down when your legs get tired and you have to turn a corner or you are running on wet surfaces.

Renee: I wore a women’s size 8 in both the Novablast and the Lerato. The Novablast has more length. The overall fit, comfort, and stability are much better in the Lerato. For running, I like the easy bounce of the Novablast, and it is much lighter, something I prefer. Novablast is actually about 1.8oz lighter than the Lerato in my size. That said, the quality and overall ride of the Lerato are far better. I consider both shoes easy, long run shoes. For comfort, the Lerato wins; for a variety of running purposes, the Novablast wins. 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. Sam: While they share a similar but not identical FuelCell foam, carbon plate and a soft heel feel these two are in almost completely fields of play, The considerably lighter TC will handle a far broader range of daily training paces leaning for sure faster paces. The Lerato’s main running advantage is a far more stable heel for slower paced and recovery runs, something I will not take the TC out for. I do give Lerato the nod for execution of its carbon plate, outsole midsole foot comfort and all day versatility. TC’s plate at the forefoot is much more noticeable and it is for sure not much of a walking shoe as Lerato is. I just gotta say that this is just a very, very impressive running shoe which I can easily characterize as one of the most luxurious carbon plate running shoes. It suits all kinds of runners. The eliter runner as well as the exercise runner. A running shoe that fits well will be comfortable and snug without being too tight. Ideally, there should be about ½ to a full thumb width of space from the front of the shoe to your big toe, offering enough space to wiggle your toes freely without feeling too restricted or too loose. The right running shoe should feel like a natural extension of your body. How do you best wash running shoes?This quote from a High Snobbery New Balance sponsored content article at least partially sets the scene for the Lerato:

I am going to use it myself for my long runs regardless if I am cruising or will do pacy stretches during the workout. As it is quite a heavy shoe, it won´t work as a shoe for intervals or racing for me but instead it will certainly be my preferred shoe for long runs thanks to its ultimate comfort, responsiveness and stability. Ivan: The TC is lighter and feels even more cushioned. It’s without doubt more versatile and I use it for all kinds of runs. No matter the pace I prefer for the TC. With that being said, I’m not a big fan of the fit in the TC, which feels somewhat sloppy to me. The Lerato conforms better to my footshape. Despite the hefty weight it provides a pleasant ride due to a bouncy FuelCell midsole controlled/stabilized by the carbon plate. It has actually handled shorter tempo sections quite well, but this is by no means a speedy long run shoe. All in all, it has been a nice all-round shoe for me and I’m happy to have it in my collection. Jeff: I agree with Ivan, the Ride doesn’t have the same level of comfort and squish, but it is far more versatile in my running shoe repertoire. For pure comfort, Lerato, for anything else, Ride.New Balance Lerato is a competition shoe with an integrated carbon plate in the midsole which makes it an obvious choice when you are working on your pace on longer distances where you need a soft and comfortable shoe which also works well for racing. New Balance Lerato Specifications Ivan: As my fellow reviewers all have pointed out, there is no doubt that this is the New Balance version of a premium trainer. Quality all the way around and a modern take on a classic look, which I really like in this case. There seems to be a trend of heavier trainers/sneakers going on, but this is the first time I’ve tried one with an incorporated carbon plate. I can’t wait to give it a go.

I really enjoyed the lacing scheme which helps the shoe to be tied easily but still holds everything in place in a very secure manner. The sturdy heel cup enhances the stability of this neutral trainer which is something I am happy to see as a slight overpronator. And last but not least there are tons of reflectivity everywhere on the shoe - even the lace have reflective yarn worked into them! I never felt safer going out on a dark winter evening - well done New Balance!

The width up front is pretty good, not incredible, but there is not much height to the toebox, and there’s very little stretch or give.