New Balance Fresh Foam X Lav v2 Men's Review

Comfort - Score: 3.3

Thanks to its new Fresh FoamX midsole, the Lav v2 offered our playtesters increased cushioning. However, the team had mixed opinions on the overall comfort of these shoes. Mark thought the v2's boosted midsole cushioning and dialed-in fit made it even more comfortable than the previous version. He said, "The comfort for the update to the Fresh Foam Lav series was top notch, offering 360-degree comfort around my feet. The Lav v2's midsole cushioning is substantial, especially when compared to the prior Fresh Foam Lav, which felt like it had a bit less midsole cushioning. The comfort level from the upper is pretty similar to the first generation. The Lav v2 also exhibits a glove-like fit from front to rear, resulting in a high degree of comfort and decent breathability."

Jason admired the previous version's comfort and found similar plushness this time around, but with an increased break-in period. He said, "I was a big fan of the original Lav, partly because of its out-of-the-box comfort and cushioning. With the Lav v2, the plush cushioning is still there, but it requires a substantial break-in period. I needed almost 10 hours of on-court time before the shoes really started to break in and flex correctly. The standard D fit was good for me, though, and it was wide enough in the toe box for my 2E-width feet."

The updates to the Lav v2 caused comfort issues for Chris, who at times needed a break from the shoes. As the previous version was one of his favorite New Balance court shoes, he was disappointed by this update. He explained, "As soon as I stepped into the Fresh Foam X Lav v2s, it was apparent New Balance had seriously beefed up the shoes. The ride was much stiffer, and the shoes still felt like they had room to break in after a month of wear. I would have liked a more supportive fit from the lace system since my feet were sliding forward inside the shoes and my toes were jamming into the very firm toecap. The big toe on my left foot became so bruised I had to stop wearing the shoes for several days to let it recover. The ankle collars were also very stiff and were pinching uncomfortably for the first 10 days of testing. The shoes ran hot, so it seemed the level of ventilation had also taken a knock compared to the originals. I absolutely loved the fit, feel and comfort of the previous version, so I was very disappointed with this update. On the plus side, the level of cushioning was fantastic and a definite improvement."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.4

The lateral stability of the New Balance Fresh Foam X Lav v2 was excellent, and our playtesters felt confident, never fearing ankle twists. That said, some found their feet sliding within the shoes a bit during the break-in period. Jason began by discussing the fixed heel slipping issue from the previous generation. He said, "The side-to-side stability when starting and stopping was there from the get-go, but I felt my feet were sliding just a bit within the shoes during that 10-hour break-in period. After that, these shoes felt much more supportive, and I did notice that the heel slippage from the original Lav is no longer present in this update."

"I found excellent lateral stability in the Fresh Foam X Lav v2s," Chris added. "I never felt like I was going to roll an ankle and had no issues during aggressive lateral cuts. I wish I would have found a more supportive fit, because my feet were sliding forward inside the shoes no matter how tightly I laced them."

Mark felt secure and stable thanks to the wider footprint of the new Lav v2. He said, "The updated upper construction of the new Lav V2 was not only comfortable, but also did a good job at securing my feet in place. Aside from that, the extra outsole rubber that extends out slightly from the lateral side around the pinky toe provides a wider footprint and a higher-than-typical level of stability."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.3

The New Balance Fresh Foam X Lav v2 has been beefed up from the original and still comes with a six-month warranty on the outsole. Jason found the similar durability to the previous version. He said, "I thought these shoes were on par with their predecessor in this category. The outsoles held up well in my 16 hours of testing. I saw some slight balding on the medial toe areas, but there is plenty of traction left. I think I could easily put another 10 hours on them before needing to replace."

Mark agreed with Jason here, adding, "The update to the outsole is still very durable and abrasion resistant on hard courts. Like the prior iteration of the Lav, the Lav v2 feature an outsole warranty."

Chris noted the shoe's overall durability and found the toe bumpers and uppers to be wear-resistant. He said, "The Fresh Foam X Lav v2s took all I could comfortably throw at them. I would have tested the durability further, but I could rarely play all out due to the comfort issues I was having. The outsoles still had a ton of life left at the end of the test. Likewise, the toe bumpers and uppers also resisted abrasion well and were still going strong."

Traction - Score: 4.3

Our playtesters preferred the traction on this version of the New Balance Fresh Foam X Lav v2. Initially, the shoes felt slightly grippy, but this quickly balanced out to an ideal amount of traction after a hitting session. Jason said, "I thought the outsoles were a little too sticky for maybe the first 30 minutes of play, but that quickly gave way to the nearly perfect balance between grip and slip."

These shoes gave Chris enough grip to sprint and stop confidently, but not so much that he felt stuck in place. He described, "I liked the level of traction I found in the Fresh Foam X Lav v2s. I was able to slide out of hard lateral stops in a very controlled manner. There was good grip when pushing off the toes of the shoes during fast sprints and also when coming to a quick forward stop."

Mark played extensively on hard courts in the Lav v2s and thought the shoes had stellar traction. He said, "The outsoles provided excellent grip on the TW hard court. I didn't experience any slippage issues, whether stopping or with that initial push-off. I actually prefer some give because it helps with sliding and changing direction, but if you're a player who loves grip, these shoes will meet your needs."

Weight - Score: 4.1

At 14.3 ounces (size 10.5), the Lav v2s weigh about an ounce less than the original Lavs. Our playtesters noted the lighter feel and appreciated this change, especially since the stability and cushioning remained from the original Lavs. Jason described, "I immediately noticed the lighter ride compared to the original Lavs. They feel good on court for shoes that are fairly built up, and they provide great stability and cushioning."

Although lighter than the previous model, these shoes didn't feel very smooth on court to Chris. He explained, "The Fresh Foam X Lav v2s didn't feel heavy, but they did feel a bit clunky due to the stiff ride. It never felt like the shoes were flexing and moving with my feet, so I was constantly aware of them. For me, a good pair of shoes feels natural and allows me to forget about them and focus on my tennis. I never observed that forgettable, natural feel in the Fresh Foam X Lav v2s."

Mark compared the Lav v2's weight to other shoes, saying, "I would say it is comparable to the weight of the Asics Gel Resolution 8 or Court FF 2."

Overall - Score: 3.6