New Balance Fresh Foam Lav Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.7

One category in this test really stood out for our testers, and that was comfort. From the Fresh Foam midsoles to the Kinetic Stitch full-bootie uppers, the Lavs were packed with technologies that ensured our testers were feeling good on court. Sean's expectations were set high as he eyed his pair of Lavs. He described, "As a big fan of bootie shoes, I was excited to try the Lavs on, and I’m glad to report that I was not disappointed. These shoes had a snug fit, but they were flexible thanks to all the mesh in the uppers, and the padded heel collars held my feet in well. Rings on the heels helped me get these shoes on and were a subtle but much-appreciated feature. The midsole hexes are wider in the heel for a plush feel and are tighter up near the toe for more responsiveness. I loved that blend! These are easily some of the most comfortable shoes I've worn."

Cushioning is always important to Troy, and he was pleased with what the Lavs had to offer. He said, "The first time I slipped these shoes on my feet I noticed the plush cushioning from the Fresh Foam in the midsoles. The cushioning in the heel of these Fresh Foam Lavs was very squishy and comfortable, almost adidas BOOST-like in that sense. In the forefoot, these shoes were low to the ground and had a very responsive court feel. Usually, shoes that are lower in the forefoot don't provide enough cushioning and feel too firm, but the Lavs had the perfect balance of court feel and comfortable cushioning under the balls of my feet. The bootie construction of these shoes contoured to my feet like gloves. I found the arch support solid enough that I never needed to use my Superfeet Premium Insoles. The knit upper material provided better-than-average ventilation, considering the weight of the shoes. I found better ventilation with these Lav shoes than my usual go-to shoes, the Asics Gel Resolution 7s. I love the way these Lavs contoured to my feet. At the beginning of the playtest the bootie construction allowed the shoes to hug my feet to the point where I didn't even need to lace them up to have enough support."

Despite his wider feet, Jason felt the Lavs fit well. He explained, "I love the addition of Fresh Foam to the midsole. It gives these shoes a very cushioned ride in the heel and a more responsive ride in the forefoot. I thought they fit my feet fairly well even though they are medium-width shoes. The knit uppers stretched and conformed well to my wider feet. These are shoes that I would wear to play tennis in and leave on afterward because they are so comfortable."

All-around comfort was also consistent for Chris, who has narrow feet and a high arch. He commented, "The Fresh Foam Lavs took no break-in and felt very comfortable from the first wear of the test to the last. The uppers wrapped my feet nicely. They also flexed and moved with my feet very well, so I didn't experience any hot spots. I liked New Balance's use of Fresh Foam cushioning. My feet felt well protected from the hard courts, yet I still found a stable platform with enough court feel to move confidently. There was also ample support to protect my high arches. I always felt very comfortable in the Lavs, and they have become a go-to option for me."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.4

As with many top-of-the-line shoes these days, the Lavs do not rely on a large chassis, instead achieving stability by reinforcing the uppers with a proprietary knit structure. This construction, called Kinetic Stitching, keeps the wearer's feet locked down without being rigid. The stability impressed Chris. He elaborated, "I loved the supportive ride I found in these shoes. I did notice the uppers opening up as the test wore on. I used two pairs of socks to make up for the added room, which is actually how I prefer to play, so all was good. I continued to find a secure fit and thought it complemented the stable platform of the midsoles very well. I found enough stability for my arches, heels and ankles to feel secure. I never felt like I was going to roll an ankle, and I played for the whole month without feeling any strains or pains in my feet."

Although the Lavs were sufficiently stable for Jason, he noticed his heel sliding out occasionally. He said, "The Kinetic Stitching did a really good job keeping my feet stable during side to side movements. I never felt like my ankles were in danger of rolling over mid-match. My one slight knock would be the minor heel slippage I felt. If there were one more set of eyelets on the shoe it would have let me cinch the shoes up enough to alleviate this issue."

Like Chris, Sean found his shoes plenty stable at first, but he felt that they weakened toward the end of the playtest. He said, "My pair of Lavs were sufficiently stable throughout pretty much the entirety of the playtest. Even though they had no break-in, the Kinetic Stitch uppers offered a great blend of flex and support. It wasn't until the end of the playtest that I felt the uppers were starting to flex too much."

Troy had his doubts about the stability of the Lavs, but like the others, he was impressed once he hit the court. He said, "The low-to-the-ground ride in the forefoot combined with the Kinetic Stitch technology to provide a high level of support. I was somewhat surprised by the level of lateral stability. Right out of the box the Lavs didn't feel as rigid as the adidas Barricade 2018s; they had a softer, more supple feel from the start. With that being said, I found plenty of support and stability. I never worried that I might roll an ankle when I came to an aggressive lateral stop from a full-speed sprint. As with most shoes, these Lavs lost a bit of support as their materials started to stretch and soften toward the end of the playtest. These shoes are a bit less supportive and stable than the Barricade 2018s or Gel Resolution 7s, but the support and stability were better than most other shoes. I would feel confident using the Lavs in a tournament."

Toe Durability - Score: 3.5

Underneath the hood, the Lavs feature New Balance's NDurance rubber outsoles, and while our testers weren't blown away by the durability of their pairs, any potential souring was neutralized by the complimentary six-month durability guarantee. "The durability from the Fresh Foam Lavs was decent," Chris said. "I saw some balding of the outsole tread under the big toe area of my right shoe. I also had some scuffing to the uppers above the toes on my left shoe. Both areas held up well, and I expect to get many more hours on the shoes before they are worn through. I like that the shoes feature a six-month durability guarantee, which gives frequent players some peace of mind."

Sean seemed a little lukewarm about the durability of his pair, but the durability guarantee quelled his anxieties. He explained, "I wasn't very impressed with how quickly my pair of Lavs started to smooth on the outsoles. What was impressive was how evenly the tread was wearing out (normally, tread wears through very quickly right under my big toe). For lightweight shoes, I would say they last longer than average, but these aren't really lightweight shoes. Luckily, the six-month durability guarantee helps players like myself get a second life for my money."

In many ways, Troy's experience echoed what Sean and Chris were feeling. Namely, the durability wasn't great, but for two pairs, it's a pretty decent deal! He said, "I found the durability to be lower than I expected considering the weight of these shoes. My first impression was that there was a somewhat minimal look to the outsoles. Specifically, I noticed that there wasn't a significant amount of rubber protection on the toe region. After about a month of wear I had some balding under the balls of my feet and at the tip of the toes. About halfway through the playtest I found out that these shoes are backed by a six-month durability guarantee. I’m much more confident in purchasing these shoes knowing that I can potentially get two pairs for their premium price."

Unlike the rest of the team, Jason saw little extended wear on his pair, but like the others, he too appreciated the durability guarantee. He said, "I was able to put about 10 hours on the Lavs, and the outsoles showed very little wear and tear. Add the fact that these shoes have a six-month durability guarantee, and even the most demanding player should have little to worry about."

Traction - Score: 4.6

Lovers of grippier outsoles will be excited to hear that the Lavs are on the stickier side. Fortunately, this was not excessive, and our testers never felt they were getting too stuck to the court. On the contrary, they found that the level of grip suited their aggressive cuts and turns extremely well. From the grippier beginning to the smoother finish, the Lavs kept Troy moving effectively around the court. He described, "I loved the traction these shoes provided. Out of the box, there was a high level of grip to the court surface. They didn't feel overly sticky, and I found that my stops and starts were very controlled. As the outsoles wore down a bit I found a little more give to the traction. Toward the conclusion of the playtest I was able to get a bit of slide at the end of aggressive stops, but I still felt very controlled when changing directions. Although the outsoles weren't the most durable, I loved the amount of grip they provided."

Jason enjoyed the level of grip the outsoles offered on court. He said, "The unique outsole pattern provided really good traction on the hard court. I thought it had a nice blend of give and grip, erring on the side of grip."

As a fan of grippier outsoles, Chris agreed that the Lavs were designed for traction. He said, "I found the outsoles of the Fresh Foam Lavs to be built for grip rather than give. It was a little tougher to slide out of shots in these shoes compared to the Asics Solution Speed FF or the Nike Air Zoom Vapor X. On the flip side, the amount of grip available at push-off was superb. I felt like I could explode into my sprints and cover the court very well. I found enough give to be able to pivot easily and transition into quicker, smaller steps as I approached the ball, without the shoes getting hung up on the court."

Like the others, Sean thought the outsoles had plenty of grab to them, which he seemed to prefer. He commented, "The outsoles felt like they were on the stickier side for me. I remember trying to slide in my pair fresh out of the box, to no avail. Fortunately, I don't slide much anyway, so the traction helped me dig in and feel fast out on court."

Weight - Score: 4.4

Although the Lavs come in at a hefty 15.4 ounces for a size 10.5, you would never believe it if you didn't put them on a scale. Our testers were expecting the weight to be lower after wearing their pairs, which indicates that there's more to the story than numbers suggest. Sean explained his experience, saying, "I was surprised to see the number on the scale after wearing my pair. Even though a 10.5 comes in at 15.4 ounces, that weight was well disguised, and I felt like I was still moving my fastest in these shoes."

Chris offered, "I never once thought about the weight of these shoes when playing. The Fresh Foam Lavs felt like an extension of my feet, and I felt very natural moving in them. I liked the way the uppers flexed and moved with my feet, which made it easy to forget about the shoes and focus on my play. Combined with the traction, the comfort and flex of the shoes gave them a very fast feel."

Jason, who prefers lighter shoes, never felt sluggish on court in his Lavs. He said, "If you're like me, you love lightweight, speedy tennis shoes, so don't get discouraged by the static weight of the Lavs. Once I had them on court, I didn't give the weight a second thought. They feel lighter than 15.4 ounces (size 10.5). Could they be lighter? Sure. But they definitely weren't cumbersome."

As with Jason, Troy never had to worry about the weight of his shoes. He said, "These shoes felt a bit lighter than the weight on the scale would indicate. I wouldn't consider the Lavs especially lightweight, but they flexed with my feet very well. They never felt clunky, even my first time on court. These shoes weigh a bit more than the Barricade 2018s and Asics Gel Resolution 7s, but they actually felt less rigid and had a shorter break-in than those shoes. I think that the low-to-the-ground ride also helped provide a fast feel on court. These Lavs didn't have an ultra-fast feel, like the Babolat Jet Mach IIs, but I definitely did not feel bogged down or slow while wearing them."

Overall - Score: 4.6