New Balance Lerato Running Shoes - AW21

Product Information

Nils: There are some shoes that just fit. And the New Balance Lerato is one of them. The well (but not overly) padded upper and luxury all around it holds my feet and especially the heels safely in place.

The laces contribute to the style and high-end feel as well with seamless molded plastic aglets and reflective stitching. The Lerato is a professional, luxury shoe with top-notch comfort and fit. Certain types of items cannot be returned. Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item. The Lerato is a highly stylized, luxury-style, maximal trainer. It is a high-quality running shoe, but not a performance-first shoe. The Lerato blends New Balance premium construction and classic style of the daily wear 990 with a modern foam and leg-saving carbon plate leading to quite a unique shoe. How does this fashion-meets-performance shoe run? Let’s get into the details.For example the “decorative” cord reinforcements around the lace up area are for visual appeal but also are functional as while the laces run through holes for the first 3 eyelets they run through cord loops for the front two. I assume to provide a bit more give where the foot flexes towards the toe off. Ivan: Both are top tier “hybrid” shoes and great for both running and everyday wear. The Lerato feels much heavier, but also more bouncy and cushioned. The Ultraboost has a more efficient and snappy ride with it’s torsion system.

If you are an experienced runner and/or elite runner, you should/can use the shoe for the same purpose as me. And if you then need a similar experience in a lighter racer-version, you should consider FuelCell TC or the ultimate racer FuelCell RC. Jeff: These two feel and kind of look like they are cut from the same cloth (my Triumph 18 are the gray with gray colorway), but there’s no doubt that the Lerato is the bigger/softer model. The Triumph isn’t what anyone would think of as a “firm” shoe, but in a left/right comparison with the Lerato, the Triumph feels scaled down and dull. I much prefer the upper construction and fit of the Triumph, though from a comfort perspective the T18 just dropped a number of rungs by sheer comparison. Out on the road it’s a different story, with the Triumph slotting in very cleanly anywhere from a regular daily trainer to your long slow day/recovery run big protection shoe. The Lerato is an incredible answer to the question nobody is asking. 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. Heavy at 11.78 oz /334g men’s US9, 9.98 oz /283 g women’s US8 Sam/Jacob/Derek/Ivan/Nils/Jeff/Sally/Adam Breaking news! A one-of-a-kind running shoe which has discovered a niche in the market has just been released. A shoe which certainly cannot be compared with any other shoe.

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Jeff: You don’t see many brands compete with themselves as effectively as New Balance has done with the Lerato. Because in broad terms, it’s the luxury version of the Fuel Cell TC, with the focus on the runner enjoying the experience far more than hitting any PRs are putting any serious training in the mix. I try to weigh shoes only after I’ve gotten a few runs in them, if only so the number on the scale doesn’t influence my impression of a shoe - lots of shoes are heavy on the scale but not so much on the foot. I was blown away by just how heavy the Lerato felt on the foot, though I think it is as much as reflection on how overbuilt the plastic heel counter is. Most shoes don’t have much flex there, but this feels more ski boot than running shoe in that regard. I didn’t find any sizing problems, my 10.5 fit me perfectly. One final thing, make no mistake with the looks and build, this is the premium Dad Shoe of 2021. The “N” has a translucent overlay filling it for support but also creates a subtle contrast while the knit collars and tongue add a darker contrast. On top of the FuelCell-foam you will find the carbon plate which clearly provided me with enormous propulsion on my runs. The full-length and curvy carbon plate forces your motion on to the forefoot to provide a very speedy take-off.

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. Jeff: The Lerato is unique, in that it toes the line between bouncy and springy very well. To some, those words mean the same thing, but I like to think of bouncy as a function of vertical movement and springy as a function of forward movement. Perhaps its a result of a relatively flat plate paired to a bouncy midsole material. Either way, the result is a fun shoe to run in that doesn’t have a clearly defined purpose. It isn’t a race shoe, but it feels like too much of something to be your go-to daily trainer. New Balance men’s running shoes are renowned for their sleek designs, lightweight materials and supreme cushioning. For something better suited to long-distance running, opt for the 880, which features a breathable mesh FantomFit upper with a no-sew overlay engineered for ultra-light support. In my view, Lerato is a world class running shoe which really sets new standards. It will help many runners reach their targets.

However I also have to mention the weight as a limiting factor for the Lerato. I wouldn’t take them for anything longer than a mid distance run as well as nothing faster than general aerobic efforts. And the shoe is actually asking for exactly this more moderate use, because it’s plate loads up the most while heel striking. 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?

If you on the other hand are a fairly new runner or exerice runner, Lerato is a completely amazing choice for all of your weekly runs.Also of note both visually and functionally we have a sewn strip of gray reflective material that not only completely wraps the rear of the shoe but extends completely around the eyelets material up front. There are also reflective patches at both sides of the toes. A tremendous safety feature that ties in with the visual design very effectively The upper is designed in light mesh providing great ventilation for your feet, so they can stay dry and comfortable throughout your workout. In addition the area around the heel is produced in hard TPU to keep your heel in place and ensure a stable gait. Midsole