New Balance v1400 Racing Flats Review | The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans LLC

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See this pretty running shoe?

And this one too?

They are the same shoe- the New Balance v1400 Racing Flat- and I am in love with it.

Period, the end.  That’s all I have to say about this shoe review- I love it.

How’s that for details?

Actually, when asked to review this a racing flat, I thought to myself- I don’t race, I just run at whatever pace I feel like until I am done for that run. I don’t RACE.  Well, upon opening my new shoe box, getting my first glimpse of these beautiful shoes and then lifting them out of the box to realize they are the LIGHTEST shoes E-V-E-R, I thought *hmmm, maybe I could RACE in these shoes*.

Truthfully, I was a little skeptical about running in them and having enough support for my feet/legs.  I mean, c’mon, these shoes weigh in at 5.2oz for a women’s size 7 (I wear a women’s 9.5 so mine weight a little more than that).  However, that all changed during my first run in these bad boys.

Once my feet got used to the lighter shoe, I took off and felt like I was FLYING.  Seriously, ya’ll.  I don’t know if it’s the lighter weightload I am carrying (I am 20+ lbs lighter than I was 3 months ago), the cooler weather temperatures, or the new running shoes, but my pace has dramatically improved and I love love LOVE these shoes.  The longest distance I have run in them has been 5 miles (hey! I have been short on time of late) but my feet were happy the whole time.

Here’s what New Balance had to say about their new running shoe:

BOSTON, July 2013 –This fall 2013, Boston-based New Balance will update the award winning 1400 racing flat with the New Balance 1400v2. The 1400v2 maintains the same fit and feel runners fell in love with in the original but have focused on material innovation and weight savings through design. The 1400v2 launches with two colors for men and women in October 2013 with the suggested retail price of $99.95.

New Balance launched the 1400 series to round out the brands’ premium running footwear offering and give runners a unique racing flat perfect for race day. Runners not only embraced the 1400 series as
a go to favorite on race day but have also come to rely on this shoe for important pre-race training, thanks to the unique last and footprint of this shoe. Considering the successes of its predecessor, updates to the 1400 are minimal, ensuring the 1400v2 will continue as a favorite of elite and everyday runners around the world.

The 1400v2 maintains the same RevLite midsole, delivering a lightweight, responsive ride, but with intelligent changes to the geometry of the outsole and increasing the use of blown rubber reduce the chance of slippage and increase durability. Full ground contact through the sole unit continues to provide inherent stability and combined with the changes to the outsole rubber, ensures a secure grip
even on slick surfaces.

Reducing the use of seams and materials in the upper has created a noticeable drop in weight, with the men’s size 9.5 weighing in at 6.3oz and only 5.2oz for a women’s size 7. The secure, breathable air mesh from the original has been updated with thinner TPU films wrapping the arch, contributing to some of the weight savings. Both changes work to provide a lightweight, seamless in-shoe feel and a reduced risk of irritation at high flex points, ensuring friction is kept to an absolute minimum.

Several Team New Balance athletes, including Olympian Jenny Simpson, continue to provide key feedback on the 1400 series ensuring it meets the demands of road warriors, allowing them to achieve their race day goals. The 1400v2 delivers the lightweight, fast running experience runners crave on race day with the durability and protection they need making it a well-rounded choice for elite and everyday runners alike.

These shoes complete the running me!

*Disclaimer – New Balance provided these running shoes to me free of charge for review purposes.  As always, the opinions are all my own*

** These shoes will be featured in our Annual Holiday Gift Guide for the Runner, to be featured (and a pair given away) in the very near future!

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