The New Balance 1500 is a shoe that has kind of flown under the radar since its release. I’ve not heard a lot of chatter about it, but those I know who have tried it have generally had good things to say. Given my affinity for low-profile racing shoes, I decided to buy a pair and see what they’re all about – I’m glad that I did as the 1500 is a pretty simple yet functional shoe.
The 1500 is part of a quartet of New Balance racing shoes. The 1400, one of my favorite all-around shoes, is a bit more cushioned, particularly under the heel, and is suitable for longer miles (v3 of the 1400 is coming soon!). The 1600 is a bit less shoe, and the 5000 is an ultralight speed shoe. Among these, the 1500 is unique in that it has a medial post and thus is touted as being suitable for mild overpronators. Let me address this right off the bat – the shoe does have a post, but it’s small and I can honestly say that I have never noticed it on the run. Don’t let this scare you from trying the shoe.
Specs
Per Running Warehouse the New Balance 1500 weighs in at 7.3 oz in men’s size 9, and has stack heights of 23mm heel, 16mm forefoot. As I typically do in racing shoes, I went up half a size from my normal and the fit is near perfect.
Upper Construction and Fit
For a racing shoe, the fit of the 1500 is fantastic. It hugs my foot without being overly tight anywhere, and the forefoot is decently roomy. The upper is fairly simple in construction – it’s composed mostly of a breathable mesh and welded overlays.There is only one set of seams from the back of the midfoot forward (located in the region of the arch), so this shoe might be a good candidate for those who like to run sockless. The ankle collar and tongue are lightly padded and lined by a nice, smooth fabric. There is a fairly prominent heel counter, but this has not caused me any problems.
I’m also impressed by how the 1500 looks – my pair in gray is fairly subdued, but in a good way. It’s a shoe that can be used casually without making it look like you’re about to run a 5k.
Sole
The sole of the 1500 is pretty firm, and not very resilient. I often find this to be the case with New Balance’s RevLite midsole foam (though not in the 1400 v2 for some reason). For longer, slower miles it feels kind of dead, but the ride improves when you pick up the pace (this is kind of how I felt about the NB 1600 and the Skechers GoMeb Speed 1 and 2). For that reason I would not personally consider this shoe for a marathon, but it would work well for a 5K or maybe even a half. It’s also a shoe that can handle speed work. The main issue though is that for the same purposes you can get a lighter, flashier shoe in the 1600. My guess is the 1500 was made for those who wouldn’t consider the 1400 or 1600 due to the lack of stability elements (mainly a marketing move if you ask me).
One of the things that I really like about the 1500 is the outsole. It’s full coverage, so durability should be good, and the forefoot is covered by rubber nubs that are very grippy. They almost could be called lugs, and for this reason the 1500 could even double as a light-duty trail shoe. It’s not going to handle mud, but the grip is good enough that I was able to run a few times over crusty ice in them without much problem this winter.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a firm, lightweight racer and are hesitant to try any shoe that doesn’t have a post or other stability elements, the 1500 would be a solid choice. If you’re afraid of stability elements, don’t worry, they are really noticeable in this shoe. It doesn’t offer the most comfortable ride for long, slow distance, but it has a bit of snap when you pick up the pace. It’s also pretty generous in forefoot space for a flat, so not a bad choice if you like a bit of extra room up front.
The New Balance 1500 is available for purchase at Running Warehouse, Zappos, and Amazon. Purchases from these retailers help to support this site – thanks!
About Peter Larson
Hi, how would your compare the 1500 with the NB Zante ? I really like the ride and fit of the Zante. For that reason i am intrigued by the 1500 and the rest of the line, but don´t have yet any experiences with other New Balance racing shoes. The Zante is my shoe of the year so far, versatile trainer/racer,for my taste very well balanced between speed and comfort. I´m a bit concerned about the revlite midsole material. I do have the NB 890 v4 and i hated it, as a daily trainer not a bad shoe in general, but the revlite midsole felt very unresponsive/slow/dead, at least in the 890v4. I am a neutral, mid-/forefoot striker. Given the fact, that i like shoes like the Zante as well as Adios Boost and Mizuno Wave Hitogami for tempo driven daily training and long distance racing (HM/Marathon), how would be your comparison to the 1500 or would be the 1400 a better match ? Many thanks for any thoughts!
I much prefer the Zante over the 1500 for anything over 5 or so miles for the same reasons you mention. More cush under the heel and a more comfortable ride. For me the RevLite feels dead unless you really pick up the pace. For some reason the 1400 felt better to me though and I loved that shoe. Just ordered the 1400 v3 so hoping it still has a similar feel to v2. Another you might like given the shoes you mentioned is the Asics Hyperspeed.
I’ll add my thoughts too. I’ve run in Zante, 1500, 1400, adios boost and like all of them in different ways. Honestly though for road racing, I’d stick with Zante or adios boost (a couple of my current favorites) I feel, like you mentioned, that the revlite for some reason (I think lack of resiliency which they compromise to get weight down…1400 for ex. is only 6.5 oz! with similar stack to adios) just feels dead for faster running (1600 and 1400 are best of revlite models I think just because they are so light that the lack of responsiveness is less noticeable…agree that 890s are terrible in that regard). I actually run the 1400 and 1500 mostly on trails and prefer them for that over roads (i.e. I wouldn’t run a road marathon in either 1400 or 1500)…1400s on trails are a really fun shoe though! You might like the new inov-8 Road-X-Treme 220 that just came out here: link to runningwarehouse.com Ran them yesterday for the first time and they have a great fit with a fast, but fairly cushioned/responsive ride for such a low shoe. -David
Thank you guys! I agree with the revlite material. In my dreams a shoe with a fresh foam midsole design made of boost material would be awesome :-) Your comments helped a lot to clarify my uncertainties in choosing between 1400, 1500 or 1600. I think i will try out the 1400/1600. Got the Asics Hyperspeed on my list too due to my recent good experiences with the Asics DS Racer (not that responsive like an Adios Boost, but quite comfy in my opinion, maybe somehow similar with the 1400 ?). Thanks too to for the inov-8 Road-X-Treme 200, wow, the description looks very intriguing… Best regards from Germany
I think I am on the opposite side, guys… :-)
I have run a lot of miles in 1400V1&V2 (really love them both) and few in the Zante (great shoes too). I prefer the 1500 to the others.
More forgiving and solid than the 1400s, and the forefoot cushioning can handle better longer distances. And I find its ride quite bouncy.
Although I am a moderate overpronator, I avoid wearing stability shoes. Don’t like them and don’t care about the overpronation “thing”.
I find the medial post of the 1500 noticeable but it doesn’t interfere with my gait. Moreover, when I pick up the pace, I think that it gives a bit of extra stiffness for better transition.
I find the fit of the 1500 perfect! Don’t know how but at the same time it feels right for both a trainer or a racer!
If I should run in only one pair of shoes, that would be the 1500. For my taste, of course…
Thanks for the review, Pete.
I have really loved the RC1600 as a racing flat, I have run 3k track, 5k track, several 10k and also a half marathon in them successfully but durability of the outsole was disappointing. The outsole basically fell off/fell into pieces after 200 miles (320 km’s). Perhaps not surprising for a low-weight racer but nevertheless disappointing. I have several running friends who are big fans of the RC1400 as a light weight trainer or long distance racing shoe but have heard a couple of negative verdict of the 1500 when in comes to stifness, running feel.
One more amazing article on this blog. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Pete,
I’m coming back from about an 18 month layoff and at 225lbs would this be a suitable shoe to get back started in? I prefer lighter shoes but need a bit of stability as well as I moderately pronate.
Thanks in advance and keep up the great work!
Looks like my comment was deleted for some reason?
Hi Pete,
I’m coming back from an 18 month layoff and was wondering if this is a shoe I could use to start off again at 225lbs. I prefer lighter shoes but need a bit of stability as well, as I tend to overpronate.
Thanks in advance and keep up the great work!
Not deleted, I just have to approve first time commenters. Helps keep the spam down :)
I think it could be a reasonable choice, decent cushion and a touch of stability, pretty firm sole so unlikely to cave in much during pronation. Others to consider would be the Saucony Fastwitch and the Asics DS Racer.
Thanks for the reply. I have a pair on the way.
Sorry about the double post, I didn’t realize the comment format was changed. Cheers.
Hi, I’ve been looking into getting a new pair of shoes. I run daily on grass, the road, and compressed dirt trails. And I was wondering if you could help me choose between the New Balance Zante, 1500v1 or the Nike LunarTempo. Like which pair would last long, be comfortable and yeah. Right now I’m wearing the Nike Free Flyknit 4.0.
The 1500 would be the stiffest and firmest of the three, Zante is softer and a smoother ride. LunarTempo is similar to the Zante in that way. Personally, among the three I’d go for the Zante, but for speedwork the 1500 might be a bit snappier. I’ve only run in the LunarTempo a few times so far so don’t have a strong opinion on it.
Great shoe! I use it for most of my races. Gives me just the right amount of support to get through a half-marathon.
Sizing? In the 1400, I’m a 10, a perfect, snug but not constructive, 10. In the RC5000, I’m a snug 9.5. In the Dante (at the outlet store) in a 9, oddly. Thoughts?
I wear the same size as I wear in the 1400.
The last is the same as the Zante (VL-6)) so it is wider than 1400, but not much difference in length than 1400. I also wear same size across all 4 of those shoes.
This pair is really good value for money. I bought this last year and still use until now – I’m impressed!