New Balance Leadville 1210 Review

First Impressions

Out of the box, the Leadville 1210 has a conservative but high tech look. The synthetic mesh uppers and overlays give an old school looking shoe a modern appearance. I was immediately attracted to them and couldn’t wait to put them to the test. At the outset, the midsoles felt a little stiff, taking a few runs to break-in. Thereafter, they became increasingly comfortable.

Features

The Leadville 1210 is engineered for the ultra-runner. For the amount of cushioning and material, the trail shoes are surprisingly light. They are smartly adapted to accommodate foot swelling with more volume on top of the foot and ample room in the deeper, wider toe box. At the outset of a run and after feeling broken-in, the shoes felt top heavy. With more material and space, they were a little bulky. Keeping in mind their purpose of the longest of hauls, the further out the benefits of the more expansive design became clear. The secondary materials on the uppers made for increased flexibility and support, which helped to fine tune the fit. The size, spacing, and materials allowed my naturally swelling feet to settle-in comfortably.

The small medial post on the inside edge helped to add stability to the midsole and discouraged over pronation. The eight millimeter offset from heel to toe offered a stable platform, which improved mid-foot striking form. The stitch free design of the tongue to the gusset and eyehole is intended to keep the shoe debris free, which helped to keep my feet blister free. With respect to traction, the shoes performed well especially on hard pack trails. The outsole has harder, more durable rubber on the outer edge with softer, tackier rubber in the center; it is responsive and has a full length grip. The tread pattern is designed to have all-purpose grip. Traction was best on terrains with fewer demands for handling and agility.

Specs
Upper: Synthetic/mesh
Sole: REVlite midsole, N2 cushioning, Vibram outsole
Drop: 8 mm
Weight: 20.6 oz per pair (men’s size 11.5)

Fit

With its fuller volume and increased room in the toe box, the Leadville 1210 became increasingly comfortable as longer runs stretch into their latter halves. The traditional laces can be easily tightened or loosened; the knots held firm. However, I would have preferred a longer tongue for greater ease in making adjustments. The shoe was snug through the heel and mid-foot and a little long in length. On the furthest of runs, they offered a smooth ride with no hotspots.

Final Verdict

The New Balance Leadville 1210 is built to adapt to your feet over the long haul. Although the shoe takes a little getting used to, by runs end, my feet had practically morphed into the shoe. Although the $125 MSRP is a little pricey, the Leadville 1210 will deliver you to the finish of your furthest runs. It’s won’t be the shoes breaking down.

Thanks for reading another outdoor gear review from GearGuide. And thanks to New Balance for providing product for this review.