u/OregonBaseballFan

Took the new NB6 out for 7.7 miles this morning. 70 degrees. Undulating and hilly road and sidewalk running. 694 feet of elevation gain. 7:48 pace.

🏃 5’4” and 125 pounds. Mid-foot striker, slight over-pronation.

I love the NB5 and have four pairs of them (including the TR version). Use them for daily runs, mostly for the easier and more leisurely daily run variety. I also have a couple pairs of SB2, which I generally use to run 10K and 15K races (and the occasional up tempo daily miles). Have never run in the Megablasts, and tried the SB3 multiple times, because I really wanted to like them, but they were just too soft for me. Felt like I was falling backwards in them. 🤷 Anyway, enough about me, here’s my NB5 vs. NB6 comparison:

Fit:
NB5: Cushy, soft, forgiving, slightly unstable, not too snug
NB6: Less cushy but more comfortable, more structured feeling, great stability, more snug and padded

Ride:
NB5: Bouncy, soft, easy, great for slower recovery all the way up to “not too aggressive” quicker paces, not very stable on corners
NB6: Springy, firmer up front and still soft on the mid-foot and heel, which is a real joy for a mid-foot striker, much more stable, true daily trainer feel

Best Use:
NB5: Better for moderate paces and recovery than a “full range, across the board” daily trainer, though it can function just fine across the board
NB6: A true daily trainer. Comfortable and fun, and is stable enough for longer runs, but is truly capable of faster paces. I assume over time it’ll be less recovery aiding than NB5 is, but time will tell on that.

Verdict:
NB5 is a true 8/10 for me. Great shoe that is deserving of the hype and adoration. They die early and feel a bit sloppy on occasion, but overall they are splendid.

If the NB6 lasts as long as the NB5 and can retain these first run qualities for even most of its lifecycle, this is a 9/10 for me. Feels like a true upgrade and is entirely worth grabbing a pair. The only shoe I’ve enjoyed more in 2026 is the Saucony Triumph 24, but those are going to be my shoe of the year, so living up to those is going to be a real challenge for any other shoe.

The fit is perfect for my feet, the tongue and collar do not irritate at all, and my goodness these are fun to run in. Just finished a hilly 6.5 mile run (87 degrees outside) and they performed extremely well and were a unique experience all around.

When I took them out of the box I immediately assumed they’d destroy my ankles. I guess I am one of the lucky ones who can work within the weird build of these shoes.

I’ve never been able to use EVO SL’s as I overpronate in them and destroy them. None of those issues with the Hyperboost Edge. Highly recommend if they properly fit onto your feet. Might mess around and run a half marathon with them this weekend. 🫡

This is a hilarious product. They look pretty dumb. They are also insanely comfortable and surprisingly/confusingly stable on and under foot.

Walked two miles (one at the beginning and one at the end) in them and easy-ran another five miles in them.

They are very heavy, but if you want to integrate a “maximum recovery and/or complete change of normal running vibes” shoe to your rotation I absolutely recommend these. They are springy and bouncy and feel very different from Vomero 18 or Vomero Plus models. If you like weird or unique stuff to keep things interesting , these are a real winner.

Finally, as impressively stable as they are, I would not recommend operating these shoes after a few beers.

Sure, I only run 40-45 miles per week, but without all of these different options I may get bored and give up. These are the things I tell myself.