New Balance Beacon v3
By Contributor Andrea Myers
The New Balance Beacon v3 is a neutral shoe that can do it all - easy
runs, intervals, and long runs. If I were stranded on an island with one
pair of running shoes, these would be my pick.
Price: $119.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 7.8 oz men’s size 9/7.1 oz women’s size 8
Stack Height: 29mm/23mm
Drop: 6mm
Classification: Neutral lightweight trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The New Balance Beacon v3 is a very neutral shoe that is lightweight,
cushioned, and has ample width and volume in the forefoot. The Fresh
Foam X midsole provides enough cushioning for easy runs on tired legs,
but plenty of responsiveness for strides and intervals. The knit upper
is soft with minimal stretch, promoting secure foot lockdown. The wide
forefoot allows for toe splay and comfort on long runs. The Beacon is a
truly neutral shoe with minimal stability features. It provides
cushioning and underfoot protection while allowing the foot to do what
it wants to do.
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FIT
The New Balance Beacon v3 fits slightly long and wide in my usual
women’s 9.5. The wide toe box is the main feature that made me try the
Beacon a couple of years ago, as I was having issues with blisters on
the medial (inside) aspect of my big toe. I am on my 7th pair of Beacons
in 2.5 years, and they have gotten me through a marathon training block
and a few thousand miles without a single blister. The midfoot and
rearfoot are wider than average, but it is easy to stabilize the foot
without heel lock lacing. There is a small cushioned internal heel
counter, but overall the heel cup is very flexible. There is also an
Ultra Heel tab that curves away from the Achilles. I have had no
Achilles or heel irritation in these shoes. The tongue is thin, lightly
padded, and is not gusseted. I have had no issues with tongue slippage
in these shoes. The flat laces have minimal stretch and securely lock
the foot down. The Fresh Foam X midsole provides lightweight, responsive
cushioning.
The outsole is almost entirely exposed midsole
foam, with shallow lugs of various sizes running the entire length of
the shoe. There are 5 lugs (2 in the posteriolateral heel and 3 in the
medial forefoot) that are covered with blown rubber. The placement of
these rubber lugs is for outsole durability, but New Balance is making a
big assumption about the biomechanics of their customers. As a midfoot
striker with initial contact in the area of the 5th MTP joint, I do not
wear the heel lugs at all and I minimally wear the medial forefoot lugs.
This results in greatly reduced durability of the outsole for me. I
have yet to get more than 200 miles out of a pair of Beacons because I
wear down the exposed midsole around the 5th MTP to wafer-like thinness.
Despite the greatly reduced durability for me, the Beacon is my
favorite daily trainer because no matter how tired my legs are, I know
that it will provide sufficient cushioning and underfoot protection
without weighing my feet down.
PERFORMANCE
The ride of the Beacon v3 is responsive and natural at every pace. The
heel bevel and mild toe spring contribute to smooth foot progression
from initial contact to push off. During easy runs, the shoe feels
cushioned without feeling soft. During faster intervals, the Fresh Foam X
becomes more responsive and the flexible forefoot and toe spring help
with turnover. Even though the heel cup is soft, I have not had any
issues with heel stability at faster paces. The traction is above
average - I have used it in torrential rain and on sand covered winter
roads without any issues. It performs well on dirt roads and moderately
technical dry trails. It would likely not perform well in mud or snow
due to the lack of deep lugs. For those not interested in plated shoes,
the Beacon would be an ideal marathon shoe due its lower weight and
responsive cushioning. In our modern world of aggressive rockers,
plates and very soft midsoles; the Beacon stands out for its responsive
midsole and promotion of natural mechanics. The Beacon will be best for
runners who are looking for a shoe that gets out of the way while
providing protection and support.
STABILITY
The Beacon v3 is one of the most neutral shoes I have run in, which is why
it is my favorite daily trainer. It is not a shoe for runners who need
motion prevention or guidance. The only mild stability features of the
Beacon are the very flexible heel counter and the mildly raised
sidewalls around the medial and lateral midfoot. I do not notice the
heel bevel due to my midfoot striking, but it likely serves to center
initial contact for heel strikers as opposed to controlling motion. The
toe spring does help the foot progress from mid-stance to toe off, but
is not a true stability feature. For runners looking for a truly neutral
shoe, the Beacon is a great option.
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| Outsole on new pair of Beacon |
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| Outsole of Beacon on another pair after 175 miles |
THOUGHTS AS A DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
What makes a particular shoe work well for one person and poorly for
another? The traditional categories of running shoes (motion control,
neutral, cushioned) are flawed; recent research has found that
prescribing footwear based on foot type does not have any effect on
injury rates (Knapik et al 2014).
How else might running form be
categorized for shoe selection if the traditional methods related to
pronation are not as useful as we thought they might be? Researchers at
the University of Calgary have described what they call the “Preferred
Movement Paradigm,” which they define by stating that “runners are
likely to maintain a consistent movement path (i.e., movement
trajectories) when changing between reasonably similar shoes” (Hoitz et
al 2020). In other words, the nervous system selects the optimal
movement pattern under a given set of conditions (footwear, level of
fatigue, pain, etc.). The researchers state that muscle activation
patterns may play a role in an individual’s preferred movement path;
therefore, a running shoe design that reduces muscular activity without
forcing the runner to alter their preferred movement path may be useful
in improving running economy or reducing injury risk. The concept of a
preferred movement paradigm in running still requires extensive further
research, including how to define an individual’s preferred movement
pattern for a given set of conditions. If researchers and clinicians are
able to further define and categorize runners’ preferred movement
patterns, we may be able to prescribe running shoes more effectively to
reduce injury rates.
This concept of a preferred movement
pattern fits nicely with my experience as a bike fitter. The best bike
fit for an individual meets the person where they currently are at from a
strength, flexibility, and biomechanical perspective. I am almost
guaranteed to cause a person pain if I put them in a position that
exceeds their current hamstring flexibility, core strength and
endurance, hip range of motion, etc. The best bike fit accommodates any
“issues” a cyclist may have while promoting optimal pedaling mechanics
for their body. Physical therapy can then address any correctable
physical impairments a rider may have, and their fit may be re-evaluated
in the future if their strength and flexibility improves.
I
envision a future of running shoe prescription that involves not only
gait analysis but also evaluation of a person’s non-running
biomechanics, strength, flexibility, and proprioception. A more complete
physical assessment will inform shoe prescription by helping the fitter
understand why a runner demonstrates a particular preferred movement
paradigm. Shoe prescription should not be limited to assessment of foot
and ankle mechanics, as it often currently is. A complete understanding
of mobility and strength of the spine, upper extremities, and lower
extremities is vital to understanding what happens at the foot and
ankle. For example, impaired thoracic and lumbar rotation may alter
lower extremity mechanics and ground reaction forces. If that runner
improves their spinal rotation, you may see a change in ground reaction
forces and contact time, R/L ground contact time balance, and vertical
oscillation. This may result in a change in the preferred movement
paradigm and a corresponding change in the type of shoe that is best for
that runner.
Runners may be categorized not only by what
happens at the foot and ankle, but by the amount of knee flexion and
ankle dorsi/plantarflexion they demonstrate at initial contact and
during mid-stance, by their pelvic stability (do they demonstrate pelvic
drop/Trendelenberg that could indicate gluteus medius weakness), spinal
mechanics, spinal rotation, arm swing, etc. Categories of running gait
impairments may be similar to the concept of Movement System Impairment
Syndromes, which is a concept extensively developed by Shirley Sahrmann,
PT, PhD (Sahrmann 2011). A similar categorization system may lend
itself to more accurate shoe prescription as compared to current common
practice.
Sources
Knapik JJ, Trone DW,
Tchandja J, Jones BH. Injury-reduction effectiveness of prescribing
running shoes on the basis of foot arch height: summary of military
investigations. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014; 44 (10): 805– 812.
Hoitz F, Vienneau J, Nigg BM (2020). Influence of running shoes on muscle activity. PLOS ONE 15(10): e0239852. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239852
Sahrmann S. Movement System Impairment Syndrome of the Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines. St. Louis: Mosby, Inc; 2011.
RECOMMENDATIONS
My only recommendation for the Beacon is to improve the durability of
the outsole for runners who do not heel strike. It is very frustrating
to buy a new pair of $120 shoes every 200 miles, but I do so because I
love the comfort and performance of the Beacon. Adding additional rubber
lugs to the outsole around the 5th MTP would not add significant weight
and would greatly increase the value of the shoe for midfoot and
forefoot strikers.
WHO THE NEW BALANCE BEACON V3 IS FOR
The New Balance Beacon v3 is a lighter weight, neutral shoe with
responsive cushioning. It is not for runners with stability needs. It is
a rare shoe that can be used for easy days, intervals, and races (for
those who do not like race flats or plated shoes). The wide toe box is
an added bonus for runners who like their shoes to be foot shaped, but
do not like the minimalist shoes that typically have this feature.
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| Peanut approved |
GRADING
Andrea
Fit: A (wide toe box, flexible heel counter, soft upper, secure lockdown)
Performance: A- (a
true jack of all trades shoe that I can trust for easy runs on dead
legs, intervals, and long runs. A- for lack of durability of the
outsole)
Stability: B (minimal stability features. a truly neutral shoe)
DPT/Footwear Science: A (wide toe box allow for normal toe splay, reducing risk of decreased blood flow in lateral plantar artery)
Personal: A (favorite daily trainer that can be used for any type of run, not an A+ due to outsole)
Overall: A (one of the best neutral shoes on the market today)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Find the New Balance Beacon v3 at Running Warehouse here. Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
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Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.
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