Our verdict
Pros
- Highly breathable
- Lighter than average
- Wide and steady platform
- Hard-wearing outsole
- Solid grip on gym floors
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Can be worn casually
Cons
- NEW BALANCE FRESH FOAM HIERRO V6 MUJER
- new balance mtl575so made in england mtl
Audience verdict
Comparison
The most similar training shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 61 Bad! | 81 Good! | 83 Good! | 84 Good! | |
Price | $80 | $120 | $80 | $150 | |
Use | WorkoutCross-trainingGymHIITJumping rope | WorkoutCross-trainingGymHIITJumping rope | WorkoutCross-trainingGymHIITJumping rope | CrossfitWorkoutCross-trainingGymHIITJumping rope | |
Drop lab | 6.2 mm | 7.2 mm | 8.8 mm | 8.6 mm | |
New balance Calçat nens Calçat trail running | 26.9 mm | 22.0 mm | 30.6 mm | 26.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 20.7 mm | 14.8 mm | 21.8 mm | 17.4 mm | |
Weight lab | 10.2 a brand new silhouette from New Balance | 9.7 oz / 274g | 10.4 Ένδυση κεφαλιού New Balance | 11.7 oz / 332g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Breathability | Breathable | Breathable | Breathable | Breathable | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Wide | Wide | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Medium | Medium | Medium | Wide | |
Size | True to size | True to size | True to size | Slightly small | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Flexible | Stiff | Stiff | |
New Balance Roav 5 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Stiff | |
Toebox durability | Bad | Decent | Bad | Good | |
Heel padding durability | Bad | Good | Bad | Good | |
Outsole durability | Good | Good | Decent | Good | |
New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3 Black White Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers WZANTBK3 | Very wide | Wide | Wide | Narrow | |
New Balance Pantalones Cortos Printed Fast Flight 2 In 1 7 | Wide | Wide | Average | Average | |
Widths available | NormalWideX-Wide | Normal | Normal | Normal | |
Insole Coastsness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole Coastsness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole hardness | Soft | Average | Hard | Average | |
Heel tab | None | Finger loop | Finger loop | None | |
Tongue: gusset type | None | Bootie | None | Both sides (full) | |
Tongue padding | Thick | Average | Average | Average | |
Ranking | #31 Bottom 1% | #27 Bottom 12% | #23 Bottom 25% | #19 Bottom 38% | |
Popularity | #29 Bottom 6% | #2 Top 7% | #12 Top 39% | #5 Top 17% |
Who should buy
We think that the New Balance DynaSoft TRNR 2 could be a great add-on to your gym wear if:
- you are new to working out and need an affordable pair
- New Balance Furon 3.0 K Leather FG Football Boots
- you prefer to have one pair of athletic shoes for both gym and casual use
Who should NOT buy
If the shoe's dainty upper concerns you and you don't want to risk tearing it up, we recommend another affordable option, the Nike MC Trainer 2. It has a stronger toebox material.
Ladies might as well check out the women's Femme New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi v3 Black Orca Silver Metallic cross-trainer.
Cushioning
Heel stack
In training shoes, you want to remain in close contact with the ground and yet feel protected from the impact of jumps and other high-intensity movements.
We found that the New Balance TRNR 2 handles that balance pretty well. Measuring its heel stack with a caliper, we got 26.9 mm.
new balance 990v5 womens running shoes lead dark violet glo.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 26.9 mm |
Average | 24.8 mm |
Forefoot stack
In the forefoot part of the midsole, our caliper returned 20.7 mm of stack. Yet again, we found this amount of cushioning to be optimal for a wide range of gym activities.
More specifically, we tested the DynaSoft TRNR 2 for rope jumping and experienced well-cushioned landings and responsive toe-offs.
DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 20.7 mm |
Average | 18.4 mm |
Drop
Cross-training shoes typically have a very minimal difference in height between the heels and toes. This parallel-to-the-ground position is the most optimal as it helps to achieve stability and balance with less effort.
In the DynaSoft TRNR 2, the drop comes in at 6.2 mm which is standard for a cross-trainer.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 6.2 mm |
Average | 6.4 mm |
Midsole softness
While the name of the foam "DynaSoft" is associated with really plush cushioning, we found it to be only moderately soft.
Pressing our durometer against the foam, we got a reading of 26.8 HA. This is nearly the same as the average of training shoes.
You don't want plush trainers for HIIT workouts and the like. This NB trainer has just a touch of softness that makes it quite responsive for jumps.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 26.8 HA |
Average | 27.8 HA |
Insole Coastsness
We always include insole Coastsness in our stack measurements. The insole in the New Balance TRNR 2 turned out to be quite average at 3.9 mm.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 3.9 mm |
Average | 3.9 mm |
Size and fit
Size
new balance 590 v3 size us 7 5 m b eu 38 womens is true to size (22 votes).
zapatillas de running New Balance pie normal distancias cortas talla 34.5
The New Balance DynaSoft TRNR 2 wrapped around our medium-width feet like a glove. It felt close-fitting but not in a snug way and we could feel some give in its toebox mesh.
For a more precise assessment, we retrieved a gel mold of the shoe's interiors.
As expected, our caliper showed a standard reading of 96.0 mm in the widest area of the mold (near the ball of the foot).

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 96.0 mm |
Average | 96.6 mm |
New Balance 530 para Mulher Branco Womens
Cramped toes were never a concern in this NB trainer as there was very little tapering in the TRNR 2's toebox.
Measuring its width near the big toe, our caliper showed 73.5 mm which is exactly the same as the average of training shoes.
However, if have wide feet or you don't feel like yourself without ample toe space, this New Balance trainer is also available in wide and extra wide.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 73.5 mm |
Average | 72.9 mm |
Toebox height
However, the TRNR v2 might feel close-fitting because of the lower-than-average toebox height. We recorded 25.0 mm in this area.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 25.0 mm |
Average | 27.0 mm |
Stability
NEW Balance Vision Racer Jaden Smith natürliche Herren Athletic Sneakers msvrcrga | Lateral stability test
The NB TRNR 2 has a very basic training shoe construction. Unlike the famous Nike Metcon, it doesn't feature any bells and whistles for enhanced stability.
And yet, for what it's worth, we found the DynaSoft TRNR 2 to be a sufficiently steady trainer.
But if you're wondering exactly how stable flagship cross-trainers are, here is what lateral stability apoyo like in the New Balance 530 Dark Cyan.
Torsional rigidity
The DynaSoft TRNR 2 may look like a "softie" but it surely has some rigidity in its character.
Assessing the shoe's torsional stiffness in our manual test, we found that it resists being twisted. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest, we rated it with a pretty high score of 4.
Pair that with the shoe's slightly raised foam walls on the sides, and you will get a minimized risk of ankle rolls!
DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 4 |
Average | 2.7 |
New Balance Roav 5
Having a reasonably stiff heel counter is another essential component of stability and foothold. But you don't want it to be too rigid either as it could limit ankle mobility and freedom of movement overall.
We found that the TRNR 2 hits a sweet sport here with a moderately stiff heel counter. We rated it with an average score of 3 out of 5.
DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 3 |
Average | 2.7 |
New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3 Black White Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers WZANTBK3
This New Balance trainer is equipped with a nice wide platform to prevent wobbly feet and impromptu foot rolling.
Measuring the shoe's midsole in the widest part of the forefoot, we got 117.3 mm. This is notably wider than the average and is very similar to the New Balance Herren 237V1 in Braun Beige parameters.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 117.3 mm |
Average | 110.6 mm |
New Balance Pantalones Cortos Printed Fast Flight 2 In 1 7
In the widest part of the heel, we also got an above-average width of 91.6 mm. Quite surprising for a basic under-$100 trainer!

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 91.6 mm |
Average | 87.3 mm |
NEW Balance Vision Racer Jaden Smith natürliche Herren Athletic Sneakers msvrcrga | Flexibility / Stiffness
Given this New Balance shoe's simple design, there is nothing to hold back its flexibility.
Walking, jumping, holding planks, and doing burpees, our feet felt as much freedom of movement as they needed to bend.
To check the trainer's flexibility in our lab, we bent it to a 90-degree angle and measured how much effort it takes with a force gauge. With a measurement of 16.6N, we found that the TRNR 2 is indeed 20% more flexible than average!
DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 16.6N |
Average | 17.8N |
Weight
The moment we slipped into the NB TRNR 2, we knew it was lighter than many other cross-trainers on the market.
Weighing the trainer in a men's US size 9, we got 10.2 oz (289g) on our scale. This is an ounce lighter than the average and is also a bit lighter than the popular New Balance PreBoys 997H Bambino Brown Black (10.5 oz/298g).
The TRNR 2 felt exceptionally agile on foot and made exercises like high knee runs much more bearable.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 10.19 oz (289g) |
Average | 10.76 oz (305g) |
Breathability
New Balance puts a special emphasis on the TRNR 2's breathable mesh upper in its product description. And we are happy to confirm that it lives up to the claims!
Putting the TRNR 2 through our smoke-pumping machine test, we saw a substantial amount of smoke passing through the shoe's upper. Specifically in the toebox mesh!
On our breathability scale from 1 to 5, where 5 is the airiest, this NB trainer earned a solid 4 out of 5. And if you crave 5/5 ventilation, we can recommend the Adidas Dropset Trainer 2.
No wonder the TRNR gets to be so breathable! Look at all those large ventilation pores on its toebox and throughout the upper!
Using a microscope, we also investigated the shoe's mesh upper up close.
Turns out, this New Balance trainer uses a mix of different threads that are closely woven together and yet leave pretty large pores for breathability.
DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 4 |
Average | 3.6 |
Durability
Toebox durability
But to our great disappointment, the shoe's breathability comes at the price of durability. Its upper material is just too dainty to resist an abrasive force, like our Dremel for example.
It took the tool just a few seconds to leave a large hole in the shoe's mesh toebox.
For that reason, we cannot rate its toebox durability any higher than 1 on a 1-5 scale.
For the record, we apply the exact same speed (5K RPM) and pressure (3.2N) to all of our tested training shoes. And some shoes actually stand up to the test, like the Under Armour TriBase Reign 5 for example (4 out of 5).
DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 1 |
Average | 2.5 |
Heel padding durability
Much like the shoe's upper mesh, its inner lining didn't show much abrasion resistance.
Drilling it for only 4 seconds resulted in damage that was serious enough to lower the heel padding durability score to the minimum 1 out of 5.
We believe that such textile quality is way too frail, even for an $80 shoe.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 1 |
Average | 2.5 |
Outsole hardness
Given how frail the shoe's upper textile is, we were more conscious about its outsole.
Measuring rubber hardness with a durometer, we got a pretty low reading of 72.5 HC. This is 17% softer than average! Oops, is this shoe's outsole going to be torn apart too?

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 72.5 HC |
Average | 83.0 HC |
Outsole durability
As it turns out, no! Despite the correlation between rubber hardness and its durability, this New Balance trainer proves otherwise.
After 22 seconds of drilling it at a fierce speed of 10K RPM, the dent was even smaller than average!
According to our tread gauge, the dent is only 0.79 mm deep which is smaller than the typical 1 mm. apoyo like walking on concrete won't destroy the shoe's outsole so fast.
DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 0.8 mm |
Average | 1.1 mm |
Outsole Coastsness
After measuring the shoe's outsole at a pretty Coasts 4.3 mm, we felt even more reassured.
apoyo like the New Balance Dynasoft TRNR 2 can indeed be worn outside the gym. We found the shoe's outsole reinforced enough to handle pavements. However, you must be careful not to scratch the upper as it tears way too easily.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 4.3 mm |
Average | 3.6 mm |
Misc
Grip / Traction
Having gym-tested this New Balance shoe, we found that its traction pattern is ideal for this setting.
Two different types of treading with sharp lugs are optimized for multi-directional movements and bite the gym floor like hungry.
Tongue padding
This New Balance shoe didn't skimp on padding around the collar and in the tongue. Our caliper showed a generous 8.3 mm of foamy comfort in the latter.
No wonder the brand recommends it for all-day wear!

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | 8.3 mm |
Average | 5.4 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
The shoe's tongue has no ideas on the sides which may result in slight tongue shifting. But this wasn't a glaring issue for us and took a seconds to fix.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | None |
Heel tab
No finger loops or pull tabs are present in the TRNR 2. But you can grab the shoe's extended heel collar lip to help yourself get in.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | None |
Removable insole
The stock insole is easy to take out of the New Balance TRNR 2 in case you need to use custom orthotics.

DynaSoft TRNR v2 | Yes |