If you’re going to pack light it’s important to utilize double-duty travel gear, so we like to review items that do more than one thing well. These New Balance shoes have treated me well on multiple trips where I wasn’t going to do any heavy-duty hiking in the mountains. For jogs, long walks on a path, and pounding the pavement in a big city, this one pair of shoes will leave your feet feeling good at the end of the day.
I’ve long been a fan of New Balance shoes because the company doesn’t pretend everyone’s feet are the same width. Most of their models come not just in multiple sizes, but multiple widths as well. For this 851 multisport model, I slipped into an extra-wide version and it fit perfectly.
If you look at the specs for this shoe on the New Balance site, you’ll see lots of capital letters and trademark signs that basically add up to this: there’s a lot of support built in. You’ve got lots of cushioning, stability control, and mid-sole support.
These sneakers also feature a water-resistant suede/mesh upper that worked well when I got caught in a couple showers. I also liked the comfy cushioned tongue, the laces that stay tied, and the fabric hook on the back for slipping them on or off.
These New Balance shoes are extremely comfortable and at 12.5 ounces, are not a big burden to pack. When I headed out for a trip to Chile this week where I would mostly be visiting wineries, biking, and walking around Santiago, these are the shoes I packed for getting around during the day.
The New Balance multisport 851 shoes list for $80, but you can get them at a discounted price at the Shop New Balance site or at Endless.com at the link below. (The men’s version model number is listed as MO851 and the women’s version as WO851.)
New Balance Men’s Mo851 Sneaker at Endless.com
New Balance Women’s Wo851 Multisport Shoe




#1 by Jennifer - August 19th, 2010 at 19:44
New Balance sneakers are the only kind I buy for this very reason – you can buy them to fit instead of having to settle for the standard width. I don’t even try on the others anymore.