New Balance TWO WXY V5 Summary
The New Balance TWO WXY V5 is a versatile basketball shoe and just might be one of the best bang-for-your-buck options out there.
Release Date: 2025
Price: $120
Pros:
- Elite traction
- Excellent versatile cushioning
- Great value
Cons:
- Synthetic materials
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New Balance has been churning out excellent basketball shoes over the last few years. In 2024, they put out one of the best shoes of the year, and perhaps the best New Balance Basketball shoe ever, the New Balance Fresh Foam BB V2. The New Balance TWO WXY V5, therefore, has a very high bar to clear.
Jamal Murray and Dejounte Murray were the main players to lace up this model in the NBA, and they’re good examples of the type of players that will enjoy the TWO WXY V5, and whom the shoe is designed for. The TWO WXY line is “New Balance’s Hyperdunk”. It’s their crowd-pleasing, super versatile, do-it-all basketball shoe. But is the V5 as good as previous TWO WXYs? lets find out
UPDATE: The New Balance TWO WXY V5 made it onto our list of the the best outdoor basketball shoes of the year, and our list of the best basketball shoes in terms of ankle suport.
New Balance TWO WXY V5 Review
New Balance TWO WXY V5 Traction
This was a standout feature in the V4, and it is once again in the V5. In this new version, the traction pattern is slightly different, utilizing exclusively that “suction cup” style pattern that was on half of the sole of the V4 and ran full length on the New Balance Fresh Foam BB V2. This setup is elite. It was in the Fresh Foam BB, and it is in this shoe.
The multidirectional coverage is flawless, the rubber bites the court extremely well, and no matter what surface you decide to play on, it stops on a dime. This outsole is also super durable and can handle any style of outdoor court. As far as traction is concerned, this is one of the best shoes I have tested this year, and I have tested some really great gripping shoes.
New Balance TWO WXY V5 Cushion
The New Balance TWO WXY V5 features a dual-density foam setup. In the heel, we have a substantial portion of Fresh Foam, and from the midfoot forward, we have FuelCell. Fresh Foam is a softer and plusher compound, and Fuel Cell is more elastic and reactive. Both of these foams are great, but they are very different, so the main concern here is whether they would play well together in the same midsole.
I am pleased to inform you that, thanks to the implementation of the midsole, the combo works seamlessly. We could have had a situation where the shoe feels mushy in the heel and stiff in the forefoot, but that isn’t the case.
The New Balance TWO WXY V5 offers a very fluid and bouncy ride on the court. It’s the type of setup that is made to fit most playing styles and body types. I personally prefer setups that are closer to max cushioning similar to the Fresh Foam BB. But this setup is completely serviceable.
New Balance TWO WXY V5 Materials
The materials are comprised of a mix of mesh and synthetics for a lighter weight. As far as textiles and synthetics go, these feel pretty good in hand and perform well on court. They take no time to break in, they are light and well-ventilated. On top of that, in many cases, when I am testing textile-based shoes, containment is an issue. Not here.
The upper is reinforced in all the right places so that, when you screech to a halt on court (and the traction WILL have you stopping on a dime), your foot isn’t going anywhere. I’m 6’4″, 220 lbs, and it was more than enough to keep up with me. The fuse overlays, the portions of the midsole that wrap the upper, and the changes in the weave of the textile upper all work together to keep your foot contained and secure.
The one (minor) issue I had was the fact that there are no premium materials used. I think that a couple of premium hits would have really put this shoe on a different level, and New Balance is usually the go-to brand for upper materials. Hopefully we get a colorway that utilizes premium touches.
New Balance TWO WXY V5 Support
The support is another solid aspect of the TWO WXY V5. As I’ve mentioned, the upper does a great job of keeping your foot locked down, and the midsole is stable and bouncy underfoot. You also have a heavily structured heel with a hefty external heel counter. Basketball shoes do nothing to prevent ankle sprains, but this shoe does give you that placebo feeling.
The shoe is also equipped with a substantial TPU midfoot torsional plate, which is super effective. There’s nothing groundbreaking in the TWO WXY V5, but everything works great to create a very secure and stable shoe.
New Balance TWO WXY V5 Fit
The TWO WXY V5 fits true to size, so go with whatever size you usually use. Just to be clear, I am talking about your US size. European sizing is tricky in New Balance. I experienced some pinching at the midfoot of my left foot while the shoe was breaking in, but once they did, they offered a comfortable 1:1 fit thanks to the interior tongue padding.
New Balance TWO WXY V5 Overall
I really liked the New Balance TWO WXY V5, even though I tend to like a bit more cushioning and raw materials included in my shoes. This is s super versatile basketball shoe with some elite features. Not only because it is built to cater to most playing styles, but because it will be able to handle the hardwood and the black top without skipping a beat.
It’s also a great value pick. $120 is currently a very reasonable price for a basketball shoe, especially for a basketball shoe as solid as this one. It is not the flashiest performance model, and there is no big name attached to it, but just going off pure performance, these are nice.
