Nike Structure 25 vs New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v14:
Which to Choose

Start with how alike they are, because it's striking. Both weigh right around 300g in a men's shoe (the Structure 25 about 302g, the 860v14 about 295g) — a difference small enough that no runner will feel it. Both share a traditional 10mm heel-to-toe offset and land near 36–37mm of heel stack, so the rearfoot geometry and heel-strike protection are effectively matched. Neither uses a plate; both lean on firm, moderately resilient foam — Nike's Cushlon 3.0 versus New Balance's Fresh Foam X — and both are honest about the trade-off: they feel a touch dead at true recovery jogging pace and come alive only when you run with purpose, topping out around 4:45–5:00 min/km before the firm build starts to feel heavy. Where they actually diverge is subtle but real. The 860v14 carries a few more millimeters of foam under the forefoot (roughly 27.5mm versus the Structure's ~24.6mm), which gives it a slightly more cushioned, marginally springier toe-off, while the Structure sits lower and firmer up front for more direct road feedback and a more grounded, planted feel. Their support philosophies differ in mechanism more than in result: the Structure 25 abandons a firm medial post for a wide base with guide-rail-style geometry, while the 860v14 uses medial support geometry (its Stability Plane) — both deliver non-corrective, "guides you rather than shoves you" stability. The single most decision-relevant difference isn't in the ride at all: the 860v14 comes in four widths (narrow, standard, wide 2E, and extra-wide 4E), whereas the Structure 25 offers only standard and wide.