Truthfully, I haven’t run in a lot of New Balance. Many moons ago, I was injured in my final year of running cross country. I had been “fitted” for a pair of New Balance shoes, and they were the last pair of trainers before my cyst injury took me out in 2012. It wasn’t the shoes fault, but since then I haven’t found a lot of New Balance shoes that feel comfortable to me.
I’ve tried the New Balance 880 as well as the Fresh Foam Zante. Both are quality shoes, but they both didn’t have the maximum and plush cushion that I prefer.
Enter the New Balance 1080.
This has quickly become a staple in my rotation as one of my favorite shoes. New Balance isn’t paying me to tell you that, and I’m not Emma Coburn’s teammate. In fact, I’m as a surprised as you are of how much I like the shoe!
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v8 Fit:
As someone with a more full foot and toebox, I appreciate that the 1080 has a full, seamless, toe box. It’s deep enough to hold an insert and wide enough to have plenty of space if you’re dealing with bunions or need extra space. I wear anywhere between a 10-11 wide in running shoes, and the 10.5 regular width is comfortable for me.
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v8 Ride:
I’ve tried on previous versions of the 1080 but never run in them. This is my first review of the 1080. From my knowledge, the 1080v8 hasn’t been updated too much since V7 (version 7). Most people who have liked the previous versions, also like the V8.
For how much cushion is in the 1080, it’s much stiffer than other plush models such as the Brooks Glycerin or Saucony Triumph. The stiffness allows a bit more responsiveness. Another note is the shoe feels much flatter than many other plush brands and has an 8 mm drop.
One thing I appreciate is the flex grooves in the forefoot. As someone who runs very far on their forefront, it’s support and flexibility I need. I’ve run both on the treadmill and outdoors, and the shoe feels great.
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v8 Conclusions
Although I haven’t worn previous versions, I know there aren’t significant changes to the shoe. If you like the previous version, then you will continue to like the 1080. If you’re new to the shoe, like me, then you’ll enjoy how soft and cushioned it is.
As you can see, my shoe rotation has currently changed, and I have a lot of shoe reviews to catch up on:
Easy Runs/Daily Runs: Brooks Glycerin 16, New Balance 1080, Saucony Ride ISO, Hoka Mach
Workouts: Nike Fly, New Balance 1400
Races: Nike LT Racer, Nike Fly
Questions for you:
What shoe brand are you “most loyal” too?
Do you like maximum cushioned or minimal shoes?
