- New Balance’s marketing pitch: Reliable comfort and high performance.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, gusseted tongue.
- Midsole: Full-length Fresh FoamX foam, 6 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Softer rubber under the forefoot, harder rubber in the rear.
- Weight: 298 gms/ 10.5 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8.5/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 39 mm (heel), 33 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: B (narrow), D – regular (reviewed), 2E (wide) 4E (extra-wide).
- Previous model: New Balance 1080V13.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily training, tempo runs, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 400 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Versatile ride, more propulsive
- Quick transitions, effective rocker
- Secure and plush fit
- Long-distance comfort
- Multiple widths
Cons
- Lower forefoot and heel stability than v13
- Weaker proprioception and ground feel vs. v13
- Scarce reflectivity
Also consider:
- Asics Nimbus 26
- Saucony Triumph 22
- Puma Magnify Nitro
- Brooks Glycerin 21
- Mizuno Wave Sky 8
- Hoka Skyflow
- Use the New Balance 1080v14 for daily runs, recovery, and long runs
- Use the New Balance SC Elite V4 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 for marathons
- Use the New Balance Rebel v4 or Hoka Mach 6 for intervals, tempo runs, and short races
In this review:
SUMMARY AND VERDICT
As recently as seven years ago, running shoe tiers used to be black and white. Every brand had a go-to trainer for everyday training; Asics had its Cumulus, and Nike advertised the Pegasus as its do-everything shoe. The 880 was New Balance’s established daily trainer.
If a runner wanted something more cushioned, there existed a ‘premium’ version of the said everyday trainer. The Saucony Triumph was a plusher Ride, and the Asics Nimbus was a plusher Cumulus. For a while, the Pegasus-Vomero pairing worked very well. And so on.
The New Balance 1080 was what one got when you wanted a cushier 880. That line of reasoning also holds today – the 1080V14 delivers a plusher ride experience than the 880V14. It’s a better shoe for long runs, from a comfort point of view.
However, there’s more to the 1080V14 than its cushioned midsole. Sure, if you want a shoe for recovery runs, the 1080V14 is an excellent choice. At the same time, the ride character is more engaging than the relatively bland, albeit cushioned, 880.
With the 1080, you get a very effective rocker midsole with lots of bounce. The midsole and outsole geometry come into play here, as does the Fresh Foam X foam. Speeds as quick as 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) are easily doable with this shoe. It’s not a ‘show’ shoe with a lazy loading behavior – the midsole is quite peppy for its stack.
The upper fit is without flaws, striking a fine balance between a secure lock-down and interior comfort.
Unlike the good old days, the 1080V14 is no longer New Balance’s most cushioned trainer. The bar has been raised for this segment, so shoes like the New Balance More V5 and Brooks Glycerin Max are the new max-cushion standards.
THE NEW BALANCE 1080V14 COMPARED WITH THE 1080V13
The 1080v13 had more upper room, a better ground feel, and a less aggressive rocker.
The 1080v14 has a stronger rocker effect, but with a weaker ground feel than the 1080v13. That’s the headline for the update, anyway.
Other noteworthy changes are the snugger fit, bouncier ride, and lower midsole stability.
So what’s behind these updates? Time to find out.
The 1080v14’s stiffer midsole has a stronger ‘rocker’ effect.
The v14’s ‘heel spring’ or bevel is higher than the norm, so there’s not enough real estate available during heel landings.
The new 1080 is more boat-shaped than the older model. Sure, it’s got a high toe-spring that creates the curved forefoot, aka the rocker. However, that isn’t the end of it. The new midsole has a high heel spring as well – meaning that the midsole edges curve up under the heel.
The Jacquard spacer mesh upper (New Balance calls it triple jacquard’) has a mildly stretchy zone over the toe-box. The tongue and heel receive new mesh linings with a softer hand feel.
The larger and stiffer outsole lugs alter the 1080’s ride dynamics.
Finally, the outsole layout complements the rocker effect through its increased stiffness.
All these changes we speak of – are these good or bad? More importantly, is the v14 objectively a better shoe than the v13? The answer is: that depends on what’s important to you.
The v14 has a very well-defined rocker effect, so this is a cushioned shoe that feels more eager to propel you forward than the 13. It’s easier to cruise at 4:00 to 4:30 min/km (6:30 to 7:00 min/mile) paces than before.
On the flip side, the heel lacks the stability of the 1080V13. Also, the forefoot doesn’t feel as planted. In the following section, we explain why.
THE MIDSOLE DESIGN AND RIDE EXPERIENCE
Fresh Foam might not be made of PEBA or Supercritical foam, but it holds up quite well. The midsole is soft and bouncy, and New Balance sticks to the tried-and-tested Ortholite footbed for step-in softness.
The 10-5-ounce (298-gram) build isn’t exactly featherweight, but it’s respectable for a traditional foam material.
This isn’t to say that all variants of ‘Fresh Foam X’ behave the same. For example, even the Hierro V8 (trail running shoe) has a ‘Fresh Foam X’ midsole. However, the difference in the foam density is stark – the Hierro’s midsole is ultra-firm when compared to the cushy 1080.
In short, both Fresh Foam and Asics Flytefoam are two of the most inconsistent cushioning technologies. The foam could be soft and bouncy on a particular model, and stiff on another.
Cushioning tech like adidas Boost, Lightstrike Pro, Brooks DNA Flash, Nike ZoomX, and Saucony Pwrrun+ and Pwrrun PB deliver better consistency regardless of which shoe they’re used on.
Earlier in this review, we mentioned how the v14 had a stronger rocker effect than the previous model.
So what effect does it have on the ride quality, and there are any downsides?
The 1080v14 has a stronger ‘rocker’ effect.
One thing’s for sure. With a highly effective ‘roll forward’ action, it feels easier to cycle through the transitions. The banana-like curvature of the midsole rocker makes the 1080v14 surprisingly agile for its stack height and cushioning levels. Getting to 4:00 ~ 4:30 min/km (6:30 ~7:00 min/miles) speeds and staying there doesn’t take a lot of work.
The placement of the outsole rubber also makes the rocker effective. The thin articulated strips of the v13 have been replaced with thicker lugs – including a large lug placed under the forefoot.
So how do larger lugs make a difference? They keep the Fresh Foam midsole from spreading out while adding stiffness. A stiffer forefoot makes a rocker more efficient.
There are a couple of things you should know about the 1080v14. This is important if you’re planning on trading up from the 1080v13.
The v14’s ‘heel spring’ or bevel is higher than the norm, so there’s not enough real estate available during heel landings.
The midsole isn’t as stable as the v13, and the proprioceptive feedback – which is the ability to sense the ground – is weaker too. The taller heel spring (not stack) or curvature means that the midsole lacks a flat base to stand on.
While full-contact (midfoot) landings are okay, heel strikers will miss the (relatively) planted feel of the 1080v13. The thicker outsole also limits the midsole spread during foot strikes, and that affects both heel and forefoot landings.
The thinner strips of the v13 were also better at ‘ground feel’, as the cushioning had a slower, yet deliberate feel during the gait cycle. In comparison, the v14’s thicker outsole numbs the proprioceptive sense.
This reduced sense of footing also plays into the ‘lack of stability’ perception of the 1080.
Clearly, it’s a trade-off. If you want better versatility – which is the ability to cover tempo runs with a stronger propulsive effect, then yes, the v14 makes a case for itself. The snugger fit delivers improved fit security and does a good job of connecting the foot with the midsole rocker.
Long runs are made comfortable by the soft and bouncier Fresh Foam X midsole; the Ortholite footbed and foam Strobel add step-in softness.
On the other hand, the v13 was a more user-friendly, easy-run shoe with a softer ride and – mostly due to the outsole design that allowed the midsole to splay wide. The fit had more room as well.
Also, the v14 works best for midfoot strikers – runners who make center-contact landings. The revised heel spring and stiffer outsole panels do not make it supportive enough for heel strikers and heavy runners.
The long-term durability (400+ miles) is expected to be decent, with the thicker outsole delaying the wear and tear process.
RECOMMENDED ROTATION
The 1080v14 can be your daily trainer, recovery run shoe, and marathon footwear all rolled into one. It’s got the cushioning and ride character to make that happen.
A more purposeful rotation may include carbon-plated shoes like the New Balance SC Elite V4 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 for race days.
Tempo runs, intervals, and short races (5K, 10K) are better done in lower profile and lightweight shoes like the New Balance Rebel v4 or Hoka Mach 6.
THE UPPER DESIGN AND FIT
The forefoot and midfoot may not be as relaxed as the previous version, but boy, do they lock the foot in.
On a running shoe, a snugger fit delivers superior performance over a looser kind. Without exception, a more secure fit will always do a better job of transferring the power from the foot to the midsole.
A stronger foot-midsole connection enhances the cushioning softness and bounce while also making the transition process more efficient. In this case, the tighter upper makes the rocker effect stronger.
New Balance sells multiple widths for this model, ranging from a B (narrow) to a 4E (extra-wide). So runners who prefer a roomy 1080 have the option of customizing (sort of) the fit.
The snug fit isn’t vice-like. There’s a certain plushness in the upper mesh with a bit of stretch on top. The Jacquard mesh has a spacer construction, meaning that tiny filaments fill the space between the top and bottom layers of the mesh.
These filaments give the upper its inherent ‘cushiness’ that translates into upper comfort.
The padded tongue and heel lining mesh with its ‘dimple’ texture adds to the plush feel. The shallow cavities on the ‘dimples’ pattern mesh do not smother the foot. The perforated section of the tongue has decent ventilation as well. The quilted tongue is an effective barrier against the top-down pressure from the laces.
The gusset that holds the tongue down is elastic and perforated. It occupies minimal space while helping the tongue lie flush over the foot.
The 1080v14 isn’t as breathable as shoes like the Rebel, but the spacious toe-box doesn’t trap heat either. Except for rain and snow, this is a great three-season running shoe. If you’re looking for reflectivity, you won’t find much. Unlike the 860v14, the side logos aren’t reflective.
SHOES COMPARABLE TO THE NEW BALANCE 1080V14
The Nimbus 26 is also a great pick as a cushioned marathon shoe.
The Asics Nimbus 26 and Brooks Glycerin 21 will get you that traditional cushioned trainer feel without a pronounced rocker effect. Like the 1080v14, both shoes have a snug fit. We’ll throw in the Hoka Skyflow into this category as well.
The Puma Magnify Nitro is more cushioned than the 1080, and it does a couple of things differently.
The stretchy knit upper hugs the foot close, but not uncomfortably so. The Pumagrip outsole outperforms comparable trainers with its sticky traction.
The Saucony Triumph 22 is the roomiest of the bunch, and it has a brand-new midsole made of Pwrrun PB – Saucony’s PEBAX foam compound. It’s not as ‘quick’ as the 1080, but has the midsole comfort for long-distance runs.
Lastly, if you just want cushioned plushness, give the Mizuno Wave Sky 8 a try.