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The New Balance 1080 running shoe has long been a fan favourite for neutral gait runners, throughout its many tweaks and updates. Version 14 is no different. This is a versatile, neutral running shoe perfect for high-mileage marathoners or casual runners, with superior comfort and plush cushioning. Even among New Balance’s pretty stellar running lineup it stands out, albeit less for speed than for comfort, durability and value for money.
When compared to shoes from other brands, the New Balance 1080 would best sit alongside other everyday heroes like the Asics Novablast or the Saucony Ride. These are staples of a running shoe collection that can soak up the miles and cushion your joints through easy jaunts and tough slogs.
Not sure if this is the right one for you? We’ve reviewed plenty more running shoes to help you find your perfect match.
New Balance 1080 v14 running shoes review
New Balance 1080 v14: How we tested
We spent over a month, and a total of several hundred miles, testing the New Balance 1080 v14, from short easy runs to long hard ones. Terrain ranged from track to road, light trail and on the treadmill. We wore them for tempo and speed sessions, and in all conditions from heatwaves to downpours. We assessed the shoe for comfort, any hotspots or issues with lacing, and for durability of the outsole, watching for any obvious wear and tear.
New Balance 1080 v14: Design
- Updated midsole geometry
- Tweaked to improve durability
- Superior comfort from upper
Specifications
RRP: $165
Weight (men’s): 10.4 oz (304 g) for a US M9.5
Weight (women’s): 8.3 oz (235 g) for a US W7
Drop: 6 mm
Heel stack height: 38 mm
Forefoot stack height: 32 mm
The latest update sees some relatively minor tweaks to the previous version, and those tweaks are probably minor for a good reason. Though the shoe has always been a top seller in the New Balance line-up, its run has not been entirely smooth sailing. Up to version 10, all was good. Then version 11 severely tested the loyalty of 1080 fans, and while version 12 got a few more thumbs turning upwards again, it was only with version 13 that New Balance really hit its stride once more. So this latest update seems to be a case of, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The main tweaks compared to the previous version of the 1080 come in the form of a very slightly changed midsole geometry, an improved fit and some minor improvements to the durability of the shoe, largely by means of additional rubber in areas that get the most friction. For those training for longer distances, or just runners who want value for money out of a shoe, that is good news. Compared to some modern lightweight everyday trainers, you should get a lot of of miles out of the 1080 v14. After over 150 miles of testing over mixed terrain, they certainly show very little outward wear and tear.
The forefoot is a touch stiffer than in the previous model, which some runners did think was a little too soft. Even for a neutral shoe, there were some who felt it should offer a little more stability that this softness permitted.
Those doubts should certainly be answered by this new version, which features a slightly different midfoot geometry. That means that while the stack and drop of the shoe (the stack being the height of the sole, and the drop the difference between that at the heel, and that at the forefoot) are unchanged, it still feels perhaps a little bit firmer. Still extremely comfortable, just a slightly more zippy bounce with a wonderful energy return.
New Balance 1080: Upper and fit
- Stylish design
- Comfortable upper
- Breathable even in hot weather
The upper is lightweight, feeling super-breathable even on very hot days. It holds your foot perfectly in place and required no fiddling around of laces or extra tightening to feel secure, as is sometimes the case with new shoes.
Perhaps this shouldn’t matter, but it also looks great: New Balance’s design team really do knock it out of the park when it comes to choosing colourways and making the shoe distinctively New Balance, without having to shout in lurid colours or over-the-top logos.
The only negative in terms of design is that, in common with other New Balance shoes, it tends to fit quite small (I am half a size larger in NB than any other running shoe). With this proviso, it fits perfectly, but it’s something those new to the brand might want to bear in mind, as this is a common experience.
New Balance 1080: Performance
- Soft (but not overly so)
- Bouncy
- Responsive
If we say you completely forget this shoe when you run in it, then that is meant as a compliment. It’s so comfortable that there is never any concern about hot spots, or the upper not holding the foot firmly in place, even on more strenuous workouts.
Of course, it’s not designed as a racing shoe, nor does it promise a super-lightweight “performance” design. There are plenty of carbon-soled shoes on the market now for that, and if you want the fastest pair of shoes you can get, then look elsewhere. The 1080 is an everyday trainer that is also responsive and light enough to be useful for tempo or threshold work, or even short faster efforts on the road if you’d like to keep your joints nicely cushioned. The Fresh Foam X midsole offers a soft but bouncy run that can feel pacy if you work hard, or just kind on your tired legs if you are grinding out long runs.
So if you race enough that you want a “fast” pair for your all-out efforts, then this is not the shoe to reach for. But if you want a shoe that will soak up miles of marathon training, parkruns, runs with friends and faster solo efforts, then the NB 1080 remains one of the greatest all-rounders on the market. The relatively conservative updates on the previous model will mean fans of the v13 should still be happy, but those who felt that shoe was a touch too soft might be won over too.
Should you buy the New Balance 1080 v14?
Buy it if:
✅ You want a fantastic all-rounder: When it comes to reliable, durable comfort, this shoe is hard to beat
✅ You like value for money: The updates to the shoe’s durability should see you through hundreds of miles
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a race shoe: If carbon-plated racers are your thing, look elsewhere. This a shoe for everyday running.
❌ You haven’t checked your size: New Balance shoes often do come up small, so do check before you purchase.
If you want an all-round shoe that can be worn almost anywhere, and in almost any conditions, look no further. It’s hard to beat the New Balance 1080 v14 when it comes to comfort, cushioning and durability. It’s a shoe that can do a casual parkrun, a tempo session, a long run and almost everything else bar perhaps racing.
Sure, there are other “faster” racers on the market, but most runners need a shoe that will carry them through hundreds of miles, and that’s where the New Balance 1080 v14 cannot be beaten.
Indeed, really the only negative thing you can say about this workhorse of a shoe is that some people may find the sizing comes up quite small, so it’s a good idea to check against your usual size and fit in other brands.
