New Balance’s daily trainer delivers soft, cushioned, super-luxe comfort for easy miles…
See how it compares to the best running shoes
The New Balance 1080 has always been big on comfort. But the 1080V13 takes the soft, luxe, plushness of this wannabe do-it-all daily trainer and dials it all the way up.
This latest generation is a markedly different beast to its predecessor with a bigger stack of lighter, softer – and somewhat bouncier – Fresh Foam X midsole foam, a reshaped rocker with some added forefoot stiffness, plus revamped mesh uppers with extra padding in the heel and tongue.
If you’re looking for maximum comfort, this could be your shoe. But has the 1080 sacrificed some versatility for that all-out foot feel? Kieran Alger puts it to the test.
Best for easy recovery runs
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080V13
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Pros
- Big, cushioned comfort
- Plush, padded uppers
Cons
- Lacks a bit of energy
- Not as versatile as other daily trainers
Speed: 2/5
Stability: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
| Materials | Fresh Foam X midsole; Ndurance rubber outsole |
| Weight | 9.2oz |
| Colours | Marine Blue with Night Sky / Black with White / Black with Blacktop / Grey Matter with Shadow Grey / Starlight with Marine Blue |
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080V13 design
It was never a small shoe, but the New Balance 1080V13 has gone max cushioned while also managing to shed some weight. It’s now the most cushioned shoe in the New Balance line up with a big stack of lighter and softer Fresh Foam X midsole foam across the whole foot.
That big, broad base creates a wide, cushioned platform to run off with a lower drop, a rocker to smooth transitions and some extra stiffness in the forefoot to help you snap through each step. That’s the plan at least. More on that later.
Up top, the engineered mesh uppers replace the looser, more flexible knit from the V12. There’s now more foot-hugging structure, but less toe-box wiggle room and airiness. The heel collars and gusseted tongues are also considerably more padded to deliver some truly excellent step-in comfort and an extra plush foot feel. If you like a cocooned sensation, these wrap you up nicely.
The outsole has a liberal but strategic covering of New Balance’s Ndurance rubber to bring the grip and durability.
That heavily curved rocker helps to create a fluid rolling motion with each step
Weight and price
At 9.2oz / 260g in our UK Men’s 8.5 test shoe, the New Balance 1080V13 shaves a considerable chunk off the 1080V12. It’s also lighter than the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 (10.4 oz / 295g) and the Nike Invincible 3 (10.9 oz / 310g).
The New Balance 1080 V13 packs an increased 38mm / 32mm midsole stack. That’s up from 34mm / 26mm on the V12. There’s also a lower 6mm drop, down from 8mm.
The price stays at £160 in the UK but goes up five bucks in the US to $165. That puts the 1080v13 towards the higher end for do-it-all daily trainers.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080V13 performance
In testing, we did 40km in the 1080V13, with lots of slow and easy miles, plus a 90-minute half marathon test on a range of road and light park paths.
I liked the New Balance 1080V12, and although this shoe is a different proposition, the 1080V13 offers everything I look for in a plush, soft, max-cushioned shoe. It’s right up there with the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 as a capable easy-day recovery option. And it’s 100% more natural than the bulky, interfering ride of the Nike Invincible 3.
It’s a somewhat bulkier shoe than the 1080V12, but the step-in comfort is excellent and the big Fresh Foam X stack delivers protection from the road in spades with nice, smooth transitions. It’s just an incredibly easy shoe to roll along in.
However, there are sacrifices. If you like feeling more connected to the ground, some of that has gone from the V12. The bigger, softer stack has also deadened the response and the 1080V13 lacks some of the faster-pace potential you’ll get from more versatile daily trainers like the On Cloudsurfer or the HOKA Mach 5.
If you want a shoe that delivers cushioned protection by the bucket load, this is one of the best I’ve run in for making the road disappear underfoot. It’s ideal for easy days, slow plodding ambles and recovery runs. The kind of miles you’re clocking for the joy of moving rather fast Strava splits.
If you’re a beginner or a larger runner, it’s also worth sticking on your list.
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