Despite its stupidly long name, the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13 was one of my favorite shoes in recent memory – a lighter weight daily trainer that delivered both high levels of comfort and responsiveness resulting in a very versatile pair. Does v14 capture the same magic as its predecessor? Find out, in this New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 review.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 Review
| STACK HEIGHT | WEIGHT | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 38/32 mm (6 mm drop) | M9.5: 10.4 oz/299g W7: 8.3 oz/235g | $165 |
Midsole and Ride
Fresh Foam 1080 X v13 was an absolute marshmallow of a shoe, in the best way. You’ve heard of running on clouds and pillows, but the ooey gooey glob of white confectionary goodness found smack dab in the middle of a S’more was the underfoot sensation of running in v13. But it wasn’t squishy like some extra soft midsoles; instead of sticking to the road like melted marshmallows, the Fresh Foam X midsole provided solid energy return in the form of some bounce. Which is what made others’ complaints of the shoe’s super soft midsole so confounding to me. Although, I do admit there was a slight “sinking in” sensation in v13.
It’s clear New Balance heard the criticisms because the ride of v14—while still rather soft—is a bit firmer than v13. But I still wouldn’t consider it “firm.” And it’s noticeably softer (and more cushioned) than its older, less attractive sibling, the Fresh Foam 880 v15. The shoe’s slight change in geometry makes the ride more stable than in v13 while the 38/32 mm stack height remains unchanged.
There’s still a solid level of energy return, and the added stability makes the shoe better at heel to toe transitions compared to v13. The shoe’s rocker profile also helps with that, too. It’s both a fantastic easy-day shoe and daily trainer. And, those who prefer soft, forgiving rides will enjoy it for long runs because this is a pair that can absolutely devour miles in comfort.
However, the shoe’s dramatic weight gain is noticeable on the run. More on this later.
Upper
V14 receives an upgraded upper in the form of a triple jacquard mesh with increased breathability. I’ll be honest: I really wish New Balance had gone with a quadruple jacquard mesh upper, but I suppose I’ll have to settle. This upper is nice and snug, well-fitting, and indeed breathable with great ventilation, more than in the previous version. Compared to v13, the gusseted tongue and heel collar have a bit less padding, but are still decently plush and comfy.
Weight
I’ll never understand why brands think they can get away with adding more than an entire ounce of weight in a shoe’s update. Much like the human body in the weeks leading up to beach season, a shoe’s weight is supposed to trend downward the following year. Especially when New Balance had shed an ounce of weight from v12 to v13! Instead, New Balance increased the weight to 10.5 ounces for a men’s size 9, and 8.3 oz for a women’s size 8.
Nice try, New Balance. You would’ve got away with it too, if it weren’t for those meddling runners’ sense of touch! You can try pulling the wool over our eyes, but we’ll still feel the dramatic weight gain every time we pull the triple—not quadruple—jacquard mesh upper over our feet. Just think how much more it’d weigh with a quadruple jacquard mesh upper!
Body positivity is undoubtedly important: people’s feelings are involved. But, shoe body positivity couldn’t be more meaningless. Shoes don’t have feelings. They can’t feel pain. Which is why, it’s perfectly acceptable for me to call the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 an absolute whale, compared to the previous edition. However, it’s worth noting, it’s .2 ounces lighter than the 880 v15.
Outsole
New Balance is delighted to say there’s an updated outsole, including additional rubber in high wear areas for enhanced durability. And I’m delighted to say: go ahead, hit the snooze button. 90 percent of shoes have rubber on the outsole; I really don’t care if you add more or remove some. I won’t notice, anyway.
Aesthetics
V14 just barely improves upon the looks of last year’s version (a low bar), but you’d be forgiven if you couldn’t tell them apart—they look fairly similar. It’s not a shoe that will catch the wandering eyes of pedestrians, fellow runners, or drivers; they’re all much more interested in judging your questionable running form. “Head up, damnit!”
“So white!” The same remark frequently overheard at a Dave Matthews Band concert can also be applied to the 1080’s colorways. The majority of options are rather vanilla, literally. If you’re looking for bright, eccentric colorways, look elsewhere.
Price
New Balance increased the price $5 to $165 in v13, so there was no way they were going to raise the price yet again in v14. Right? Right?! No, that will happen in the next edition, when they’ll likely charge $5 more. Actually, make that $10 more; I forgot about those tariffs.
Conclusion
There’s a reason New Balance says if they only made one shoe, it’d be the Fresh Foam X 1080. It’s New Balance’s most dependable shoe that can conquer miles with ease and in comfort; a true workhorse of a shoe. (Forget the fact that if New Balance only produced a single pair they wouldn’t be in business.)
If you’re looking for a soft daily trainer and easy day shoe with excellent durability, you could do far worse than this shoe. Like, far worse. Each update only continues to further improve one of the top max cushion trainers. And while the 1080 continues to evolve each year, the pair’s reliability remains constant.
The Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 is available on the New Balance website, or wherever you prefer to empty your wallet on shoes.
New Balance graciously provided this pair to me for wear testing. I was not compensated for this New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 review and New Balance didn’t get an opportunity to see this review before I published.
