New Balance 1080v15 Review: RIP Fresh Foam

PROS	CONS
+ New Infinion foam + Much lighter + Redesigned breathable upper	– Small price increase – Not as fun as the $145 Ellipse

With a brand new midsole (and shoe name) the 1080 undergoes a total overhaul from last year—and every previous year. But are the updates enough to upgrade the daily trainer to another level? I detail my experience wear testing the pair in this New Balance 1080v15 review.

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Intro

Notice anything different about the shoe name? Say goodbye to Fresh Foam X! And the egregiously long “Fresh Foam X 1080v” moniker. (Now they just need to put a space between 1080 and the version number.) New Balance finally replaces outdated EVA-based Fresh Foam X with a supercritical Infinion—which sounds less like a midsole and more like an underwhelming Christopher Nolan film. And just like Nolan’s film Tenet, Infinion is a palindrome! Yep, it reads the same backward as forward! (It doesn’t.)

In addition to improved energy return, New Balance claims Inception Infinion adds durability (hence the play on infinity) by reducing foam compression underfoot. It’s designed to “make more runs feel like your first run.”

That’s a very poor choice of words. I sure hope they don’t mean my first ever run. Because that would definitely not be something I’d like to revisit—ever. My PTSD would be off the charts. Hell, it’d probably take me off the roads and make me quit the sport for good.

New Balance 1080v15 Review

STACK	WEIGHT	PRICE
40/34 mm (6 mm drop)	M9: 9.2 oz/261 g W7: 7.3 oz/208 g	$170

Midsole

Can we be honest? EVA-based Fresh Foam had overstayed its welcome. Yeah, it was getting awkward. You could say it was “the elephant foam in the roomy shoe.” Or something like that; I’m workshopping it. It was the Boston-based company’s worst kept secret. New Balance may claim if they only made one shoe, it’d be the 1080, but if they only made one foam, it certainly wouldn’t be Fresh Foam.

Fortunately, the nitrogen-infused, supercritical Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer (TPEE)-EVA blended Interstellar Infinion foam makes its debut here. Right off the bat you can feel enhanced energy return and responsiveness compared to Fresh Foam. Infinion also feels softer and lighter than Fresh Foam. And TPEE is known to be a more durable material. So, basically, it’s better in every measurable way, including the old, unimaginative name. “Fresh Foam.” Really? Technically, all new shoes have foams that are “fresh,” and, let me tell you, some foams get very stale very quickly—sometimes after just 150 miles, for brands that will go unnamed.

Ok, I’m just being a dick. Fresh Foam served New Balance well for many years and many versions of their beloved daily trainer. I was a big fan of the foam, myself. Alas, all good things must come to an end…to make way for much greater, much better things (Infinion). And with the new foam comes more of it (barely). New Balance added 2 mm of foam to the heel and forefoot, increasing the stack height to 40/34 mm and keeping the same 6 mm drop.

Ride

The 1080 has long been considered a soft shoe. In fact, previous versions of the 1080 were criticized by some for being too soft, creating a “sinking in” sensation. I’m happy to report the Infinion doubles down on softness without feeling mushy thanks to Infinion’s improved energy return. And with v15 losing more than an ounce (1.2 oz), I feel much lighter and more nimble on my feet compared to the bulkier v14.

Stability remains solid despite a narrowing of the outsole base and small increase to an already max cushioned stack height. On foot, this shoe doesn’t feel as tall as its 40/34 mm stack would suggest, in a good way. The 6 mm drop remains the sweet spot for this shoe, as it works well for me regardless of whether I land with my heel or midfoot, based on pace.

During marathon training, the pair has excelled on runs of a variety of distances. Of course, the 1080 primarily serves as a dependable daily trainer that can conquer miles, but it also works well as a recovery/easy day shoe with its high stack and soft underfoot landings. Plus, the lighter weight makes the shoe much more versatile, serving as a dependable long run option. I found my form held up well in double-digit-mile runs and the pair provided enough pop to keep runs interesting. Overall, it’s a much more dynamic running experience compared to previous versions.

Upper

Infinion isn’t the only update to the v15. It’s got a new contoured, perforated double layer mesh upper that’s much lighter and more airy. Previous versions suffered from plush uppers without much breathability.

As is typical for the 1080, there’s a nicely padded gusseted tongue and plush heel collar for enhanced comfort and stability. Most importantly, I’m absolutely thrilled to see there’s still no heel pull tab. Another great 1080 upper with no irritation nor issues with a secure foot lockdown. I wish all uppers felt this nice.

Outsole

As mentioned, there’s a narrower outsole base than in v14 which only helps contribute to a more nimble ride. A new outsole pattern sees a bit less rubber overall and more exposed foam, leading to reduced weight and a smoother ride. The 1080 has always been a durable shoe and I expect more of the same even with slightly less rubber coverage.

Weight

All shoe brands take note: v15 shed a significant 1.2 ounces (34 grams) from the previous edition, coming in at an awesome 9.2 ounces (261 g) for men’s size 9 and 7.3 oz (208 g) for women’s size 7. That’s how it’s done! Lately, too many shoes have added weight year over year—I’m looking at you, Brooks. In case it wasn’t clear, runners never want a pair of shoes to gain weight. Never. Ever. Never ever. I know we can be a fickle (and insufferable) bunch, but shoe weight is certainly not something we’re unsure about. Colorways? Definitely. Knit vs mesh uppers? You bet. Stack heights exceeding 50 mm? Of course. But not weight.

Price

Alas, not everything has improved in v15. New Balance increased the price $5 from last year, now sitting at $170. But with a new midsole foam, slightly more stack height, and an improved upper, it’s not a totally egregious move. Besides, $170 is right in line with other max cushion trainers like ASICS’ Gel-Nimbus 28, and it’s $5 cheaper than Brooks’ Glycerin 23.

Of course, the price never improves for any shoe…until it goes on sale a year later when the newer, sexier pair releases.

Aesthetics

With a new design, the most “dad shoe” now looks a bit less dad-like: good news for all you childless runners…and for dads who don’t want to look like dads…or be dads. Too dark?

While yellow shoes have never been my go-to colorway, the “AFTERGLOW with BLUE BIRD and SILVER METALLIC” is really starting to grow on me! The midsole has a much sleeker design than previous editions, and the silver accenting looks nice.

But if you don’t want a shoe to have to grow on you, there are plenty of other colorways to choose from, eight more, to be exact.

Conclusion

No Fresh Foam, no problem. A new midsole, significant weight loss, and redesigned upper transform the 1080 into a fresh new shoe that’s improved in every measurable way. This ain’t your grandpa’s 1080.

The 1080v15 is available on New Balance’s site.

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New Balance graciously provided this shoe to me for wear testing. I was not compensated for this New Balance 1080v15 review and they didn’t get an opportunity to see this New Balance 1080v15 review before I published.

This post includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase using the links (at no extra cost to you.)

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