The New Balance 1080v15 is a cushioned daily trainer that introduces a new midsole foam to the New Balance range. It’s called Infinion, and promises to be lighter, softer and more energetic than the Fresh Foam X used on past 1080 models.
As a result the New Balance 1080v15 is lighter than most of the best cushioned running shoes out there, and offers a good amount of versatility for a comfortable daily trainer. It’s high price is a sticking point though, and there are a few shoes we rate more highly, including the Nike Vomero Plus and Asics Novablast 5.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £170/$170
- Weight: 262g/9.2oz (men’s UK 9 / US 9.5)
- Drop: 6mm
- Stack: 40mm heel, 34mm forefoot
- Upper: Contoured mesh upper
- Midsole: Infinion foam
- Outsole: Rubber covering heel and forefoot
New Balance 1080v15 review
How’s The Fit
Nick and Kieran tested the New Balance 1080v15 and found that the shoe fit well in their normal running shoe size, the same size we’ve used for the last few models of the 1080. The upper has a little stiffness to it but isn’t uncomfortable, and there’s a good amount of padding around the tongue and collar to increase the step-in comfort of the shoe.
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The Run Test: Likes
The New Balance 1080v15 has dropped some weight compared to the previous model and is one of the lighter cushioned shoes available. This is thanks to the Infinion midsole, which has a less dense feel to it than the Fresh Foam X used in recent 1080 shoes.
This lightness and the extra energy return from the foam make the 1080v15 more versatile than many highly-cushioned shoes. You can hit faster speeds in it quite comfortably, though it’s not a dedicated speed shoe, and it can handle a variety of daily training runs well.
Primarily this is a shoe for easy runs though, and despite being light and not quite as maxed-out on cushioning as many shoes these days, the 1080v15 still certainly offers enough comfort for long runs.
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The Run Test: Dislikes
While the new Infinion foam delivers a good ride, it’s not as lively as some super-foams on the market, and over the course of a long run Nick did find that it bottomed out a little, especially in the forefoot. This is still a shoe geared towards easy daily training, rather than being an all-rounder super-trainer.
Nick also found that the shoe didn’t feel as rockered as past models of the 1080, and had a slightly slappy ride at times when coming through from the heel. He did a short run wearing the 1080v14 and 1080v15 at the same time, and while the Infineon foam is more dynamic than the Fresh Foam X on the 1080v14, the older shoe did feel a little smoother.
Verdict And Alternatives
The New Balance 1080v15 is a very good daily trainer and the new design makes it lighter and a little more versatile than its predecessor. In a vacuum, this would be a great shoe to do a lot of running in, but compared to the market at large there are some better alternatives available at a lower price.
Some cheaper rivals to consider that have a slightly more rockered ride are the Asics Novablast 5 and Hoka Clifton 10, both of which are also reliable daily trainers with more cushioning than the 1080v15. They match its performance for less.
There is also the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 and Puma Magnify Nitro 3 to consider, both of which have livelier supercritical foams in their midsole, and both of which cost less than the New Balance 1080v15.
Another strong option is the Nike Vomero Plus, which is cheaper in the UK than the 1080v15 and has a higher stack of springy ZoomX foam in its midsole. Although heavier, we preferred the Vomero Plus for any kind of run thanks to its more impressive midsole material.