We ran 60 miles in the New Balance 1080v15 — here’s our verdict

The New Balance 1080 line of running shoes has been a go-to option for people seeking a comfortable daily trainer in recent years, and I’ve rated the past couple of models of the 1080 as great options for new runners in particular.

Brands tend to play it safe with their most popular shoes and only make incremental updates to them, but the New Balance 1080v15 is a big change from the New Balance 1080v14 thanks to a brand-new midsole foam called Infinion.

The New Balance 1080v15 is a lighter and more impressive daily trainer than its predecessor thanks to this new midsole, but some of the best running shoes available come in a little cheaper. My colleague Jessica Downey and I have been racking up the miles in the shoe over the past few weeks. Here’s our full New Balance 1080v15 review.

New Balance 1080v15 review: Price & availability

The New Balance 1080v15 will launch globally on 15 January 2026. It costs $170 / £170, which is a small price rise on the 1080v14, which cost $165 / £160 at launch and can now be found in sales fairly regularly.

While premium cushioned running shoes have become very expensive in recent years, this price still makes the New Balance 1080v15 one of the pricier daily trainers we've tested in 2025.

New Balance 1080v15 review: Design & fit

I tested the white color of the New Balance 1080v15 for our review, while Jess was lucky enough to try the bright lime green shoe, which is certainly distinctive. We’d suggest sticking to your normal running shoe size with the 1080v15.

The 1080v15 has dropped in weight compared to the 1080v14, with the new shoe weighing 9.2oz in my US men’s size 9.5, compared to 10.1oz in the same size for the 1080v14. I’ve tried the last five models of the 1080, and this is the lightest one yet.

It has a stack height of 40mm at the heel and 34mm at the forefoot for a 6mm drop, which gives you a little more foam underfoot than with the 1080v14. It’s not as maxed out on this front as many running shoes these days, but the New Balance 1080v15 is certainly still cushioned and comfortable.

Upper

The 1080v15 has a new contoured mesh upper with raised sections on it. The material felt a little stiff at first, but once I slipped my feet in, it was comfortable, and I didn’t notice the upper at all in my runs, which is always a good sign.

For a cushioned shoe, it’s not overly padded around the tongue and collar either, and I’d say it’s more breathable than many sneakers in its category.

Midsole

The main update to the 1080v15 is its new Infinion midsole, which replaces the Fresh Foam X foam used on the past few models of the shoe.

This is a lighter, more responsive material than Fresh Foam X, and gives the shoe a livelier feel than its predecessor while still retaining the comfort you expect from the 1080 line.

Outsole

Along with the new foam, another reason why the 1080v15 is light for a cushioned shoe is that it doesn’t have the most extensive outsole.

There is rubber covering the heel and forefoot of the shoe, but there’s a lot of exposed foam in the midfoot area. This shouldn’t be a major problem with regard to durability, since the main areas of wear and tear on a shoe are the heel and forefoot, but the 1080v15 might not be as hard-wearing as a shoe with a fuller rubber outsole.

New Balance 1080v15 review: Running performance

NHF: The New Balance 1080v15 is a daily trainer that’s built primarily to offer comfort on easy runs, but the lighter design of the shoe also means that it is a capable option at faster paces as well.

During my testing, I used it for a long run, several easy runs, and a couple of easy-to-steady progression runs, and it is a more versatile running shoe than many highly-cushioned options, thanks to its lighter, more agile design.

The new Infinion foam in the midsole is well-balanced, in that it’s neither excessively soft and mushy nor too firm. It does deliver comfort and protection, but has a bit of pop off the toes as well.

It’s not quite as lively as some other foams I’ve tested in cushioned shoes, though, such as the springy ZoomX used in the Nike Vomero Plus, or the responsive Nitro Foam used in the Puma Velocity Nitro 4. As a result, I didn’t find the New Balance 1080v15 as good for speed sessions or tempo runs as it was for easy efforts.

My other concern with the foam is that it felt like it compressed during the course of my longest run in the shoe, which was around 13 miles, and most notably in the forefoot, it lost some of its bounce during the run.

JD: I used the 1080v15 for a mix of training runs, including easy miles, faster intervals, fartlek sessions, and one longer run with mixed pacing. At first glance, the shoe looked a little cheap and flimsier than I expected, and the mix of neon and metallic silver didn’t help.

Honestly, it definitely did not look like a $170 shoe to me. But once I stepped in and walked around, my opinion changed. The shoe is very comfortable right out of the box.

The upper is soft, stretchy and really well ventilated. Underfoot, the foam is very soft and cushy. Although I was happy with just how comfortable they felt at first, I could feel my heels sink slightly when walking, which made me wonder how it would feel running. However, on the run, I didn’t find myself feeling like I was fighting to rebound or to keep up a strong momentum.

The 1080v15 feels noticeably lighter than the 1080v14, and the new Infinion midsole gives it a much more energetic and fun feel. The rocker geometry looks subtle, but the heel-to-toe transition felt smooth and natural to me. I especially enjoyed the light, responsive feel when hitting any incline.

Overall, I think this is a really solid daily trainer. If I had to choose between keeping the 1080v14 or the 1080v15, I would go with the 15. It feels lively, versatile and makes a range of runs feel easier. I could quite easily wear it for all my training runs, provided I wasn’t fussed about having a shoe rotation or dealing with the eye-watering neon colorway I tested.

Should you buy the New Balance 1080v15?

Nick Harris-fry The New Balance 1080v15 is a very capable running shoe that works well for daily training, offering a lot of comfort in a fairly lightweight design. It’s a good update on the previous model in my opinion, bringing the weight of the shoe down while retaining its high level of cushioning.

Compared to the market at large, however, there are some strong options available at around the same price, or less. The Nike Vomero Plus is a softer, bouncier shoe that I prefer for all kinds of runs, while the Asics Novablast 5 and Hoka Clifton 10 are very capable shoes with more rockered rides that come in cheaper than the New Balance 1080v15.

I’m also a big fan of the Puma Velocity Nitro 4, which is lighter and more affordable than the New Balance 1080v15, and has a more energetic foam in its midsole. The Puma shoe is narrower and not quite so cushioned as the New Balance, but I still found it comfortable for long runs myself.

If you pick up the New Balance 1080v15, then I doubt you’ll be disappointed by it, but in a crowded market, it doesn’t do enough to stand out for me, and the Infinion foam lacks some of the dynamism you can find elsewhere.

Jessica Downey: If you’ve had your eye on the New Balance 1080 line, the 1080v15 is definitely a strong premium daily trainer. It feels light, energetic, and for me, a step up from the 1080v14 in terms of responsiveness. That said, aesthetics are subjective. The bold colorway and silver detailing will not appeal to everyone, and it sits at the higher end of the daily-trainer price range.

If the 1080v15’s price is a concern, there are more affordable daily trainers worth considering. Within New Balance, the Rebel v5 offers a lighter, versatile daily trainer at a lower price point. If you’re open to other brands, the Asics Novablast 5 delivers a lively, cushioned ride that works well for mixed-pace training while also being easier on the wallet.

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