What's New with V15
First and foremost, the most significant change is New Balance's switch from Fresh Foam X to their new Infinion foam, making the 1080 one of the latest shoes to adopt supercritical foam technology.
The older Fresh Foam X midsoles were made by compressing foam down into shape. The new Infinion foam works in reverse: it starts as a small, dense piece that's aerated under pressure to expand into the midsole shape, creating a lighter and more uniform structure.
The result? Infinion foam delivers better responsiveness and durability while maintaining a plush feel. It's also significantly lighter than Fresh Foam X. The weight difference is notable:
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V14 (Fresh Foam X): 10.5oz (men's 9.5) / 8.3oz (women's 7.0)
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V15 (Infinion): 9.2oz (men's 9.0) / 7.3oz (women's 7.0)
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The V15 maintains the 6mm heel drop from the V14 but adds 2mm of stack height, bringing it to 40mm at the heel and 34mm in the forefoot.
Why this matters: The Infinion cushioning addresses the main criticisms of the Fresh Foam X 1080s—that they felt too soft and the cushioning didn't hold up as well as comparable shoes from other brands.
Upper redesign: The other update is the upper of the shoe: they switched to a new circular knit upper that I haven’t seen in other runners before. I think it looks super elevated and unique. New Balance says that it’s more breathable, but it was winter here when I tried them out, so I didn’t really notice a difference.
First Impressions & Fit
Sizing: The 1080 V15 fits true to size, so I stuck with my usual size and width. The toe box width feels fairly standard, though slightly less roomy than the previous version. Wide sizes are available if you need them.
Upper fit: The circular knit upper molds comfortably to the foot without feeling restrictive. Unlike some stretchy uppers that can feel tight or constricting, this one didn't create any pressure points along the sides of my foot.
Ride & Performance
Responsiveness: The V15 feels noticeably more responsive than the V14 right out of the box. While running, I felt like I was bouncing off the cushioning rather than sinking into it. It's much livelier and doesn't feel slow like the previous version.
Easy runs and everyday wear: The shoe remains plush and comfortable for easy runs and walking without feeling unstable. After wearing it around the store all day, I appreciated that it wasn't overly squishy like the older versions.
Faster paces: The V15 handles tempo runs and faster efforts better than previous versions thanks to the more responsive cushioning. This makes it a solid choice if you want one versatile shoe that can handle everything. However, if you're looking for a dedicated tempo shoe for your rotation, the 1080 still isn't the best option—shoes designed specifically for speed work like the New Balance Rebel or Supercomp Trainer are better suited for that purpose.
Where it shines: Long runs are this shoe's sweet spot. The cushioning is comfortable and protective enough for half and full marathons (or luxuriously cushioned recovery runs). The added responsiveness also makes it a great race day option if you're not ready to try plated shoes, and the cushioning-responsiveness balance works well for long tempo runs or tempo-finish long runs.
Stability: Because the cushioning system is less squishy than before, the ride feels more stable and propulsive.
What it does well:
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This is a great long-distance shoe, but the added responsiveness bumps it into more of a workhorse/every-day shoe category. (Not quite at the level of the Novablast, but it has the same idea)
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Great for long distance, slower, recovery runs and if you are only looking to have one pair of running shoes
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Will be great anywhere from walking to marathoning (Although the New Balance More may be more comfortable and stable for people on their feet all day)
Where it falls short/isn’t designed for:
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If you are looking for a tempo run shoe or a fast race shoe, this is not the shoe for you. You would want to look at the Rebel or the SC Elite V5. (Caveat - this IS a great marathoning shoe - I would wear it! It’s just not the type of plated “race” shoe people usually think about).
Comparisons
Compared to previous 1080’s, the V15 feels much more responsive, lighter, durable, and more versatile and can be used for a variety of training runs and distances
Comparable shoes by other brands would be the Asics Nimbus 28, the Brooks Glycerin 23, and the Saucony Triumph.
Key Specs
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Weight: 7.3oz/9.2oz (W7/M9)
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Stack height/drop: 6mm heel drop, stack height of 34mm/40mm (forefoot/heel)
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Midsole foam - updated to the Infinion
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Shoe type: high-fusioned neutral shoe (insert/orthotic friendly!)
We are here to help!
If you want to give the new 1080 a try, check them out on our website or come visit our shoefitters in-store!
