The New Balance 1080v15 is a comfort-oriented daily trainer and a significant update within one of the brand's most popular running shoe series. It has a new midsole compound called Infinion, which has a very different feel from the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 and its other predecessors. Most notable is the increased bounciness, which also weighs less than the old Fresh Foam. The 1080v15 still has New Balance's typical accommodating foot bed geometry, but the upper is a bit more snug than previous 1080s. Although the 1080v15 is still primarily a comfort cruiser, the updates in this version add a bit more fun to those easy day miles.
Our Verdict
The New Balance 1080v15 is a satisfactory shoe for running a marathon. While it does have very good cushioning, the soft foam can bottom out over longer distances, becoming increasingly firm and even harsh. Nevertheless, the shoe has an inherently stable design that helps keep your stride from breaking down late in the race when fatigue sets in.
Infinion foam is noticeably bouncy.
Good lateral stability.
Forefoot bottoms out during longer runs.
Bulky dimensions.
The New Balance 1080v15 is an okay shoe for racing a 5K or 10K. The Infinion foam is decently bouncy, but the platform's bulky dimensions make it feel too clunky to push the pace aggressively. That said, the firmer forefoot makes the 1080v15 feel more responsive than the mushy Fresh Foam of previous iterations.
Infinion foam is noticeably bouncy.
Bulky dimensions.
The New Balance 1080v15 has decent energy return. This is the first shoe in the 1080 series to use a supercritical foam, and the improved bounce is noticeable. While it's still far from the super foams used in racing shoes, the Infinion midsole decompresses well enough to keep everyday runs feeling lively.
Infinion foam is noticeably bouncy.
Mediocre energy return in heel.
The New Balance 1080v15 has very good cushioning. The change from the old Fresh Foam to the updated Infinion midsole gives a soft, but not overly mushy, feel underfoot. The heel in particular is very well cushioned and ensures protective landings for heel strikers.
Great heel cushioning.
The New Balance 1080v15 has good lateral stability. The broad midsole platform gives the shoe inherent stability, and although the Infinion foam is quite soft in the heel, the forefoot firms up significantly when pressure is applied, providing a solid base for pushing off.
Wide midsole platform.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the New Balance 1080v15 in men's U.S. size 9, as noted on the label for our pair. The color shown here is AFTERGLOW/BLUE BIRD/SILVER METALLIC, but the shoe is available in a variety of other tasteful colorways, depending on your region. The 1080v15 is available in a whole range of widths, from Narrow (2A for women, B for men) to Standard (B for women, D for men) to Wide (D for women, 2E for men), as well as extra wide (4E for men and 2E for women). The design section applies only to the exact model we tested, but we expect other variants to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The New Balance 1080v15 is a cushioned daily trainer and a big step forward for one of the most popular running shoes from the American brand. As other brands began introducing supercritical foams into their premium daily trainers, the Fresh Foam in the 1080 series was becoming increasingly outmoded, sinking in while other premium daily trainers were bouncing back. With its bouncier new Infinion foam, the 1080v15 is now lighter and more energetic than other premium daily trainers, like the Brooks Glycerin 22 or the Nike Vomero 18. Part of New Balance's appeal has been that they make shoes available in versions all the way up to extra wide, and that continues with the 1080v15. Runners with extra-wide feet face limited options, but several other models available in extra wide include the Brooks Ghost 17, the HOKA Clifton 10, and the ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28.
The New Balance 1080v15 anchors New Balance's daily trainer lineup, sitting in between more lightweight trainers like the New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos v1 or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5, and higher-stacked trainers like the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6.
If you're looking for more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes, the best long-distance running shoes, and the best shoes for running a marathon.
The New Balance X 1080v15 is a major update to the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14. After several years of relatively minor updates, the 15th iteration of the 1080 series replaced the entire midsole, getting rid of the actual Fresh Foam and replacing it with a bouncier, supercritical component that New Balance calls Infinion. This makes the v15 a much livelier daily trainer, with more cushioning in the heel. While it's a worthwhile upgrade over the v14, it's not without tradeoffs: the softer foam of the v15 bottoms out a bit faster during long runs, and the forefoot doesn't provide as much protection against heavy impacts.
The Mizuno Neo Zen and New Balance 1080v15 are two well-cushioned trainers that deliver a good amount of bounce per ounce. The Neo Zen is the lighter of the two, thanks to its thin, sock-like upper that hugs your foot. The New Balance shoe has a more structured upper with substantial padding. Both shoes have a similarly bouncy midsole, but the Neo Zen's higher stack and deeper cushioning make it a better choice for long runs.
The New Balance 1080v15 and Nike Vomero 18 are two comfort-focused daily trainers that are available in a variety of widths, ranging all the way up to extra wide. The New Balance shoe has a fun but simple set-up underfoot, with a midsole composed entirely of Infinion, a softer, bouncier foam that replaces the older Fresh Foam. The Nike shoe is a bit more complex, with a layer of their bouncy ZoomX foam, sitting on top of a base of denser ReactX foam. Consequently, the New Balance shoe has better energy return, but it doesn't absorb heavy impacts as well, and it bottoms out a bit earlier in long runs. If you are a lighter runner or you just want the livelier shoe, consider the New Balance. If you land with a lot of force, especially in your heel, or you plan to use this as your long-run shoe, choose the Nike.
The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 and New Balance 1080v15 are two daily trainers from the American brand that offer slightly different running experiences. The Rebel v5 is a bit lower-stacked, lighter, and firmer. The 1080v15 is better cushioned and bouncier, but less stable. The Rebel is a good shoe for shorter runs or for runners who like a bit more ground feel. The 1080v15 is a comfort cruiser, best suited for everyday miles and for runners who prioritise cushioning over nimbleness.
We buy and test running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes for team members to be able to log in miles. This real-world testing is done at various paces and conditions, and with different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
The New Balance 1080v15 has shed 33 grams of weight compared to the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14. Much of this is due to the lighter, bouncier Infinion foam.
The shoe's heel returns energy significantly better than the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14. This improved bounce helps heel strikers get forward onto their toes more quickly.
The New Balance 1080v15's forefoot also feels much livelier and bounces back much better than its predecessor. It's still not quite as bouncy as a premium trainer like the Saucony Triumph 23, but considerably better at returning energy than the Nike Vomero 18.
The heel cushioning is very good, much better than the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14. Runners who don't land with much force in the heel will have more than enough protection, but heavier heel strikers might find the Saucony Triumph 23 or the ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 more protective.
The forefoot cushioning of the New Balance 1080v15 is good, although it doesn't feel as soft when significant force is applied as the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14. If you are a heavy forefoot striker, the Nike Vomero 18 or the ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 will have softer landings.
The heel isn't that firm, although if you land with significant force, it actually becomes firmer than the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14. For a comfort cruiser, the midsole is just firm enough to provide stability for easy runs.
The forefoot of the New Balance 1080v15 is quite firm, disproportionately more than other premium daily trainers when significant force is applied. Again, this is fine for easy runs, but could feel increasingly harsh at harder paces over prolonged periods.
The shoe has okay cushioning for long runs, but the forefoot bottoms out more quickly than the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14, due to the softer foam. Most of the loss in cushioning in the forefoot occurs after the first 10K.