New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15 vs Fresh Foam X 880v15

The New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15 and New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15 are both similarly named daily trainers, but they serve different purposes. The 880v15 is the more classic workhorse: a neutral daily trainer with a lower stack, lighter build, and no dedicated guidance features. It’s better for shorter easy runs if you want a simpler, more traditional-feeling shoe, though it doesn’t offer the same level of protection or support. The 860v15 is heavier, but it also gives you more shoe underfoot. Its taller and wider platform provides better protection and stability, while its support features, including firmer foam and a plastic Stability Plane layer, help guide the foot and control overpronation. It still isn’t especially nimble or bouncy, but it feels a bit less dead underfoot than the 880v15.