Thomas: The New Balance 1080 v8 is the most cushioned shoe in the New Balance line-up. It is built for comfort with a wide toe box, breathable mesh upper, a full-length Fresh Foam midsole and even a puffy tongue. Cruising and high mileage is what this shoe is made for. There is plenty of rubber on the outsole for durability. The styling isn’t bad for such a beast of a shoe either. I did a 22-mile and a 16.5-mile training run in the 1080 v8, both times my feet were comfortable during and post run.
Meaghan: I had zero expectations for this shoe. Maybe that’s why I like it so much – it was a pleasant surprise. The New Balance 1080v8 is a neutral trainer with plenty of cush. I haven’t run in any previous models, so I can’t speak of the updates. What I can say is that this shoe fits really well. I usually find New Balance shoes to be narrow (yes, I do know they come in different widths, please don’t leave a comment) but these guys hugged my wide feet nicely. The upper is designed with your typical engineered mesh and there’s some structure (cagey-like) through the midfoot. The cushioning around the tongue and collar is plush, which is particularly nice on these cold mornings.
The midsole is one slab of foam, so you get a consistent feel underfoot from toe to heel. The shoes feel flexible; not necessarily responsive or bouncy, but they provide some give underfoot. The blown rubber outsole, while there’s a lot of it, was really great for traction. Part of the reason I kept lacing up these shoes is because I felt comfortable taking them out for runs on sketchy, ice laden roads and sidewalks.
Thomas: My narrow foot didn’t need all the room in the front of the shoe. This shoe looks wide bordering on “Altra” shaped when viewed from above. My “bad” here will be another runner’s joy. The running experience wasn’t unpleasant, but this isn’t a shoe that inspired picking up the pace. My size 10.5 weighed in at 11.55 oz.
Meaghan: This is not a light shoe by any means. My W7.5 weighs nearly 10 oz. YIKES. Luckily, we’re in the dead of winter and with all the layers I have to put on, the shoes fit right in.
Thomas: The 1080 v8 is a well-constructed high mileage trainer. I recommend it to a runner looking for comfort and durability. If you want to have a workhorse and a speedwork pairing, use the 1080 v8 with the New Balance Zante v4. Switching between these made me feel fast in the Zante. Zante v4 review is coming soon. The 1080 v8 fit true to size and have an 8mm drop. Get them here for $139.94.
Meaghan: I know a lot of people are hating on the 1080 v8, but I gotta tell ya, I kinda dig it. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed miles in a shoe this heavy. Maybe the frigid winter temps have something to do with it. Regardless, if you are looking for a neutral trainer that can go lots and lots of miles, give the 1080 v8 a look.
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