New Balance 1080v2 General Info
The New Balance 1080v2 is New Balance’s latest offering in the premium neutral category, and aims to provide a cushioned, smooth ride in a lighter-weight package. New Balance incorporated a new material for the sole unit, which allows for a lighter shoe. This update to the 1080 is a full ounce lighter than the previous version, and makes a huge difference in terms of feel. Another key feature of the shoe was the low heel to toe ratio, which encourages a mid-foot strike. Overall, the 1080v2 is a dependable shoe that doesn’t get in the way of your natural foot strike, fantastic for long runs or high-mileage weeks.
New Balance 1080v2 Impressions
I had high expectations for the New Balance 1080v2, and I wasn’t disappointed. With experience in some of their other shoes and having heard a lot about them, I was hoping for a shoe that delivered a smooth ride without all of the bulk or weight to hold me back.
From the very first run, I felt like I had been running in them for years. For me, the best part of the 1080v2 is the fact that I don’t really notice them when I’m running. From the smooth ride to the comfortable upper, they provided cushioning to keep my legs and feet comfortable, without making me feel like I was disconnected from the road beneath me or was forcing my feet to work in an unnatural way.
While I loved the 1080v2 for long runs and recovery runs, they aren’t a great choice for track workouts for me, despite their lower weight. The sole unit is slightly thicker than the shoes that I would typically wear for a track workout, though I didn’t have this issue for tempo runs. For me, this one drawback isn’t a huge disadvantage, as I tend to alternate my shoes for each workout, and have a dedicated pair for the track.
New Balance 1080v2 Sole Unit
New Balance made some significant updates to the 1080v2, starting first with the material used for the cushioning in the sole. The 1080v2 is the first shoe to use New Balance’s new N2 technology in the heel. N2 technology is a foam that has been injected with nitrogen, which allows for additional durability and also makes it possible to use less material without losing cushioning.
Long time New Balance fans can rest assured, however, as the rest of the sole uses many of the same materials found in their other offerings, so the overall feel of the shoe isn’t a huge departure. For additional support, New Balance has also included a T-beam shank in the midfoot, which provides some stability without making for a rigid, inflexible sole. Overall, the sole unit is soft and supportive, and stood up well to the elements.
Another key feature of the sole unit is the heel to toe ratio, which is just 8 millimeters. This lower ration encourages a midfoot strike, and makes these shoes a great option for those looking to work on their form or natural midfoot strikers.
New Balance 1080v2 Upper Unit
The upper unit of the 1080v2 is all about comfort and balance. Like other new shoes on the market, the 1080v2 features details like laser etching and no-sew application of the details on the shoe. These techniques allow for a slightly lighter weight and also make for a smoother feel, which cuts down on blistering.
The upper has a nice, snug fit, without being overly narrow, so they would be a great fit on a variety of runners. They also feature excellent arch support, which just adds to the overall comfort of the shoe.
New Balance 1080v2 Opinion
The New Balance 1080v2 is a great long-run shoe. Though they lacked that “fast” feeling that comes from some shoes, they are a solid choice that doesn’t get in the way of your run or natural foot strike. I also loved the low heel to toe ratio, which encouraged a mid-foot strike.
price comparison
 | New Balance 1080v2 Bb Men Holabird Sports Free shipping over 69.95$ | $78.88 |
 | Men's New Balance 1080v2 Running Shoe - Neon Lime 9 RoadRunnerSports Free shipping, 60-day perfect fit guarantee: possible to exchange shoes after using them for two months. | $84.95 |
Written by Courtney Roy
Courtney lives and runs in New York City. When she’s not running through her favorite parks, you can find her shopping, cooking, or watching her favorite football teams.
In the cushioning compartment they feel a lot firmer than my Nimbus 12 or Pegasus 27 but still with good protection.
In many ways they actually reminds me of the Pegasus 26, which wasn’t as overly soft as the 27.
I like them for the good transition and the stability making the ride feel closer to my Elixir 6 than the above mentioned shoes.
On the downside, seen as a premium shoe, they don’t feel as luxurious as the Nimbus – but were I buy them (online in UK) they are are also somewhat cheaper than the Nimbus.
One more thing – the fact that they make them in widths up to 4E is a huge plus for me.
Kare’s comments scare me —”…they don’t feel as luxurious as the Nimbus.”
I recently started running after about a 15-year running retirement (I swore I would never run again since leaving the U.S. Army).
Within a mile or two on my first run, I started getting a lot of pain on the outside edge of my foot. Given that I was running in cheap shoes, I sprung for some higher-end shoes and settled on the Gel Nimbus 13s.
Wow, what a difference! Exactly what a near flat-footed, heel striking underpronator needed. I ran in them 3-4 more times and never once felt that pain in the outside of the foot again.
Long story short, they felt sooo good that I went from running 2.5 miles to 12+ in about two weeks. Now I have severe knee pain on the outside of my left knee and suspect it could be IT Band Syndrome from running too far too soon.
Would these be a good shoe for an underpronator? While not as “luxurious as the Nimbus,” are the pretty close in the cushioning department?
Once I can get the knee to cooperate again, I’d like to get back out there and considering these bad mamma jammas to cycle with the Gels.
IT Band injury: foam roll as much as you can!
@Terp: these shoes are made for NEUTRAL runners. If your an underpronator…do not buy these shoes. Im not formiliair with the Nimbus. What I do now is when you do not wear the right type of shoes (supportwise) your complaints are surely gonna get worse…
I ran with Saucony Triumph for several years when I finally decided to visit a true running store. I brought my old pair of shoes to the store, I got my stride checked by an expert and took a lot of time to discuss with him about my running habits ans goals. I’m neutral/midfoot.
He quickly suggested the NB v1080 wich I’ve been using since last spring. It’s the best thing that happened to me in years. I cut off 6min on my 10K PR in 3 months. Just love the ride and the heel to toe ratio. They feel a lot less bulky the the Saucony Triumph and alot lighter.
In my opinion, every runner should have their stride check. There are no such thing as a perfect universal shoe.
Thinking of moving from Saucony Triumph 9 to NB 1080v2. Both have lower hill to toe drop so not concerned there. Wear 12 in Triumph, are the NB 1080 true to size, go smaller, larger… I am crossing my fingers!