New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 review

After testing the 1080 v14 in our lab, we believe it's an excellent choice for:

• Runners who value superior comfort in both the midsole and upper.
• Those seeking plush cushioning paired with first-class durability for consistent daily training.
• Marathoners looking for a recovery shoe that ensures a soft ride after tough workouts.

The 1080 v14 gains noticeable weight compared to its predecessor, making it feel heavy—a definite drawback for runners seeking a lighter ride. In our view, the ASICS Novablast 5 is a stronger alternative for those concerned about this issue.

We also found that the Fresh Foam X midsole remains overly soft, which might not suit runners who prefer a more stable and responsive cushioning experience. If that’s you, we suggest looking at the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 or the Saucony Triumph 22, both of which strike a better balance between softness and energy return.

Finally, this shoe leans heavily toward comfort and lacks a dynamic ride for faster paces. Runners seeking more speed and energy return should consider the Adidas Adizero EVO SL, which delivers a more responsive and performance-driven midsole at a lower price.

Daily trainers continue to grow, and the 1080 series follows suit. Last year, we tested the Fresh Foam X 1080 v13 with a heel height of 34.1 mm. Now, the v14 clocks in at 37.0 mm—a substantial increase over its predecessor.

While the 1080 was previously seen as moderately cushioned, it hovered around the average for its category. With this upgrade, we believe heel strikers will appreciate the extra foam for long distances. And this puts the 1080 v14 on par with cushioned competitors like the Hoka Skyflow and Adidas Supernova Prima.

With the drop remaining at 6 mm as per New Balance specs, more foam in the heel logically translates to more foam in the forefoot. After testing, we discovered 32.8 mm—an impressive figure that offers plush-and-protective cushioning.

After both measurements, we calculated a 4.2 mm drop, making the 1080 v14 an excellent choice for midfoot and forefoot strikers. However, in our view, it’s less ideal for heel strikers.

If there’s one thing that defines the feel of the 1080 series, it’s the “insanely plush” sensation. Perhaps too much so, and that’s what New Balance aimed to refine with the v14. The Fresh Foam X formulation is slightly firmer at 11.9 HA compared to the 10.0 HA of its predecessor, yet it still delivers a cloud-soft, ultra-comfortable foam.

In our view, this change is a positive step forward. The previous version compromised stability for softness, but this update partially addresses that. For runners expecting significant midsole compression and deformation, the feel is still there—just slightly more balanced.

Of course, energy return remains modest, as Fresh Foam X is crafted from EVA, which has inherent material limitations. At this price point, we believe New Balance should consider incorporating some PEBA into the mix, as they do in other models, to elevate performance.

Even in colder temperatures, we found the foam retains its soft, cushion-like feel, measuring 15.0 HA. However, it becomes 26% firmer in these conditions—a result that’s average for EVA-based materials and unsurprising in our tests.

The insole is fairly simple, measuring 3.9 mm in thickness—an average feature for a daily trainer.

With such a thick midsole, the need for a pronounced rocker from heel to toe is clear—without it, moving the shoe with every stride would feel overly taxing.

We found the 1080 v14 features a well-curved 5 cm toe spring, exceeding what most daily trainers offer, making transitions noticeably smoother.

Now, let’s dive into the fit. To assess it, we used our custom gel method, pouring a specialized formula into the toebox and letting it solidify.

This process revealed that New Balance opted for a moderately spacious toebox at 95.4 mm, aligning with what we expected based on other daily trainers.

During our runs, the shoe felt noticeably tight in the toe area, offering less space than we anticipated. Although this wasn’t evident in the initial measurement, a second reading revealed just 69.8 mm in the big toe region.

In our view, runners looking for even minimal toe splay should opt for a 2E or 4E size—thankfully available from New Balance in some countries—or explore alternatives like the ASICS Noosa Tri 16 for a more accommodating fit.

The toebox volume is well-balanced at 27.0 mm, providing ample space without any concerns.

Paired with the high-quality, stretchy material, we believe virtually all runners will find it accommodating.

Stability was a major drawback in version 13, but New Balance addressed it effectively.

Raised sidewalls, slightly firmer foam, and enhanced torsional rigidity were key changes—and we can confidently say they made a difference, although it remains a 100% neutral running shoe.

One of the biggest updates to the 1080 v14 compared to its predecessor is its shift in torsional ridigity—a change you’d only notice by running in the shoe or reading our review. 

Version 13, with its ultra-flexible build, provided outstanding comfort but lacked stability. New Balance addressed this by boosting rigidity to a 4/5 rating, offering better support. However, this trade-off makes it less appealing for all-day wear or extended walking.

The heel counter is on the firmer side at 4/5, a deliberate choice to provide added support for heel strikers experiencing slight instability, making this shoe a more supportive option especially at slower paces. However, like the previous design choice, it slightly compromises comfort.

In our experience, New Balance maintained nearly identical measurements and shape from the previous generation, offering a generously wide forefoot at 118.8 mm.

This is paired with a non-tapered midfoot—an intentional design for added stability and to prevent lateral collapse caused by the soft foam.

Every time we flipped the shoe upside down, its tank-like size became immediately apparent, and our measurement of 94.6 mm in the heel confirmed this impression.

In our view, the 1080 v14 deviates from the agile and nimble character of a classic daily trainer. Instead, it feels more akin to an SUV—tall and comfort-oriented but lacking a sporty feel.

The Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 offers abundant cushioning for a daily trainer, but New Balance didn’t include design enhancements like horizontal grooves on the outsole. 

This resulted in a stiffness measurement of 26.4N in our 90-degree bend test—quite a leap from the 20.5N of the previous version. This firmer setup makes it noticeably less enjoyable for walking, in our experience, despite its otherwise plush feel while running.

In our view, the biggest downside of the 1080 v14 is its added weight. The v13 was just 9.3 oz (264g), but this version gained weight, reaching 10.05 oz (285g). We think that’s a noticeable increase.

Is it a deal-breaker? Not really. For a shoe focused on plush comfort, weight isn’t everything. Still, other brands are doing better with lighter designs, and we believe New Balance should work on this for the next version.

One of our biggest concerns with the 1080 v14 was its breathability. The upper is undeniably thick—a trade-off often seen in comfort-focused shoes—and this can sometimes result in subpar ventilation during runs in summer.

Fortunately, New Balance addressed this well. Despite the triple-layer jacquard mesh construction, we confirmed excellent airflow using our smoke machine, which earned the shoe an impressive 4/5 in our ventilation tests—no small feat!

By examining it with an LED light, we found that while the upper’s material is dense, the toebox features numerous ventilation holes that effectively allow air circulation. Thanks to that, our feet stayed cool even on longer runs.

To explore further, we examined these ventilation holes under a microscope. The openings are large and well-placed, offering robust airflow, though they do raise slight concerns about durability under heavy use. Of course, we also check that here in the lab.

In our view, the upper on the 1080 v14 is one of the most premium we’ve seen in a daily trainer.

It provides ample padding for the Achilles tendon and instep, with a stretchy mesh that's great for all-day wear.

We often worry about poor results with super-comfy uppers, but New Balance impressed us with the 1080 v14. Its breathable material excelled in durability, earning a solid 4/5 in our initial Dremel test.

Afterward, we maintained the Dremel settings at 2N of force and 5K RPM to assess the heel area. The result was an average 3/5, alleviating any concerns about premature wear.

Moving to the outsole, we discovered that New Balance has refined the design by extending coverage over more of the midsole than in earlier models. This improves durability but adds extra weight to the shoe. And there's still plenty of exposed foam.

We started by testing outsole hardness using our Shore C durometer. It measured a slightly below-average 76.7 HC, yet still firm enough to handle daily mileage comfortably.

Using a softer rubber provides a more forgiving feel during runs, but it often raises concerns about durability. Fortunately, the 1080 v14 held its ground remarkably well.

After testing, we discovered that the shoe showed only a minimal dent of 0.6 mm following our last Dremel durability test—a result that outperformed most running shoes on the market.

We found that New Balance increased the outsole thickness from 2.5 mm in the v13 to 3.6 mm in the v14. Based on our lab results, this change feels unnecessary.

From our perspective, the outsole could easily handle a thickness of 2 mm or 2.5 mm. Adding more than that introduces extra weight without meaningful benefits.

With shoe prices rising every year, the 1080 v14 no longer feels as expensive as it once did, though it remains in the premium segment of daily trainers. For performance-focused runners, it may seem costly, but those prioritizing comfort will find good value here—it all depends on your perspective.

Yes! New Balance incorporated one of our favorite designs for reflective elements—integrating the brand logo itself. We can’t help but wonder why more brands don’t embrace this approach.

The tongue is a key ingredient for a plush step-in feel, and New Balance truly delivered with the 1080 v14.

They increased the padding from 7.3 mm to a generous 8.9 mm foam slab. In our view, this upgrade strikes the right balance—adding more would be unnecessary, especially for a heavy shoe like this one.

We discovered a semi-gusseted tongue—a expected feature for a premium daily trainer like this. Having this snug-and-secure design avoids the potential issues of a loose tongue.

Following the trend of recent New Balance shoes with Fresh Foam X, like the 860 v14, the 1080 skips the heel tab and features the model number on the heel.

The insole is removable since it's not glued to the midsole. However, swapping it means losing the Fresh Foam’s story, printed right where your heel lands.