New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX review

After testing the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX, we recommend it for:

• Runners who enjoy New Balance daily trainers and want a winter-ready version with a plush, comfort-driven ride.  
• Those looking for a cold-weather shoe that’s versatile enough for errands and relaxed runs alike.  
• Heel strikers training for a spring race in harsh winters who need a dependable pick for freezing conditions.

We believe the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX may not be the best choice for budget-conscious runners, as its high price point could be a deterrent. For a more wallet-friendly alternative, we suggest the Nike Winflo 11 GTX, which offers a waterproof upper suitable for winter and wet conditions at a lower cost.

Additionally, for those seeking a versatile shoe capable of handling both road and trail surfaces, the 880 v14 GTX's design is primarily suited for pavement. In such cases, we recommend considering hybrid options like the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 GTX or the Hoka Challenger 7 GTX.

We found that the Gore-Tex layer didn’t cut into cushioning at all—our measurement still showed 35.4 mm stack in the heel. That confirmed the shoe keeps its daily-trainer comfort even with the added waterproof protection.

Although it doesn’t step into ultra-cushioned territory, we think this height strikes a great balance—especially for runners wanting a versatile option. From our perspective, adding more foam would have been a mistake.

The 880 v14 GTX’s forefoot stack measured 24.1 mm with our caliper, landing just below the current lab average. We discovered that forefoot strikers might bottom out on fast runs—but some actually crave that close-to-ground feel, right?

However, with its sky-high 11.3 mm heel-to-toe drop, this isn’t the best match for forefoot strikers. We think it’s much better suited for heel strikers—or midfoot runners seeking a more forgiving option for their calves.

The Gore-Tex version of the 880 v14 mostly differs from the standard one through its upper—everything else should remain unchanged. To confirm that, we sliced the shoe in half and pressed our durometer directly onto the core foam, as brands often add a protective layer to the exterior of the midsole.

According to our findings, this is the classic Fresh Foam X—soft and comfortable—with a durometer reading of just 14.6 HA.

While Fresh Foam X feels plush and comfort-oriented, its EVA base limits energy return. On top of that, we found it becomes noticeably firmer in cold weather—hardening by a steep 37% in our 20-minute freezer test.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX features a soft-and-cushy sockliner that we measured at 5.0 mm thick.

We discovered that the 880 v14 has a moderate rocker, something that pairs naturally with its flexible ride and average stack height.

This type of geometry feels right at home in a shoe built for both relaxed city walks and easy-paced runs.

Gore-Tex shoes sometimes alter the fit compared to their non-waterproof siblings because of the thicker, weather-shielding membrane. We were curious to see if this was also the case for the Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX.

After creating our custom gel mold, we found that that the GTX version fits a bit snugger. At 93.9 mm, it’s tighter than the accommodating 96.8 mm we measured in the standard model—a difference that was clear from the first try-on.

The big toe zone also loses space in the GTX version—shrinking from 76.2 mm to 73.6 mm. It’s not a dramatic change, but for wide-footed runners, it will matter a lot.

New Balance gave the regular version an impressively tall toebox—at 28.5 mm, it stood above the average and delivered a spacious, upward-moving feel that made toe splay incredibly easy and pressure-free on our runs.

However, after testing the GTX edition, we discovered a more compact fit with just 24.8 mm. This shift makes the shoe feel tighter on the toes—something that certain runners may dislike.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX is a neutral running shoe, but its added midsole width and rigid structure enhance stability noticeably more than what we usually find in average daily trainers.

We also noticed a slight boost in stability compared to the non-GTX version. That's likely thanks to the snugger upper, which creates a firmer lockdown and offers a more stable landing platform underneath.

The 880 v14 scored 3/5 in our previous lab test, but this GTX version bumped it up to 4/5—likely thanks to the weatherproof membrane and the more robust, winter-ready upper.

We saw the same pattern in the heel counter. While the regular model scored an average 3/5 for stiffness, the Gore-Tex version climbed to 4/5.

That added structure clearly contributes to its enhanced stability.

The forefoot on this GTX version felt exceptionally broad—something we typically associate with stability-focused shoes. We measured it at 121.8 mm, which is slightly more than what we recorded in the non-waterproof model.

This ultra-generous platform seems to hit the upper limit of what’s reasonable for a daily trainer.

The heel feels much more reasonable—still wider than average, but capped at 93.5 mm. From our perspective, this makes sense, and trimming a bit the extra-wide forefoot in the next update could add a touch of agility to the ride.

One of the things we really enjoyed in the 880 v14 was its ultra-flexible build—scoring just 20.6N in our 90-degree bend test. That’s gone in the GTX version.

The thicker Gore-Tex upper raised stiffness to 28.2N, aligning it more with the average shoe. While still a decent result for a daily trainer, that yoga-like feel has definitely faded.

And what about the weight? That’s often a downside in Gore-Tex models—heavier fabric usually bring extra grams, obviously. But we discovered a pleasant surprise here.

According to our scale, this GTX version stays lightweight at 9.20 oz or 261g, adding just 0.35 oz or 10g over the regular one. Quite nice!

As with nearly every Gore-Tex upper we've tested, breathability in this model fell far short of expectations. And yes, despite Gore-Tex's repeated claims, this material just isn’t breathable. Not even close.

It's clear that the airflow of the toebox is virtually nonexistent—and the side-by-side video with the non-GTX version makes this evident. That’s a 1/5 from us.

We confirmed this once more by placing the upper over a powerful LED light—only the tongue allowed a hint of light through, showing it’s the sole area with a bit of ventilation, but also revealing that it doesn't feature waterproof protection.

Under our microscope, we discovered a regular engineered mesh upper paired with a secondary layer that delivers full waterproof protection with a focus on insulation. It’s clearly built for shielding feet, not letting them breathe.

Afterwards, we isolated the upper for closer inspection and found that the white Gore-Tex membrane clashed hard with the black colorway. From the inside, it feels oddly cheap—almost like a DIY waterproof 880 v14.

The multi-layer build of this GTX version delivers outstanding wear resistance. We found zero weak spots during testing and gave it an awesome 5/5, which clearly improves the 3/5 from its standard sibling.

Afterward, we shifted our focus to the heel padding, which landed an average 3/5. While it’s not a standout result, we were still fairly pleased.

We used a Shore C durometer and measured the outsole at 81.5 HC—a spot-on average result. It comes with water-channeling grooves that boost drainage, a smart addition in any winter-ready shoe.

We also liked seeing minimal exposed foam, which is a common issue that makes running shoes very slippery in wet conditions.

The rubber compound used by New Balance held up nicely in our Dremel test. Using a tire tread gauge, we measured just 0.9 mm of wear, which is a good outcome.

We found that New Balance added an extra millimeter of rubber to the Gore-Tex version, bringing it to 4.4 mm. This outsole thickness—combined with the results from our Dremel test—delivers long-lasting durability.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 GTX adds a $20 premium, which feels slightly overpriced if you ask us. A $10–15 bump would seem fairer, but honestly, few GTX shoes are this comfort-packed and all-around versatile.

Using the brand logo as reflective detail is a smart double win—it boosts safety while keeping the design clean and functional.

The tongue received a light redesign, with slightly less padding to help balance the extra weight from Gore-Tex. Still, at 5.8 mm, we think there’s enough cushion for long runs well over 90 minutes.

The laces are flat, and easy to adjust—just what we expected from a daily trainer at this price point.

We found that the tongue gets a smart upgrade in the GTX version, moving from a semi-gusseted design to a full one.

The heel design follows the recent road lineup from New Balance. Therefore, it skips the heel tab and displays the model number. In our view, it’s functional but falls short in the style department.

If you want to swap in a thinner insole for extra toe room, there’s no problem—this one isn’t glued to the midsole, so removal is quick and easy.