New Balance 1080v15 review: My favorite 1080 yet
New Balance swaps Fresh Foam X for the new Infinion compound, and the result is a max-cushion daily trainer that feels familiar, faster, and more confident underfoot than any 1080 before it.
The 1080 series has been New Balance's answer to the same question for over a decade: what does the ideal high-mileage daily trainer feel like?
With the v15, they've finally changed more than the colorways. The headline is a new foam, and it's called Infinion, a supercritical nitrogen-infused compound that replaces the long-running Fresh Foam X.
The result is a shoe that feels instantly familiar if you've worn any previous 1080, but meaningfully better underfoot in ways you'll notice from the first mile.
I've been putting miles in on the v15 and i truly believe this one earns the hype. Here's my full breakdown.
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Key specifications
- Price: $170 at New Balance
- Weight: 9.1oz / 258g (men's US 9)
- Drop: 6mm
- Stack height: 40mm heel / 34mm forefoot
- Upper: Double-layer perforated engineered mesh with cushioned gusseted tongue, padded collar, and reflective accents
- Midsole: Infinion supercritical foam (nitrogen-infused TPEE/EVA blend, open-cell structure)
- Outsole: Segmented rubber pods with exposed foam in the midfoot
- Extra attributes: Available in multiple widths; orthotic-friendly; moderate rocker geometry; reflective details
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Sizing and fit
The 1080v15 runs true to size with a toe box that feels accommodating, a welcomed feature at this cushion level as your forefoot has space to splay naturally on longer efforts without feeling sloppy.
The midfoot is slightly more tailored, so if you sit between widths or have a higher instep, it's worth trying a half size up or going to a 2E before dismissing it.
The heel lockdown is secure once laced, the gusseted tongue stays put on the run, and the padded collars / heel counter adds a premium, cozy feel from the moment you put them on.
Multiple width options mean most foot shapes can find a dialed fit.
Performance review
The Infinion foam upgrade is the real story
If you've worn any version of the 1080 before, the v15 will feel like a welcome homecoming, that signature cloud-like plushness is entirely intact.
But spend five minutes in it and you'll notice it's doing something the previous versions didn't quite pull off: it feels softer, more alive, and more stable, all at the same time.
Infinion is New Balance's supercritical foam, and the difference over Fresh Foam X is genuinely noticeable. There's a bouncier, more energetic quality to each stride. Energy return tests put it in the 66–69% range, and it will stay lively for much longer.
The dead-spot feeling that occasionally crept into the v14 at slower paces is gone. It compresses, loads, and returns with more confidence.
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Planted and stable where the v14 wasn't
This is the improvement I keep coming back to. The v15 doesn't just feel lighter, it feels more grounded too.
There's a settled, confident quality to the footstrike that the v14 didn't always deliver, particularly on longer runs when fatigue starts to creep in. The combination of refined rocker geometry, lighter overall construction, and the resilient nature of Infinion adds up to a shoe that feels more secure at all paces without ever feeling stiff, aggressive, or energy-sapping plush.
It's worth being clear, however, that this is still a purely neutral shoe with no medial post or structured guidance.
But the real-world stability is noticeably improved, and that matters for a shoe in this category. You want max cushion to feel protective, not precarious.
Ride feel and pace range
The 1080v15 is built for easy miles and long runs, and it's exceptional at both.
At relaxed, conversational paces it just absorbs road and keeps going. Smooth transitions from heel strike through toe-off, with a moderate rocker that keeps things flowing without feeling forced. It's forgiving without being sluggish.
It handles light tempo work and fartlek efforts better than you'd expect from a max-cushion shoe, largely because of the weight drop.
At 9.1 oz in a size 9, it's a noticeable weight cut from the v14 (10 oz), and that shaves off just enough heft (around 10%) to make moderate-effort miles feel more efficient.
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I wouldn't reach for it as a dedicated workout shoe, but it won't hold you back on those days when easy runs drift into something a little brisker.
Upper comfort and breathability
The perforated engineered mesh is one of the better uppers in this category. It's soft, stretchy, and breathable without feeling insubstantial.
This one earns its premium price point; the cushioned gusseted tongue keeps debris out and stays centered during longer runs, and the padded collar adds ankle comfort that makes this an easy pick for walking and standing days as well as running ones.
The reflective accents are subtle but practical for low-light miles.
No hotspots in my experience, and the fit confidence it gives you from the moment you lace up carries through to the end of a long run, which isn't something you can say about every shoe in this category.
Outsole grip and durability
The segmented rubber pod outsole provides good traction on dry pavement, and wet roads.
The exposed foam in the midfoot keeps the ride flexible and the overall package light, and early durability testing suggests the rubber holds up well across high-mileage use. It's not the most aggressive outsole pattern in the category, but for a road daily trainer logging easy and long-run miles, it's exactly what it needs to be.
Versatility across training
Where the v14 sat more firmly in the "recovery and easy day" box, the v15 earns a broader role in a training rotation.
The lighter weight and more energetic foam means it can pull double duty across easy efforts, long runs, recovery days, and occasional tempo-adjacent work without feeling out of place.
If you're the kind of runner who prefers to simplify with one high-quality daily trainer rather than rotate through five pairs, the v15 makes a very strong case for itself.
How it compares to the 1080v14
The v14 was a solid shoe; very reliable, plush, and well-suited to easy miles and recovery days, but it came with a couple of genuine trade-offs.
At 10 oz / 283 g in a men's US 9, it carried more weight than felt necessary for a daily trainer, and the Fresh Foam X midsole, while comfortable, could feel a little heavy-footed and less energetic over longer efforts. I noted in my v14 review that the added firmness over the v13 brought useful stability, but there were times when it felt more like a shoe you were working with rather than one working with you.
The v15 addresses both of those things directly. The jump from 10 oz down to 9.1 oz is noticeable on foot, the shoe feels genuinely more agile and less effortful to move in.
And where the v14's Fresh Foam X was comfortable but occasionally passive, and unstable, Infinion brings a livelier, more responsive quality that keeps the ride interesting across the full distance of a long run. The plush comfort that defines this series is still entirely intact; it's just doing more with it now.
If you're running in the v14 and it's working for you, the v15 is an easy, worthwhile upgrade. If you skipped a version or two, the gap feels even more significant.
Alternatives worth considering
If you're weighing up the 1080v15 against other options in the max-cushion daily trainer category, these three are worth your time.
The New Balance Fresh Foam X Ellipse sits in a similar comfort-first space but with a more wraparound, sock-like fit and a slightly different ride character. It's a good option if you want the New Balance plush feel with a more enveloping upper experience.
The Nike Vomero 18 is Nike's answer to this category and brings a similarly plush, high-stack ride. It leans a little firmer than the 1080v15 and has a more structured feel underfoot, which will suit runners who want max cushion but prefer a bit more road feedback.
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For a deeper look at the best shoes in this category, head over to my best max cushion daily trainers roundup. I keep it updated with current picks across all budgets and foot types.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Run in these if you're a neutral runner logging consistent miles and want a do-it-all daily trainer that's genuinely comfortable across easy efforts, long runs, and recovery days. It's also an easy recommendation for anyone who loved the v14 and wants the same feel, lighter and with better energy.
Skip these if you prefer a firm, propulsive ride, the v15 is unambiguously cushioned and plush, and no amount of Infinion energy return changes that fundamental character. If you want a daily trainer that feels more like a tempo shoe, look elsewhere.
My verdict
The 1080v15 is the version of this shoe I've been waiting for.
New Balance didn't break what worked, the iconic plush comfort of the series is fully intact, but they addressed legitimate criticisms of the v14 with meaningful, real-world improvements.
It's lighter, more planted, and more energetic underfoot, and that combination makes it a more versatile, more enjoyable shoe to run in across every pace and effort level this shoe is designed for.
At $170 it's priced about right for a cushioned daily trainer like this, and it's an easy one for me to recommend.
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