Best shoe for all types of training
5/5
Overall
CKM · May 31, 2023
25 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 2
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
New Balance 1080 v8
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 10.2 oz · 27/19mm stack · 8mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance 1080 v9 replaced it
How it ranks
The New Balance 1080 v8 ranks among the stronger daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 13 runner reviews and 12 other rated shoes in the 1080 product line.
Good
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
94 High
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“V8 seems wider than previous versions—too loose at tightest lacing after 2 weeks.”
“Broke down quickly and caused achilles pain after runs of 3+ miles.”
“If it gets wet, the sole seems to get spongy.”
“Fit is a bit loose—wider toebox is nice but feels too wide through midfoot with too much tongue padding.”
“Heavy cushioning is nice, but at the cost of speed.”
“Meets all the comfort, cushioning and durability for 4-6 mile daily walks.”
“Got about 500 miles of use out of it.”
“Provides lightweight support for heavy-footed runners.”
“Suitable for both higher speed and long runs (20km+) at marathon pace.”
“One of a few shoes that come in 4E.”
“Very expensive—not friendly to a college budget.”
“Soft, light, and with a feeling of great cushioning.”
“These shoes last and hold up in all conditions.”
“Great for well-cushioned low-intensity runs and long runs.”
“The big heel drop is nice (8-10mm).”
“Deceptively light for their looks.”
“Heavy but good cushion.”
Prefer this shoe over another
36% 8/22
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers praise the cushioning for slow, long runs and walking.
- Comfort is its best-rated dimension, and one reviewer finds it comfortable within the first couple of runs.
- Two reviewers choose it for the width options, one in 2A and one in 4E.
Cons
- Averaging 10.2 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is well above the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale, and several reviewers call it heavy and clunky.
- Two reviewers find it loose through the midfoot.
- Durability reports split: one reviewer gets 500 miles, another says it broke down quickly and the sole goes spongy when wet.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance 1080
Each dot is one version of the 1080, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2026 · 7 reviews
78 Decent
81 Confidence
-
2024 · 30 reviews
91 Very good
93 Confidence
-
2023 · 27 reviews
84 Good
92 Confidence
-
2022 · 25 reviews
92 Very good
94 Confidence
-
2021 · 4 reviews
81 Good
87 Confidence
-
2019 · 8 reviews
64 Below average
89 Confidence
-
2019 · 24 reviews
94 Excellent
95 Confidence
-
2018 · 22 reviews
67 Below average
96 Confidence
-
1080 v8 This shoe
2018 · 13 reviews
80 Good
94 Confidence
-
2016 · 1 review
70 Decent
83 Confidence
-
2015 · 6 reviews
65 Below average
87 Confidence
-
2014 · 11 reviews
68 Below average
90 Confidence
-
2013 · 10 reviews
60 Below average
88 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 10.2 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 11.1 oz · Women's 9.3 oz
- Release
- 2018 Q1
- MSRP
- $150
- Stack
- 27/19mm
- Drop
- 8mm
Runner reviews
I love those shoes!
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019
31 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Ride 9
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Solid shoe for the slow days
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 2, 2019
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Downshifter 7
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Great Shoe
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 2, 2019
60 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Works so I keep using it
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Oct 2, 2018
55 mpw training for a marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from New Balance
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
New Balance 1080 v8 In Context
More on the New Balance 1080
- New Balance 1080v15
- New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14
- New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13
- New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v12
- New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11
- New Balance 1080 v10
- New Balance 1080 v9 next version
- New Balance 1080 v6 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Nike Downshifter 7 1 runner