New Balance 860 v8

Name: New Balance 860 v8
Brand: New Balance
Rating: 4.4 (9 reviews)

Daily trainer · Stability · Road

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance 860 V9 replaced it

How it ranks

The New Balance 860 v8 trails most daily trainers in our data. Value and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Cushioning scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 10 runner reviews and 12 other rated shoes in the 860 product line.

Below average

Overall

Below average 63

Value

Decent 74

Comfort

Decent 70

Appearance

Below average 68

Durability

Below average 67

Cushioning

Bottom-tier 57

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.

See the product line's history

Confidence

87 High

High 87

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

“The dual-density post is firm but also soft; the footbed is comfortable in transition, and the shoe offers a great balance of rigidity and cushioning perfect for longer distance training.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Structure 22

“No blisters or pressure point issues with the wide fit.”

5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Cumulus 20

“At about 200 miles, both pairs started to tear at the side where the upper met the midsole.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw came from the New Balance 860 V9

“As a wider-based stability shoe, the NB860 may be as good as it gets.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Structure 22

“Great stability and firm cushioning allow you to train on all surfaces without worrying about injury.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon

“The v8 has brought me back to a comfortable running experience.”

5/5 Full review 12 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 12

“With a wide foot, it has been a pleasure to run in.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw

“Rubber sole provides the cushion and durability wanted.”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

50% 3/6

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Two reviewers describe a firm, stable ride for long training runs.
One reviewer with a wide foot calls it a pleasure to run in.
Two reviewers switched from Nike and prefer it.

Cons

One reviewer has two successive pairs tear where the upper meets the midsole at about 200 miles.
Cushioning and durability are the lowest of its dimensions at 4.0 out of 5 across ten reviews.
Two of the nine reviewers who answered report an injury while running in it.

860 v8 rates 63. This shoe has high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance 860

Each dot is one version of the 860, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

54 2014 49 62 2016 55 57 63 2019 60 73 61 2020 63 69 2022 63 55 2026

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Fresh Foam X 860 v15

2026 · 0 reviews

55 Bottom-tier

54 Confidence
Fresh Foam X 860 v14

2024 · 11 reviews

63 Below average

77 Confidence
Fresh Foam X 860 v13

2022 · 5 reviews

69 Below average

82 Confidence
Fresh Foam X 860 v12

2021 · 1 review

63 Below average

74 Confidence
Fresh Foam 860 v11

2020 · 1 review

61 Below average

77 Confidence
860 v10

2020 · 8 reviews

73 Decent

82 Confidence
860 V9

2019 · 5 reviews

60 Below average

81 Confidence
860 v8 This shoe

2019 · 10 reviews

63 Below average

87 Confidence
860 v7

2018 · 4 reviews

57 Bottom-tier

75 Confidence
860 v6

2018 · 2 reviews

55 Bottom-tier

80 Confidence
860 v5

2016 · 4 reviews

62 Below average

80 Confidence
860 v4

2014 · 16 reviews

49 Bottom-tier

89 Confidence
860 v3

2014 · 2 reviews

54 Bottom-tier

77 Confidence

Runner Ratings

10 ratings

5/5 5

4/5 5

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Release: 2019

Runner reviews

Write a review

The trainee becomes the trainer

5/5

Overall

Bought these shoes at a discount price and they are great. There is a great stability and a firm cushioning to these shoes that allow you to train on all surfaces without worrying about injury. They look great and feel great. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a good training shoe. They allow you to perform at any level.

Anonymous runner · Jan 2, 2020

40 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

In the words of Post Malone, I fell apart

4/5

Overall

I had two successive pairs of these shoes and at about 200 miles, both of them started to tear at the side where the upper met the midsole. When the first pair did it, I though it might’ve just been a faulty pair, but then the second pair did it too. It got so bad when I was waiting for a new replacement pair that I started to get plantar fasciitis from clenching my feet to try and keep the shoes together. They’re a comfy shoe, but you’re hard-pressed to get more than 250 miles out of them. The model year newer, the 860v9’s are much better and have a knit side.

Anonymous runner · Jan 2, 2020

40 mpw came from the New Balance 860 V9

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 2/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Aug 14, 2019

50 mpw training for a marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 3/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

The Fixer

5/5

Overall

As a wider-based stability shoe, I think the NB860 may be as good as it gets. For years, I had worn the Nike Structure, but was very disappointed by some recent changes to the heal and medial post. The NB860 has literally saved my body throughout my marathon training. The dual-density post is firm but also soft, the foot bed is comfortable in transition, and the shoe offers a great balance of rigidity and cushioning that's perfect for longer distance training. I couldn't be happier with my conversion from Nike to New Balance.

Anonymous runner · Aug 12, 2019

70 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Structure 22