Cushioned but fast trainer
5/5
Overall
Good trainer for long runs and tempo
Bob Reynolds · Jun 16, 2023
45 mpw training for middle distance came from the Brooks Ghost 15
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
New Balance 1080 v10
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.5 oz · 8mm drop · 34/26mm stack
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11 replaced it
How it ranks
The New Balance 1080 v10 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Comfort and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 24 runner reviews and 12 other rated shoes in the 1080 product line.
Exceptional
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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
96/100
What runners say
“This pair of shoes has been like running on clouds”
“After a few miles, 6 or 7, the cushioning fades away, making it not so comfortable to ride”
“The HypoKnit is amazing, really hugging your feet and creating airflow during the long runs”
“How cushioned the soles are despite their relative thinness”
“The heel is much more locked down because of the new heel cup design”
“The upper is nice and breathable and stretchy but not too stretchy”
“Sometimes the cushioning can feel excessive and the price a little steep”
“I believe these run very narrow”
“Shoes have been very resilient”
Prefer this shoe over another
48% 10/21
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
Pros
- Reviewers praise the Fresh Foam X cushioning on long runs.
- Runners use it for easy miles and tempo work alike.
- Reviewers name the knit upper for breathability and a locked-down heel.
Cons
- One midfoot striker says the cushioning is all in the heel and fades after six or seven miles.
- Two reviewers say it needs breaking in and feels completely different from the 1080 v9.
- One reviewer finds the cushioning excessive and the price a little steep.
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.
50
60
70
80
90
100
25
50
75
100
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 · 6 reviews
68 Below average
70 Confidence
-
2024 · 29 reviews
96 Excellent
94 Confidence
-
2023 · 27 reviews
89 Good
88 Confidence
-
2022 · 25 reviews
97 Excellent
93 Confidence
-
2021 · 4 reviews
83 Good
81 Confidence
-
2019 · 8 reviews
58 Bottom-tier
85 Confidence
-
1080 v10 This shoe
2019 · 24 reviews
98 Exceptional
96 Confidence
-
2018 · 22 reviews
68 Below average
91 Confidence
-
2018 · 13 reviews
89 Good
89 Confidence
-
2016 · 1 review
75 Decent
46 Confidence
-
2015 · 6 reviews
68 Below average
77 Confidence
-
2014 · 11 reviews
70 Decent
84 Confidence
-
2013 · 10 reviews
58 Bottom-tier
84 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 9.5 oz
- Release
- 2019 Q4
- MSRP
- $150
- Stack Height
- 34mm heel - 26mm toe
- Drop Height
- 8mm
Runner reviews
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jun 10, 2023
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Most comfortable shoe I have ever had
5/5
Overall
I have been wearing NB for decades; i have 4E feet, so barefoot, Birkenstock, & New Balance are my only ways. I am continuously shocked with how cushioned the soles are despite their relative thinness. There is one major thing about this pair that I had not done since I was a little boy: instead of asking for various pairs, trying them on, & picking one, I had a worker at the NB store size & fit me. He selected a size that seemed to loose to me, but, by gum, this pair of shoes has been like running on clouds. I am 58 years old, male, 6'3, 150 pounds, lifelong runner. Avoid pavement like the plague, most time on trail, some time on the track. Shoes have been very resilient. I run 4.5 miles every three days (ran daily till 50, then every other day, because I just could not recover anymore in 24 hours; thought I might go every three when I turned 60, but Covid messed up my routine so much that I am just happy to have a regular routine again for the last year).
Robert Hecker · Jun 9, 2023
12 mpw training for 5K and 10K
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Consistently comfortable
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · May 31, 2023
60 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Clifton 7
- Comfort
- 2/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 3/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jan 27, 2020
70 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance 1080 v9
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
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 v10 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 next version
- New Balance Fresh Foam1080 v7 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- New Balance 1080 v9 2 runners
- Brooks Beast 16 2 runners
- HOKA Clifton 6 1 runner