The Shoe for Toe Pain
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 12, 2019
32 mpw training for middle distance came from the Altra Escalante 2
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
New Balance 880 v9
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.6 oz · 10mm drop · 32/22mm stack
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v10 replaced it
How it ranks
The New Balance 880 v9 sits about average for daily trainers in our data. Value and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 22 runner reviews and 13 other rated shoes in the 880 product line.
Decent
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
90/100
What runners say
“I can't get a good lock in the heel, even with heel lock lacing, mostly because the tongues slip over mid-run”
“They've lasted me 400 miles on 2 pairs thus far, so they hold up quite nicely.”
“They were very durable, and the cushioning never really seemed to wear down or compress much”
“They're stiff, so much so that my toes ache after long runs in them.”
“Cushioning is great, responsive and firm, the best combo.”
“They survived about 4-5 months of 50 mile weeks before begging for retirement”
“These shoes feel the most minimalist, while still having the support needed.”
“Toe box is great for an average to wide foot.”
“They are "mid-cushioned" technically, but don't feel soft.”
“I now have about 100 miles on the shoes and they feel like new.”
Prefer this shoe over another
50% 10/20
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
Pros
- Reviewers report pairs lasting hundreds of miles before the cushioning fades.
- Many find the firm, responsive ride works for tempo and faster running.
- Reviewers rate value 4.6 out of 5 across twenty-two reviews.
Cons
- Runners wanting soft cushioning often find it firm and stiff.
- A few reviewers struggle to lock down the heel and midfoot.
- Appearance draws the lowest ratings of any dimension, at 4.2 out of 5.
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 880
Each dot is one version of the 880, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2025 · 6 reviews
78 Decent
74 Confidence
-
2018 · 3 reviews
64 Below average
81 Confidence
-
2025 · 2 reviews
72 Decent
53 Confidence
-
2023 · 13 reviews
60 Bottom-tier
85 Confidence
-
2022 · 13 reviews
90 Good
84 Confidence
-
2021 · 3 reviews
79 Decent
53 Confidence
-
2020 · 6 reviews
70 Below average
75 Confidence
-
880 v9 This shoe
2020 · 22 reviews
78 Decent
90 Confidence
-
2018 · 11 reviews
66 Below average
81 Confidence
-
2018 · 1 review
76 Decent
36 Confidence
-
2016 · 12 reviews
92 Very good
89 Confidence
-
2016 · 7 reviews
66 Below average
85 Confidence
-
2013 · 10 reviews
72 Decent
78 Confidence
-
2012 · 4 reviews
73 Decent
73 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 8.6 oz
- Release
- 2020 Q3
- Stack Height
- 32mm heel - 22mm toe
- Drop Height
- 10mm
Runner reviews
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 30, 2019
30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance 880v8
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Responsive Cush without the Mush
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 25, 2019
80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Great day to day training shoe
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 22, 2019
30 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Fantastic
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 9, 2019
30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- 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 880 v9 In Context
More on the New Balance 880
- New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v15
- New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v14
- New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v13
- New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v12
- New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v11
- New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v10 next version
- New Balance 880v8 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 2 runners
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 2 runners
- Brooks Ghost 11 2 runners