New Balance 1080v8 Road Running Shoes Review | In Stock at NorthernRunner.com

New Balance 1080v8 Review
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Overview

The New Balance 1080v8 is New Balance’s most cushioned neutral running shoe. It’s designed for your everyday (perhaps higher) miles and your long runs. The midsole is made of New Balance’s Fresh Foam, which is designed to be slightly softer in the heel to cushion the initial heel impact and firmer in the forefoot to aid push-off. The ride is firmer and more responsive than other fresh foam shoes, which I much prefer. Although the NB1080 does have an Ortholite insole, which gives it an initial soft feel, the midsole underneath doesn’t also compress.  This firmer midsole is more durable to survive higher mileage and provides a bit more stability that’s ideal for your longer runs. As you get tired and your posture naturally gets a little poorer, the 1080 supports you somewhat and gives a solid platform for your feet. They are also a little stiffer, which aids push-off.  Despite being a longer run, perhaps easier pace shoe, I have used them for some fast running. It was a pleasant surprise to notice the slight stiffness and the firm platform really increasing my push-off. It helped me keep a more upright posture.

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Great for Orthotics

The firm midsole makes the New Balance 1080v8 ideal for Orthotic wearers. The Orthotic doesn’t sink into a soft midsole making it provide less support than it should. The stiffness of the midsole also means that the shoe won’t buckle when the Orthotic is trying to control your pronation/supination. The upper also holds you well, which will keep you on the Orthotic and won’t allow your foot to turn inside the shoe.

Snug Upper & More Rounded

The upper has a very smooth finish inside with nothing to catch your toes on. The toe box shape is less pointy, which is great, so a bit more rounded compared to other New Balance models. This gives your toes the wiggle room they need to function inside your shoes spreading out on impact and springing you off at push off.

More Modest Drop

The heel to forefoot drop is a pretty modest 8mm (the heel of the shoe is 8mm higher than the toe). Until a few years ago most shoes had a heel to forefoot drop of 12mm plus, which encouraged a heel landing. This was simply because runners enjoyed the feeling of a softer heel and not because it reduced injury or improved running form! In fact a high heel encourages the runner to put their foot in front of their centre of gravity creating a breaking force, stopping the runner moving forward. This breaking force also increased pronation/supination.  A lower heel to forefoot drop is better as it encourages a more midfoot landing and more crucially the foot touching the floor nearer to the centre of gravity, so there is less of a breaking force.

8mm isn’t low, compared with brands like Altra and Topo with near-tom or Zero drop, and would still be considered by runners who like a shoe with a low heel to forefoot drop to be ‘a heel strikers shoe’. However, the New Balance 1080v8 doesn’t feel as high as 8mm. In fact it feels flat! I usually run in shoes that are zero drop and find that I notice even the slightest heel raise. This was not the case with the New Balance 1080v8. Also when running in the shoe I found it easy to land on my midfoot with my foot under my centre of gravity just as I would do in flatter shoes.

Available in Standard, Wide & Extra Wide

The great thing about New Balance is that they offer different widths. So, if you have a narrow foot you can find a New Balance shoe to fit and if you have a wider foot you can also find a New Balance shoe to fit. The New Balance 1080 v8 in men’s comes in a D (Normal), 2E (Wide), and 4E (Extra Wide) and in Women’s B (Normal) and D (Wide). A Northern Runner we stock all the widths and off course half sizes so you can get a good fitting shoe.

Alternatives to Note

If you are seriously looking to run fast then you would probably be best with the light and more responsive New Balance 890v6 and using the 1080v8 for your everyday, more relaxed runs and longer runs.

If you prefer one shoe to do as much as possible then you could look at the reduced New Balance 880v7, which is slightly more flexible and has a nice and responsive, springy feel. It doesn’t have the same more rounded toe box and is a slightly higher 10mm from heel to forefoot.

Charlie @  Northern Runner Newcastle