THE NEW BALANCE 1080 line is perhaps best described by New Balance’s own admission that if they only made one shoe, it would be a 1080. That’s because the 1080 is a daily trainer with enough versatility to suit every training need in one shoe. Whether it’s a pacier 5km burst or a longer effort that weaves between varying terrains, the 1080 will be more than capable of handling it – as any daily trainer worth its price point should be.
But as far as daily trainers go, the latest shoe in the 1080 line, the 1080v14, is flashier than most. Released in Australia in October, the 1080v14 is far removed from the pared back colour schemes and uninspiring designs that beset most shoes of its ilk. The 1080v14’s colourways are bright and vibrant. Pair this with the shoe’s high-stacked Fresh Foam midsole, which features swirling, contoured grooves and you’ve got a certified eye-catcher that you’d expect to see on the feet of a professional athlete.
This flashier design doesn’t compromise on performance, however. New balance says the 1080v14 would hold up in a marathon if it had to, while still boasting enough durability to run a 10K the next day, and every day. With the 1080 being an extremely popular silhouette, I was keen to try out its newest addition. But can it live up to the heavy expectations laid by its predecessors?
The look
As previously noted, the 1080v14 is an eye catcher. At first glance, it’s easy to mistake the 1080v14 for a raceday shoe – and while it can be used at one, there’s no carbon plate or ultra lightweight frame here. Although, with a considerable stack height, attention grabbing accents and the all-around appearance of a shoe that wants to move fast, the 1080v14 gives the impression that its wearers take running seriously, which is a positive.
My pair came in the ‘Inkwell with Silver Metallic and Ginger Lemon’ colourway. I’ll give you a moment to guess what that might entail. And now that you’ve guessed wrong, it’s primarily dark blue with some fluoro green and yellow accents and a beige midsole. It’s nice to look at, and it’s hard to fault any of the 1080v14s colourways, which offer a nice blend of either safe or bold tones to satisfy runners of all preferences.
The specs
With the 1080v13 being widely considered a great running shoe, there weren’t all that many improvements to be made with the v14. The shoe is quite similar to its immediate predecessor, with a few key changes focused on improving stability and support, which were areas of weakness in the v13.
The 1080v14 maintains a 6mm heel-to-toe drop, but with a total stack height of 38 mm, it adds some size and will make you feel taller than most other daily trainers. Weighing in at 298 grams, the 1080v14 is also 36 grams heavier than the v13. This increase shouldn’t scare you though. Being lightweight isn’t everything, and sometimes extra support is better than pure speed.
At the base of the 1080v14 is, of course, the fabled Fresh Foam midsole. This time, the component’s geometry has been tweaked to allow for greater stability. A triple jacquard mesh upper is another new feature, offering increased breathability in key areas. Lastly, extra rubber has been placed in high wear areas to extend the shoe’s lifespan with more durability.
The test
The thinking behind the 1080v14 is that it can serve every runner. It’s an all rounder that everyone from the person doing their first 5K to an athlete running a marathon will find useful. Knowing this, I figured a single test run wouldn’t suffice in adequately assessing these shoes. So, I ran in the 1080v14 over distances ranging from 3-21km – and I even walked in them too – to see how they hold up, for every type of runner.
Firstly, many of the issues of the 1080v13 have been resolved with the v14 in aspects you’ll notice immediately. Where the v13 struggled with stability and support, the v14 excels, with an immensely cushioned feeling that will benefit you across any distance. Comfort is another area of note, because if a shoe is going to become your workhorse that you run in almost every day, it needs to be comfortable enough to rack up plenty of kilometres without a hint of pain, which wasn’t an issue in my experience with the 1080v14.
It’s not the most responsive shoe, and if speed is all you’re looking for, there are better options out there – and if you’re strictly a New Balance guy, the Rebel v4 is probably what you’re after. But the 1080v14 remains faster than most daily trainers and is more durable than most shoes designed for speed work, meaning it’s a great middle ground for the runner like me, who frequently shakes up their routine.
The verdict
The New Balance 1080v14 aims to be the running shoe for every runner, and for the most part it is exactly that. It excels in support, cushioning and comfort, has surprising speed for a shoe of its class and has very few points of weakness, although its responsiveness does diminish when you take it off road.
If you’re a runner who operates with a varied training routine that blends short and long efforts, as well as slow-paced and up-tempo runs, I’d highly recommend the 1080v14. At the end of the day, it is an all-rounder and is best suited to a runner who would classify themselves as the same.
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