New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v12 Review

If you are looking for pure cushioning and comfort, the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v12 could be for you. A thick foam sole provides substantial cushioning for even the longest of runs. An updated heel cup fixes previous heel slippage, making this one of the most comfortable overall models we've tested.

The pronounced rocker design helps push you into a progressive forefoot takeoff and can help compensate when your legs get tired towards the end of a long day or event. While not as stable as more rigid and supportive models, we think this shoe is ideal for those looking to prioritize cushioning and comfort over stability and responsiveness. That's not to say this shoe feels slow by any means, but it can sometimes feel a little squishier than some of the more rigid models.

Performance Comparison

Cushioning and Landing Comfort

Standing out for its excellent cushioning and landing comfort, the 1080v12 is one of our top recommendations for those prioritizing a well-cushioned trainer. It is perfect for long runs or days when you want to give your legs a bit less stress. Substantial compression of the foam can be felt under the entire foot, leading to soft landings and less fatiguing legs.

This level of cushioning may feel a bit overkill to those looking to push the pace and who desire a more firm and stable platform for more efficient power transfer. As with all heavily cushioned models, there is a slight sinking feeling into the footbed which dulls the responsiveness when pushing off into the ground. We don't think most people will find this too detractive, especially those who prioritize landing comfort over other performance metrics.

Responsiveness

As we mentioned previously, this shoe's responsiveness doesn't feel as instantaneous as other models, especially those with carbon or nylon plates within the midsole. However, we continue to be impressed with the liveliness of this shoe for such a well-cushioned design. The rockered sole design helps propel the runner forward and promotes toeing off as it rolls your foot into a natural position. We think that this is one of the best rocker designs we've tested.

The foam — while soft and compressive — still feels springy enough when combined with the rocker design to not feel too sluggish. This is one of our favorite shoes for long, easy distance runs because of the nice blend of cushioning and rocker. For shorter-distance racing and tempo efforts, we think a shoe with a bit more rigidity would be preferred. These are generally lighter, more responsive, and offer better power transfer, but don't offer the plush comfort of this model.

Upper Comfort

Our only complaint with the previous version of this shoe was heel slippage, which was minor but still annoying. We are happy to see that we did not experience any heel slippage with this new version. New Balance has accomplished this by using a more common padded heel cup design which we much prefer.

The rest of the upper is similar to previous models which stood out for its comfort and breathability. This upper design continues the theme of comfort and we experienced no blisters or hot spots.

Lateral Stability and Support

This is not the most supportive or stable model in our lineup due to its higher stack height and softer cushioning. If you require more stability and support, we would suggest looking for a firmer midsole and outsole design, but we do think this shoe's support and stability would be sufficient for runners used to soft, cushy shoes. The rockered sole design helps guide your stride and provides a natural footstrike motion.

In our experience, a highly cushioned model such as this needs a wider platform in order to provide more stability and support without compromising the cushioning. However, a wider platform generally is heavier and therefore tends to feel sluggish.

Weight

Weighing 10.7 ounces for a men's size 9.5, this shoe has gained a little over an ounce from the previous version. From what we can tell, this is due to enhancements in the upper design, mostly in the heel cup.

While far from the lightest in our test group, this is one of the most fully-featured models. Durability will likely be more substantial given the exterior outsole rubber which we've seen removed on other models to lighten the weight.

Should You Buy the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v12?

The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v12 doesn't do everything perfectly but has a lot of positive attributes, including one of the better rocker designs we tested. It's also fairly lightweight and very comfortable. If you don't intend to race or do regular speed workouts and don't want to buy multiple types of shoes, this is a great all-around value for daily training and long-run efforts.

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