The popular daily trainer from New Balance, the 880 sees an update for 2025, which gives it more cushioning for an even smoother and softer ride.
Always one of the brand’s more popular neutral cushioned models, the 880 is perhaps seen as the great value option for those who want a no-nonsense trainer for everyday running.
This, the 15th version iteration of the shoe sees the price remain stable but increases in cushioning as well as upper comfort.
The 880v15 gets more cushioning in the heel, more cushioning in the forefoot and a slightly lower heel drop. There’s an increase in weight and the shoe feels more stable.
So let’s dive in, take these for a run and learn more about the new 880v15.
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Stats
New Balance | 880v15 |
|---|---|
Best for | Everyday neutral cushioned |
Support | Neutral |
Cushion | Max cushioning |
Stack Height | 40.5mm heel / 34.5mm forefoot |
Drop | 6mm |
Weight | Men 10.7oz (304g) Women 8.4oz (238g) |
Price | $140 |
Fit | True to size |
Rating | 9/ 10 |
Fit
The fit of the 880v15 remains true to size in terms of length and width for a New Balance model.
As usual, the only consideration here is for UK customers, where while most brands convert a US size to a UK by reducing a full size (so a US10 becomes a UK9), New Balance just makes things a half-size difference. (so a US10 becomes a UK9.5)
The upper has a plush, neat and very well-constructed design. It’s relatively roomy in the toe box and allows for the right amount of ‘wiggle room’ in your regular size. The midfoot fits well and the nicely padded heel holds the foot well within the shoe.
New Balance 880v15
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Design
Fresh Foam X
The main technology used in the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15 is the Fresh Foam X, the material that makes up the midsole cushioning of the shoe.
Fresh Foam X is the brand’s proprietary foam cushioning midsole and the one used in the vast majority of their training shoes.
Fresh Foam X offers a soft, cushioned feel on impact, provides a good weight-to-cushioning ratio and proves to offer a durable material for daily training shoes.
For the 880v15, the shoe sees the addition of an extra 3mm of foam in the heel compared to the 880v14 and 5mm more in the forefoot. This results in a heel drop that is reduced to 6mm, down from 8mm in the previous model.
Performance
Despite the shoe being a 2mm lower drop than the previous model, it’s hard to tell the difference. Perhaps this is because the overriding sensation is simply that of more cushioning under your feet.
The shoe feels noticeably more cushioned and has a plusher feel than the previous model.
Heel impact is a soft and welcoming feel while at the same time feeling a little more stable than the previous version. The overall width of the base of the shoe is a little broader and this contributes to the more stable feel.
The Fresh Foam X has a relatively responsive toe-off and with the added volume this is improved although it’s not a ‘springy’ foam in the same manner as a PEBA-based material.
There’s neat padding around the tongue, ankle collar and Achilles area and the upper material is very neatly made and provides a premium-level fit and feel around the foot.
Comparisons
When choosing comparisons we usually start with similar shoes at similar price points. Bearing this in mind, the Brooks Ghost 16 and Saucony Ride 18 come to mind immediately.
Brooks Ghost 16
The Brooks Ghost 16 offers similar features as the New Balance with the major point of difference being its nitrogen-infused midsole foam.
Nitrogen or ‘nitro’ foam midsoles have the advantage of being more durable and sometimes more responsive. Of course, it is dependent on the nitro foam in question, some being firmer than others. With the Ghost 16 and 880v15, the 880 has a slightly softer initial feel, but the Ghost is perhaps a little more durable.
Saucony Ride 18
With regards to the Saucony Ride 18, it uses a PEBA-based midsole while at a similar price point and has a softer springier feel from the outset. The Saucony is certainly the more responsive option but the New Balance is more stable.
The New Balance, Brooks and Saucony models are all aiming their sights on the same customer, so as always, the best way of making a choice would be to try them all at your local running store.
My Verdict
The Fresh Foam X 880v15 is a great improvement over the previous version of the shoe, which somehow feels a little ordinary next to this update.
The cushioning is improved vastly by the additional cushioning volume and the result this is an excellent update.
The 880v15 now closes the gap on the range topping 1080 making choosing between the two models simply a matter of cost. With this in mind, it will be interesting to see how the next update to the 1080 looks on its release.
For now, the 880v15 is a great, well-cushioned daily trainer from New Balance and for soft, smooth, high stack cushioning a good choice for daily miles.
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