Testing the New Balance 1080 v15, the comfort daily trainer

The New Balance 1080 has long been one of the most trusted names in the daily trainer category, known for delivering comfort, cushioning and reliable mileage. With the arrival of the v15 and the introduction of the new Infinion midsole expectations are high.

We handed the shoe to two different RUN Mag testers with different running styles and preferences to see how it performs across real-world conditions. Here are their impressions after logging miles in the latest evolution of the 1080.

Justin’s Review

First run impressions

The colourway is loud. Bright, luminous green. Hard to miss – which I like.

This version introduces Infinion, replacing the Fresh Foam I’ve loved in previous 1080s. I was genuinely curious to see how the change would translate on the run.

Straight out the box, the shoe felt light and surprisingly bouncy. Underfoot it leans soft and protective. I kept the run fairly flat, and the ride felt energetic but clearly geared more towards comfort than speed.

What stood out most was the amount of shoe up front. The forefoot feels wide – there’s more surface area than I personally need, and I definitely noticed it on landing. Although the shoe feels light in hand, that broader front section made the stride feel a little heavier on pick-up than I expected.

I noticed more road feedback than expected.

For context, I’ve been running a lot in the Rebels recently – which I love. That might be influencing how I’m experiencing the 1080, especially in terms of turnover and responsiveness.

It’s clearly a daily trainer. I’m looking forward to seeing how it feels over a longer run before forming a firmer view.

Second run thoughts

This run was a better test – two 25-minute blocks in zone 2 with 4 x 2/3 minute tempo efforts in between.

At easy pace, the 1080 feels completely at home. Zone 2 was comfortable and controlled. The cushioning is soft and protective, and for steady mileage it does exactly what you’d expect from a daily trainer.

Getting up to tempo pace was a bit easier than I anticipated. The shoe doesn’t feel sluggish when you ask it to move.

Where things changed was during the sustained efforts. Holding tempo, I started to feel discomfort across the top of my foot. The cushioning was still there, but the shoe didn’t feel as natural sitting at that quicker rhythm.

It ties back to my first impression – there’s a lot of shoe up front. That broader platform feels stable at easy pace, but at speed it may ask a bit more from your foot.

For me, this settles where it sits: a comfort-focused daily trainer that I’d use for easy days and steady longer runs. When speed is the goal, I’d reach for something lighter and more responsive.

Chris’ Review

When you take these New Balance 1080 v15s out of the box and feel them in your hands, you immediately take note of the light weight and the thick, well-cushioned sole. The mesh upper is soft and secure, the heel counter feels structured without being intrusive and the shoe in general looks refined, sleek, and very much contemporary, something which I’d say is difficult to achieve when so much emphasis is put on adding plushness and support through a large sole which can often times lead to a too bulky and ‘pillowy’ look. The v15s look classic but polished, and I was itching to get into them right away after my initial inspection!

As we know, the New Balance 1080 goes quite far back and I think the v15s reflect how this range has steadily evolved into one of the most dependable daily trainers on the market. We tested the v13s here at RUN Mag when they were first released and we were very impressed with the soft and smooth underfoot. The v14s adjusted the Fresh Foam X technology and went for a more structured platform that improved stability while keeping the plushness that the v13 achieved but also improving on the ‘sinking-in’ sensation that many runners felt was a downside of the model.

The brief with the v15 seems clear: maintain the comfort the 1080 is known for but modernise the ride. New Balance aims to bring a lighter, more resilient character to the platform through the new Infinion midsole, and the marginally taller stack height (40mm/34mm) aims to enhance protection without dramatically altering the geometry. The v15 is roughly 2mm more stack height at both the heel and forefoot compared to the previous v14 model.

When I first laced them up comfort was immediate. These really are some seriously comfy shoes. The sole feels very soft but in a thick and secure way - there’s depth to the cushioning without it feeling sloppy and the padded tongue and collar give it that step-in comfort you’d expect from a high-mileage daily trainer.

The forefoot has a natural accommodating shape without feeling sloppy, and there’s enough room in the toe box for slight expansion over longer miles while still keeping the foot secure through the midfoot. The shape of the platform almost feels complimentary to a good running rhythm and I took them out for a 15km run through the city, mainly weaving between high-rise buildings and down narrow alleyways so it was a proper urban experience.

On the tarred roads the bounce was awesome. There was this elastic feel that I believe was thanks to the light Infinion midsole and at times it genuinely felt like I was running faster than I normally do thanks to the spring back that the sole gives. Running through the streets in them gave me that marathon-runner feeling. The lightness was noticeable too, especially considering the generous 40mm stack under the heel.

I was mainly on road, but when I moved onto slightly uneven sections I did feel a small loss of control on two occasions, almost rolling an ankle. That could have just been lazy foot placement on my part! But it does highlight the reality of a high-stack, plush shoe and how you gain protection and comfort but you need to stay switched on over rougher ground.

In the broader daily trainer category the 1080 v15 sits alongside shoes like the ASICS Nimbus, Saucony Triumph and Nike Vomero. They’re all high-stack, comfort-focused road shoes. Where the 1080 stands out is how light and energetic it feels for its size. It doesn’t have the stiffness of a plated super shoe nor the ultra-soft sink of some max-cushion models, but instead lands in a balanced middle ground that feels versatile rather than specialised.

For an intermediate runner like myself who does around 40km per week, this feels like a sweet spot daily trainer. After 15km my feet honestly felt ready to go again, which says a lot about how well the shoe absorbs impact. In terms of value, the 1080 v15 sits in the premium daily trainer bracket, but it feels justified. You’re getting modern foam technology, high-mileage durability and enough versatility to cover everything from easy runs to long runs and even race day if needed.

Could it handle a marathon? Definitely. For most runners it would be a very capable race-day option. It’s not aimed at elite athletes chasing podiums in carbon-plated supershoes, but for committed recreational runners who want cushioning, bounce and protection in one package, the v15 delivers in a big way.

Conclusion

Across both tests, the New Balance 1080 v15 proves itself as a comfort-first daily trainer best suited to easy runs, steady mileage and longer efforts where cushioning and protection matter most. The Infinion midsole adds a lighter more energetic feel but the focus remains on smooth, reliable comfort rather than speed. It’s an excellent choice for recreational and intermediate runners and capable of marathon distance for those prioritising comfort while runners chasing faster sessions or sharper race performance may prefer a lighter, more responsive option.