New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11 Review

The Fresh Foam 1080v11 is the latest version of New Balance’s highly popular 1080 series running shoe.

Where To Buy: www.newbalance.co.uk

Now in its 11th version, the new shoe offers some nice refinements on what is an already well-established and much-loved model.

In this review, we’re going to take a close look at everything you need to know about the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11.

We’re going to be paying particularly close attention to the fit, style and feel of these popular running shoes to offer a complete lowdown to help you decide whether they’re the shoes for you or not.

So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s begin taking a closer look at the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11 from multiple angles.

(Photo: The Sport Review)

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11 – The Basics

The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 is one of the brand’s flagship running shoes.

The 1080s have been around for years now and they are well-established amongst runners who are looking for good cushioned option as an everyday running trainer.

The 1080v11 offers midsole cushioning and according to New Balance, this shoe has been specifically engineered to deliver “luxurious comfort” during your runs.

(Photo: The Sport Review)

The product description on the official New Balance website says that this shoe will give you an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride to support you through your workouts and stand the test of time.

The 1080v11 offers some slight but not major upgrades on the previous 1080v10 version. The changes are limited to the upper part of the shoe, which features a new pattern and has been adapted to be more flexible.

It’s available in a number of different colours, and we tried out the “wave with light rogue wave” version.

The 1080v11 is also available in separate men’s and women’s versions, and you can find it to buy online direct from New Balance on their official website.

(Photo: The Sport Review)

The Fit, Feel and Style

This shoe looks stylish and it feels like it’s a significant upgrade on the previous versions of the Fresh Foam 1080.

It features a synthetic / mesh upper part, which provides a snug fit without feeling too tight. It also features an “ultra heel” design to hug the back of your foot and provide a snug and supportive fit.

(Photo: The Sport Review)

The shoe features an 8mm heel-to-toe drop, although New Balance point out that this figure may vary slightly depending on factors such as shoe size.

Overall, we found the 1080v11 to be much more comfortable to wear than the other previous versions of the 1080. This is most likely due to the reengineering of the upper part of the shoe to make it more adaptive to your foot, providing a snug but not-too-tight fit.

The upper part of the shoe has some stretchiness to it, which is a welcome addition in comparison to the previous versions.

As has always been the case with the Fresh Foam 1080s, the cushioning from the Fresh Foam midsole is superb, making this a great option for runners who are looking for added comfort during their workouts.

Style wise, we think these shoes look great. There are a number of colour options available from New Balance, and we were treated to the light and dark blue combo called “wave with light rogue wave”.

The design features some cool printed patterns alongside the famous New Balance ‘N’ on the side of the shoe.

In terms of the feel while running, expect to enjoy a very cushioned ride. While the 1080v11s do feel good while running straight, some users felt that the shoes became a bit wobbly during turns, which is not ideal if your runs incorporate lots of corners.

(Photo: The Sport Review)

The lack of a solid heel counter means that there may be some vertical heel slippage while running, but we found this not to be too much of an issue for us. Some runners may prefer a different style to the back of this shoe to hold the heel in place more.

The outsole of the Fresh Foam 1080v11 features a cool design and we found it to be very grippy while running on pavements, roads and paths.

Weight

The New Balance 1080v11s weigh 263 grams and 230 grams for the men’s and women’s versions respectively. This makes it a pleasingly lightweight shoe overall.

That being said, the weight of the shoe will vary slightly depending on which size you get.

(Photo: The Sport Review)

Durability

Generally speaking, it’s best to consider replacing your running shoes after 450 to 500 miles of use.

Overall, New Balance’s shoes tend to fare pretty well on the durability front.

(Photo: The Sport Review)

The previous versions of the 1080s we owned lasted very well, and although we haven’t had the v11s long enough to test them out in the long-term, they seem to be well-built and look as though they should last the distance.

We’ll come back and update this part of the review once we’ve owned and used these shoes for a bit more time.

Price And Where To Buy

The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11s currently cost around £135 / $150.

You’ll find this popular shoe in a number of high street stores, including New Balance’s own shops.

If you’re shopping online, you’ll be able to buy the Fresh Foam 1080v11s from the official New Balance website.

It’s worth logging on to the New Balance site, as they do offer some pretty good discounts from time to time, especially if you are a first-time customer.

(Photo: The Sport Review)

Pros and Cons

Now let’s weigh up some of the main pros and cons of the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11s.

Pros:
• Very comfortable (Great cushioning and stretchy upper material)
• Stylish design
• Lightweight

Cons:
• A bit of vertical slippage in the heel
• Can feel a bit wobbly when making turns

Anything Else To Consider?

New Balance are widely considered to be one of the top running shoe brands in the world.

While the Fresh Foam 1080v11 may be the perfect option for you, they also have a wide array of different running trainers that may better suit your needs.

For this reason, it’s always a good idea to head to a physical store and try out a range of different options before making your decision.

Ideally, it’s best to have a gait analysis performed by a trained professional so they can advise you on what the best running shoes are for your specific needs.

That being said, most online retailers offer a no-hassle returns policy, so you should be able to return your shoes if you’re not happy (always check with the retailer first when it comes to their returns policy).

(Photo: The Sport Review)

Wrapping Things Up – Our Verdict

So, that brings us to the conclusion of our New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11 review.

We’ve walked you through the key things to know about this popular everyday running shoe which features great cushioning.

The 1080v11 feature excellent cushioning, as you’d expect, and this is combined with a very comfortable snug fit and feel thanks to the stretchy upper part of the shoe.

The design looks cool and the shoes fared well for running in straight lines on various surfaces, although they were a bit wobbly on corners.

Overall, if you’re looking for a tried-and-tested everyday running shoe with great cushioning and comfort, the Fresh Foam 1080v11s are a great option.