New Balance 1080

New Balances one and only? The 1080 has been described as such by New Balance themselves. This is their premiere training shoe that ticks boxes on several fronts. Cushion being the main feature of this shoe, in most trainers the sole of the show can be a deciding factor when looking to purchase. The underfoot feel of the 1080 is unique and it has been throughout the previous iterations of the model. The main aspect of this shoe is that it is soft. Now this can be a relative term when describing foam densities, but the model has sat on average 10 points soften than its competitors when looking at the durometer reading, how dense the foam is in simple terms.

New Balance markets this as their premium jogger, the one that is your everyday workhorse to get you through your weekly miles. The New Balance insignia has a more traditional aesthetic, but I don't mind that. It's simple, which I always appreciate. The top is breathable, light, and silky. Other than the fact that it has enough room for my wide-ish foot and that I forgot about it entirely while running, nothing about it is noteworthy. This may sound like a hot take, but I feel I don't always need the shoe to be made of the lightest, most cutting-edge materials available, be able to handle all paces and adjust to every terrain. It will do what it’s made to do and that’s log miles, simple and plain.

Since this is only the first review, it's difficult to predict how this shoe will perform over the course of 500 kilometres, but I can say that the increased density will help with that. Additionally, the additional outsole materials are there to add durability and stiffness through the longitudinal plain, so I'm going to venture that the lifespan will be longer than it was with the previous model.

Overall as a first look, I believe this model is an improvement in many aspects. The overall fit, feel and function seem to be an upgrade and hopefully, one that is enjoyed by the public.