New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v11 Review

Refined Comfort, Same Workhorse Trainer

Minor tweaks and a new upper dial in the feel of the new 880 v11

Likes

Soft and protective cushion with some bounce
Secure and roomy fit
A workhorse for a variety of runs

Dislikes

Slightly heavy

What's New

The updated New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v11 is still the reliable workhorse of a daily trainer that runners have come to know and love. Although the 880 has not been completely reinvented, the newest iteration is upgraded with a Double Jacquard Engineered Mesh upper. This mesh replaces the Hypoknit construction previously used in v10 and is designed to be more secure and comfortable, enhancing the overall feel of the 880 v11.

The Bottom Line

The 880 v10 was a dependable shoe, ideal for tackling daily training runs. Jump forward to the v11, and you have the same classic shoe, but slightly refined to offer an even better running experience. Excellently designed to handle a variety of training runs, the Fresh Foam X midsole is soft without being mushy and adds an energetic bounce to each stride. The Double Jacquard Engineered Mesh is a welcomed update and elevates the entire feel of the v11. If you ran in the v10, then you will love the new Fresh Foam 880 v11.

Shop Men's Shop Women's

Shoe Performance

Shoe Softnessi

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Returni

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protectioni

LowHigh

Flexibilityi

RigidElastic

Upper Supporti

StructuredAdaptable

Specifications & Fit

How It Fits

Toe Box	Width: Medium \| Height: Medium
Midfoot Volume	Medium
Heel Width	Medium
Arch Height	Medium

Shoe Specs

Weight	Men's: 9.6 oz (size 9) \| Women's: 8.6 oz (size 8)
Stack Height	34 mm (Heel), 24 mm (Forefoot) - includes removeable sock liner
Terrain	Road
Stability	Neutral
Sizing	True to Size

New Balance 880 v11 Shoe Review Pair of shoes

New Balance 880 v11 Shoe Review left shoe

New Balance 880 v11 Shoe Review Heel Counter

New Balance 880 v11 Shoe Review medial view

New Balance 880 v11 Shoe Review medial heel view

Our In-Depth Look

Shoe Softnessi

Equipped with the same Fresh Foam X midsole as the v10, the 880 v11 continues to deliver the plush comfort that runners have come to expect. Although the foam hasn't changed, the 880 v11 provides a smooth ride that runners can rely on to meet the demands of their daily training runs.

Erik: "Fresh Foam X provides the same plush ride in the v11 that it did in the v10. There's nothing but underfoot comfort as the kilometres start to pile on."

Mark: "The 880 v11 provides a soft cushion underfoot which makes for a pleasant experience throughout the duration of the run. It wasn't overwhelmingly mushy nor was it too stiff."

Ride/Energy Returni

The Fresh Foam X midsole offers protective cushioning and a snappy energy return to create a lively ride in the 880 v11. This shoe is best suited for slower efforts, but with the bounce of the foam and the flexibility of the midsole, the ride can accommodate whatever training run you're in the mood for.

Erik: "Though this shoe feels plush, it still has a good response when it is time to pick up the pace."

Mark: "The 880 has a surprisingly springy toe-off for an everyday running shoe. I would not recommend it as an uptempo option, but it definitely has some spring to it."

Underfoot Protectioni

Underfoot protection will never be lacking when you run in the 880 v11. New Balance built these shoes to go the distance and keep runners comfortable in the process. A blown-rubber outsole adds top-end durability, as well as a sticky grip that allows for easy cornering. Runners can rely on the 880 v11 to get them through their run with comfort and protection.

Erik: "There is a lot of cushioning in the Fresh Foam X midsole, which is almost identical to the 880 v10. The kilometres can pile up, and the comfort will remain."

Mark: "The protection on this shoe gives me the confidence to ride out any type of training run. Whether I am prepping for my next half marathon or just trying to maintain my level of fitness, the 880 v11 has the protection I need."

Flexibilityi

Flex grooves along the outsole give the 880 v11 a decent amount of flexibility that helps create a fluid heel-to-toe transition. This flex works seamlessly with the bounce of the Fresh Foam X midsole to create an enjoyable running experience that is ideal for long training runs.

Erik: "Not too much and not too little, the flexibility of this shoe is just right for getting in the daily kilometres you need."

Mark: "The flex on this shoe was pretty smooth throughout my gait cycle."

Upper Supporti

The upper is where we see the biggest updates from the v10. The Hypoknit upper has been replaced by a Double Jacquard Mesh, which our testers found to be softer and more comfortable. The upper of the v11 remains secure with a no-nonsense lockdown that prevents any slippage. Additionally, ample padding in the heel collar reinforces the plush feel of the 880 v11.

Erik: "The new Double Jacquard Engineered Mesh is the biggest update for the v11. The new upper is like a perfect hug for your foot. Just like the v10, the fit is very secure without being constricting."

Mark: "The upper construction was solid. It was a happy middle ground between structured and adaptable with a slight lean to the structured side."

Men's New Balance 880 Running Shoes

The New Balance 880 is a standard, daily running shoe designed for a neutral foot motion.

Women's New Balance 880 Running Shoes

The New Balance 880 is a standard, daily running shoe designed for a neutral foot motion.

Individual Thoughts

ErikOverall Score: 9/10

When you have a winning product, how do you make it better? Very carefully. There are minor updates to this shoe, all of which are to the upper design. The new Jacquard mesh has increased comfort while maintaining the underfoot feel I loved in the 880 v10. The minor updates help maintain the great ride and fit of the 880 v10, while taking it to just under the 10-oz mark on the scale. Expect to get many comfortable kilometres out of this update.

Shoe Softness

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Return

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protection

LowHigh

Flexibility

RigidElastic

Upper Support

StructuredAdaptable

MarkOverall: 8.5/10

The 880 v11 is a great everyday training option. There's enough protection that I would feel comfortable going any distance and pace on my runs. I'd recommend this update to runners looking for a shoe to grind out everyday base training. If the pace gets a little frisky at the latter stages of the run, the 880 will have enough pop to get you going.