New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v10 Review
Reliability, Versatility, and Comfort
Likes
- Reliable
- Great Fit
- Comfortable Underfoot
Dislikes
- Small Break-in Period
What's New
The New Balance Fresh Foam 880 is known for being a reliable, daily training workhorse, and although this tried and tested running shoe doesn't have the bells and whistles of the hottest new running shoes, it received beneficial updates that modernized the shoe without compromising its versatile, cushioned ride. The new Fresh Foam X midsole gives the shoe a plush landing while an EVA foam layer in the forefoot allows for a more responsive take-off. This provides the shoe with an inherently stable ride that will be appreciated on both long runs and recovery days. The blown rubber outsole offers durable and grippy traction, and generous flex grooves give the 880 v10 a smoothness throughout the stride that was slightly lacking in previous versions. A Hypoknit upper finishes off the shoe with designated areas of stretch and support for a next to skin fit that disappears on foot.
The Bottom Line
After a long hiatus from the online world, the New Balance 880 v10 is finally available again at Running Warehouse. This versatile running shoe has a plush yet responsive ride that can do-it-all. Although it may lack the lightweight sleekness of many modern running shoes, our testers agreed that this traditional daily trainer offered fantastic comfort, support, and performance during their runs. If you want one shoe for anything from daily training to marathon distances, the New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v10 is a great option.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium (Women's: Medium to narrow) | Height: Medium (Women's: Medium to low) | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to Low | |
| Heel Width | Medium | |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 10.1 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.6 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 28mm (Heel), 18mm (Forefoot) | 10 mm Heel-Toe Offset | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
Featuring a Fresh Foam X midsole, the 880 v10 offers a plush underfoot experience that doesn't sacrifice responsiveness. Our testers felt that it offered plenty of cushioning for long miles without feeling sluggish during uptempo efforts.
Erik: "The Fresh Foam X midsole gives this shoe a great underfoot feel, but with the softness, there is still enough responsiveness for when you feel like picking up the pace."
Justin: "The 880 felt like it had just the right amount of softness or give under your foot. I felt that it was soft enough to be comfortable without losing responsiveness."
Ride/Energy Return i
Thanks to the new Fresh Foam X midsole, the 880 v10 offers plenty of cushioning that won't hold you back when it's time to pick up the pace, and a layer of EVA foam in the forefoot adds extra responsiveness at take off. Although this is not an uptempo shoe, our testers didn't mind taking it on faster runs.
Erik: "Even though this is not meant for faster-paced runs and performs best at an everyday pace, the 880 v10 will respond if you want to pick up the pace."
Justin: "I feel 880 has a bit of responsiveness underfoot. It isn’t the bouncy responsiveness that you’d get from something like the Skechers Razor 3. The experience is a touch on the firm side without being uncomfortable."
Underfoot Protection i
With its stable and cushioned ride, the New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v10 offers plenty of underfoot protection for anything from long runs to recovery days. Our testers felt that it was versatile enough to handle all of their training.
Erik: "The 880 v10 has plenty of protection for your long runs. I even took it off-road for a few miles, and it handled the rocks and roots like a champ."
Justin: "The 880 v10 could easily be a marathon trainer for me. I can’t say much more than it feels good underfoot for longer efforts and I don't feel beat up afterward."
Underfoot Flexibility i
The blown rubber outsole of the New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v10 contains strategically placed flex grooves that offer a smoother ride than the models before it. Our testers felt that the shoe provided just the right amount of flexibility without sacrificing its inherently stable ride.
Erik: "The 880 v10 is not stiff, but it's not super flexible either. I found the flexibility to be just right for a long run cruise."
Justin: "I was actually surprised by how flexible the shoe was while running. It wasn’t that I expected it to be super stiff, but visually, the 880 just looked like it might not flex enough to be comfortable. This was not my experience with the shoe; I found that it flexed well through my stride and had a smooth ride."
Upper Feel i
Featuring a Hypoknit upper design, the 880 v10 offers a secure fit with mapped areas of stretch for comfort. The padded heel collar and tongue provide a plush feel while the mesh design offers amazing breathability.
Erik: "The Hypoknit upper is secure without being constricting. It performs well, and no hot spots developed over longer runs, even after I went through a small stream and totally submerged the shoe."
Justin: "I really liked the upper on this shoe; it is comfortable and fits well."
Sale!
$179.95$229.95
2 Widths Available
Size 11.0 2E, 7.5 B only
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Individual Thoughts
The New Balance 880 v10 is a solid everyday neutral trainer. No flash, just solid underfoot feel with a secure and well-fitting upper. This shoe handles the day in, day out miles without missing a beat.
The 880 v10 is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to try out the 880 series, and overall, I had no issues with this shoe. Yes, I would like it to be a little lighter and a little sleeker, but that isn’t what this shoe is about. The 880 v10 is about crushing daily miles, and it does that well.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The New Balance 880 v10 is a solid daily training shoe. Although I felt there wasn’t any single area it excelled in, it provided a good experience in nearly every aspect of my training. I’d put this shoe against any of its competitors in the daily training category.