While New Balance rides a wave of popular lifestyle shoes that maintain a level of cool that other brands quietly envy, the running crowd is keeping a close eye on what the company’s performance lineup will look like throughout 2026.
And leading the charge — understandably — is the latest iteration of the 1080 workhorse that has claimed the title of a daily driver that a suitable for nearly every category of runner (and walkers) with little break-in required. Way back in 2016, the 1080 v6 took a major leap with the introduction of FreshFoam as the era of plush, chunky trainers began to take shape.
Fast forward to today, and with the 1080 v15, New Balance has revamped its formula in order to stay competitive and get the edge on rivals like the Nike Vomero Plus, Brooks Glycerin Max, Hoka Bondi 9 and Puma Mag Max Nitro.
The 1080 v15 looks familiar at a glance but upon second and third looks (and feel), it’s clear that the ingredients of this new version aren’t a clever remix of last year’s model. And familiar has always worked in the 1080’s favor as a shoe that didn’t fall victim to risky tweaks that some brands are notorious for — while tilting the model in unfamiliar territory.
New Balance understood the mission was to keep longtime 1080 fans assured while improving ride quality in a package that keeps the family lineage intact even as the new Infinion foam gets a place at the table and unseats FreshFoam with manners.
The company describes Infinion as a “new dimension of reliability,” with its new foam engineered to resist the reduced effectiveness that most shoes under real world use will eventually encounter. Infinion’s role is tall task in making each run in the 1080 v15 feel like its the first — event the runs well down the line. And through 100-plus miles, Infinion felt snappy and light, with the foam inspiring confidence step after step of compressing and retaining its shape. The shoe absorbed impact well from heel to toe, with the 39.9mm stack maintaining the stout look the 1080 is known for, with a 6mm drop not being too dramatic of a dive.
The changes in the 1080 v15 don’t end with a new formula of foam, with the outsole getting a revised tread pattern that focuses more on the heel and forefoot along with a reduction in rubber that will be noticeable from the previous model. The rubber is simply in the places where its most needed and the v15 will feel light in hand — and on foot. But traction does not appear to suffer.
The upper gets changed that need to be seen up close as the shoe is a completed packed retains the silhouette of the last three or so iterations. In this instance, the upper is a reborn dual layer of engineered mesh that feels sturdy but a little less forgiving than the v14. It seems like the v15 is flirting toward the performance personality of its SuperComp siblings while staying grounded as a universal daily cruiser that will still get plenty of love when it time for walk, but won’t leave the heels, toes and soles feeling worn after a long day of use.
A generously padded tongue and heel collar return for their usual duty in the v15 and with nine colorways in both men’s and women’s models, there is a flavor for the style-minded or those who simply lean toward a shade of their favorite color.
The wholesale changes on the v15 by New Balance have clearly been though out and were rightfully deployed on the brand’s flagship trainer. So there’s no need to flock to remaining stock of the v14 — outside of deep discounts — since the v15 offers upgrades worth stepping up to and experiencing beyond the usual wave of reviews.
available for $169.99 at newbalance.com
