I'm not quite sure what connects the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v14 to the Coen Brothers movie based on Homer's Odyssey starring George Clooney (worth a watch by the way), but it just feels right.
I guess to keep the analogy going, if I were choosing a shoe for a long and arduous journey, then the 1080 wouldn't be far from the top.
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Busting free from a chain gang, the three main characters of O Brother Where Art Thou flee in search of hidden riches, all the while being relentlessly hunted by Sheriff Cooley.
Think of the 1080 as the treasure itself. A grail, of sorts, capable and comfortable, overlooked by many and hidden in plain sight.
Ok enough of the analogies. They're tenuous.
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For some reason, the 1080 doesn't seem to get the love from the TikTok and Instagram runner guys and girlies like, say, the Novablast of EvoSL. It's hard to say why. The 1080v14 is a neutral daily runner that can handle a bit of everything.
With a generous dollop of NB's Fresh Foam underfoot (38mm in the Heel, 32mm in the Fore), this is definitely in the moderate category when it comes to stack-height. Stepping into the shoe feels pretty luxurious: soft yet compliant and mildly bouncy.
Six millimetres of drop provides a more grounded feel than the stack height and softness suggests, too.
Getting moving, imagine what it feels like to have butter on your feet. I mean that positively. The ride is just smooth as anything. Softness is definitely the most notable characteristic of the 1080v14, much in keeping with previous models of the shoe, but there's a gentle roll through from mid- to forefoot which is aided by a slightly more responsive foam than older cousins.
The v13, by contrast, could feel like running in sand, great for a bit, but energy sapping over time. Not such here in the v14, there's enough cushion for pushin' the distance without losing some rigidity for gentle encouragement to keep things moving. It's not the most stable shoe, but then again, with a foam this soft, what do you expect? For stability, check out the 860v14 from New Balance.
If you like a natural feeling ride but want to keep generous cushioning underfoot, the 1080v14 is a nice option.
Construction on the upper is of a somewhat pliable knit material that (I think?) is called Jacquard Mesh. Somewhat stretchy and soft, you'll get a nice locked-in feel without restriction. A nicely padded heel counter and tongue compliments the soft midsole too for all round plushies!
In-store, this is a shoe used by five of our team who all have no concerns on durability.
The fit is one area where we had some concern – although only very minimal at that. Across the arch and toes, things can be a little cramped for the wider-of-hoof. Generally things run true to size, but check out a .5 size up if you are concerned by this. Free the toes from the shackles of the chain gang!
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A majority of the store team own and use a pair of these, and it also clocks in as one of Runlimited's best-selling trainers. But what are we grabbing the 1080v14 for?
Ants just wrapped up a massive block of training for London, where he clocked a 2:46 PB. Most days he'd grab these for everything from easy recovery runs all the way through to hills and speed-work. It goes to show, one shoe really can do it all! Save the carbon for race-day!
Jonty similarly would be found ripping up kilometers in the 1080 for breakfast, lunch and dinner training for TSP Solo. Like literally upwards of 100km in a single run. Long run proven!
For the rest of the team, it's truly a staple 'grab-and-go' shoe for easy miles and long runs. Perhaps you'll find us upping the gears a little towards tempo pace, too!
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Great for:
Neutral runners looking for a plush ride for all occasions! Also an ideal first trainer for runners looking to train for, and complete, a marathon or half marathon in one.
Verdict:
Super premium on all fronts, the 1080v14 is a best-seller for a reason. If you're looking for comfort, step right up!
£160
Available in: Cream/Sea Salt; Black Cement (Men's only); Natural Mint (women's only); Blue (Women's only)
Weight: 298g*
Drop: 6mm
Support: Neutral
Available in-store and online at runlimited.co/
*Weight based on a UK size 8.
By Liam Dee
