New Balance 1080v12

 

How does it feel?

In 2021, seeking a high cushioned daily trainer I decided to give the New Balance 1080v11 a try and quickly fell in love with this shoe. Fast forward to the recently released New Balance 1080v12 and I can say that New Balance has released a great shoe with some noticeable updates from the 1080v11 that should make many runners happy. The shoe is built with a good dose of New Balance’s Fresh Foam X, providing a cushioned but responsive feel. The first thing I noticed upon putting the shoe on is that it runs about a ½ size large and feels slightly heavier than its previous version, however overall the shoe feels plush, roomy in the toe box, and the upper uses NB Hypoknit material, a porous knitted material, making it breathable and stretchy to fit the foot. This shoe will be well received by NB 1080 lovers and those seeking a well cushioned daily trainer.

What’s NEW?

 

At first glance the NB 1080v12 has some noticeable changes from its previous version. The shoe maintains its stylish look but the most noticeable change from the 1080v11 is the replacement of the “ultra heel” with a more traditional heel counter and padded heel collar; this change seems to address the common complaint of heel slippage in the 1080v11. Additionally, the stretchy  and comfortable Hypoknit material upper provides improvement with a tighter weave making it feel slightly more structured around the midfoot than its previous iteration. The under-foot remains well cushioned with the Fresh Foam X midsole providing a smooth plush ride. The design of the shoe also maintains its slightly rockered geometry design and has a solid durable outsole perfect for daily road runs. The base of the shoe is slightly wider than the 1080v11 providing for a more stable ride.

Now, for the opinion part

I have taken the NB 1080v12 on a couple runs and found the shoe to be extremely comfortable.  The shoe is well cushioned and provides a good amount of bounce.  During my first run in this shoe, I was not disappointed. This shoe felt great during a long slow run and the rockered geometry design provided a smooth and seamless heal-to-toe transition. The wider base made the shoe feel stable and the new heel counter provided more structure around the ankle. The upper, while stretchy, felt secure, the tongue is well padded, and the toe box was very accommodating.

The shoe did feel slightly heavier than the 1080 v11 (probably from the change to the heel counter) but I don’t feel the slight weight change impacted my feelings of how great the shoe felt during my long run. I did try to go on a speedier training session with this shoe and the weight did not make it ideal for that kind of training.  The biggest downside is that New Balance missed the mark on sizing as this NB 1080v12 runs large, so runners should size down half a size in this shoe for the best fit.

Who Is This Shoe Good For?

The NB 1080v12 is well suited for a neutral runner looking for a well-cushioned daily trainer to log daily miles in easy and moderate paces. This shoe is also great for those runners needing room in the toe box due to its stretchy upper.

Who Is This Shoe NOT Good For?

This shoe is not a lightweight trainer, and  will not be a good option for runners looking for a do-it-all shoe that can be used for long slow miles and those speedier training sessions. The NB 1080v12 is probably not ideal for runners with very narrow feet.

Now for the SPECS:

• Price: $159.95
• Drop 8mm
• Weight: 8.3 oz Women’s/10.3 oz Men’s
• Midsole: Fresh Foam X midsole foam with approximately 3% bio-based content delivers our most cushioned Fresh Foam experience for incredible comfort 
• Upper: Hypoknit upper designed to provide strategic areas of stretch and support
• Category: Neutral

Shop New Balance 1080v12

  Men’s New Balance 1080v12  Men’s New Balance 1080v12 WIDE

 Women’s New Balance 1080v12  Women’s New Balance 1080v12 WIDE

About TRWS GURU Maria

Maria has been a runner for 28 years. She began running competitively in high school and then ran 4 years of cross country and track at San Diego State University.  Post college she took up road racing and has run many 5ks and 3 half marathons.  Maria joined the TRWS team in the Fall of 2020 at the Mission location. She enjoys helping runners/walkers of all paces find the perfect shoe to meet their goals.

 

 

Not certain if this shoe is right for you?

We understand!  There are a lot of options of footwear on the market and deciding what model is the right model for your needs is not easy.  We are here for you! You can come into one of our three locations (Lee’s Summit, Northland and Mission, KS) for a free stride analysis. No appointment is necessary, but if you would like to schedule an appointment, click here.  We take in-person and virtual fittings.  Want to do research online?  We have a find my fit tool that will help you narrow down footwear options.  We hope to hear from you soon!