The 1080 is New Balance’s premium cushioned trainer, and it appears in three of our guides: bad knees, flat feet and Achilles tendonitis. We’ve run in it more than once, for good reason.
The thick foam sole absorbs much of the vibration and impact from the road that would otherwise travel up to the knees or irritate the Achilles. The upper moves comfortably with your foot through the whole stride, and the soft heel tab rests gently on the tendon. Runners regularly tell us they notice less knee pain in it.
The Fresh Foam X 1080 v15 is the current version.
Who it’s for: neutral runners wanting maximum comfort, especially those with knee or Achilles issues.
