New Balance 1080 V15 Review: A Return to Form for the Premium Daily Trainer

Introduction

The New Balance 1080 is a big deal in the daily trainer world, and the V15 arrives at a genuinely interesting moment for the line. The V13 was widely loved as a soft, smooth, supremely comfortable daily trainer, one of those shoes people built entire recovery rotations around. The V14 took a small step sideways: heavier, denser, and sluggish at slower paces, to the point where some runners described it as feeling like running with the brake on.

New Balance had a decision to make for the V15: keep refining Fresh Foam or change direction. They changed direction. The V15 introduces a new foam called Infinion, keeps the stack height and overall footprint familiar, and trims weight back down to 278g in a size 10.5, compared to 305g in the V14 and 287g in the V13. The big question is simple: does the V15 restore the comfort of the V13 while adding the bounce modern daily trainers are expected to have?

What Changed in the 1080 V15

The headline change is the foam. Infinion is a completely different compound from the Fresh Foam used in previous versions, and in hand it presses with a soft feel plus a noticeable touch of return, closer in character to the lively midsoles from Mizuno, ASICS, and Puma than to older New Balance compounds. The stack measures around 38mm in the heel in a size 10.5, with a moderate drop in the 6mm range historically associated with the line.

The upper is also lighter than the V14, moving from a double or triple knit to something closer to a one-piece knit. It feels slightly rougher to the touch than the famously plush V13 upper, though the heel padding remains generous and the overall silhouette stays true to the 1080 spirit. Design changes are subtle, including a smaller N logo. One small annoyance worth flagging: the laces on size 10.5 pairs run short, which makes a secure double knot awkward.

Fit and On-Foot Feel

Sizing runs true to size, and the fit is comfortable with a bit of toe room, a nicely padded tongue, and solid heel stability. Step-in comfort is exceptional. The heel cushion and gentle bevel into a smooth rocker make walking in this shoe a genuine pleasure, and it would be an easy recommendation purely as a walking or casual shoe.

It is a relaxed, roomy-feeling shoe on foot rather than a locked-down racer, and that flexibility is part of its identity: plenty of people wear the 1080 to the airport or around town, not just for miles. The ride leans soft and pleasant rather than propulsive, though not so squishy that it feels unstable when walking.

Ride and Performance

The ride character is best described as a slightly bouncier version of the V13: soft, smooth, and comfortable, with a relaxed vibe rather than an urge to rip the pace down. At daily-trainer paces around 7:30 to 7:40 per mile, it feels genuinely good, and the foam responds well when you lean in and land closer to the midfoot.

The trade-off is at true recovery pace. Landing hard on the heel with tired mechanics, the soft heel and flatter, lower-drop geometry can make you feel like you are fighting to roll forward, echoing the criticism aimed at the V14. It is very foot-strike dependent: heel strikers jogging at 8-minute pace may feel some drag, while midfoot and forefoot runners will get the best out of it. It is not a super trainer and will not compete with plated or high-bounce options like the Mega Blast or Vomero Plus, but as a pure soft daily trainer it is a clear improvement over the V14.

How It Compares

Within its own lineup, the More v6 remains New Balance’s dedicated max-stack comfort and walking shoe, which frees the 1080 V15 to be the bouncier everyday option. Against the wider market, it sits in a crowded segment alongside the ASICS Novablast 5 (271g, bouncier, less cushioned), the Puma Magnify (302g with more energy return), the Nimbus (41mm heel, firmer heel structure), and the Vomero Plus, which still leads the category in combining comfort, cushion, and bounce.

Where the V15 stands out is softness. It may now be the softest daily trainer in the mainstream market, softer than the Vomero Plus, the Nimbus, or the Mega Blast, while carrying enough liveliness that it no longer feels like it is sapping energy. It is not a speed shoe, but it is no longer sluggish either.

Buying Advice

At its price point, the V15 makes the most sense for runners who want one comfortable, do-it-all soft trainer: daily miles, easy runs, stroller pushes, travel, walking the dog, and casual wear. Heel strikers who do a lot of very slow recovery jogging should test it carefully or consider the Nimbus, which has a firmer heel structure. Runners who want more zip and a more aggressive geometry should look at the Vomero Plus or the Rad UFO instead.

For everyone else, this is a very easy shoe to live in. If you have been waiting for the 1080 to feel fun again after the V14, the V15 is the version to buy.

Conclusion

The 1080 V15 is not a dramatic reinvention, and that is largely the point. New Balance kept the spirit of the line intact, comfortable, smooth, and soft, while nudging the foam into the modern era with enough bounce to satisfy current expectations. It is probably New Balance’s best training shoe right now, a clear step up from the V14, and a strong pick for anyone hunting for the softest, most comfortable daily trainer of the year.