Puma Magnify Nitro 2 vs New Balance 1080 v13: Two Max Cushion Trainers, Two Very Different Feels

Introduction

Max cushion trainers have had a strong year, and two of the most substantial updates come from Puma and New Balance. The Puma Magnify Nitro 2 and the New Balance 1080 v13 are both big, comfortable daily trainers, but they take noticeably different approaches to what “plush” should feel like. We put both on the run to work out which one fits which kind of runner.

How They Compare on Paper

The Magnify Nitro 2 is the cheaper of the two at £130 in the UK or $140 in the US, while the 1080 v13 sits at £160 in the UK and $165 in the US. The Puma is also the heavier shoe at 298g (10.5oz) in a UK size 9, compared to 273g (9.6oz) for the New Balance, and it has a higher 10mm drop versus 6mm on the 1080 v13.

On the build side, the Magnify Nitro 2 uses an engineered mesh upper with plenty of tongue and collar padding and power tape elements for structure, plus side foam and a decent heel counter for stability under its high stack of Puma Nitro foam. That is nitrogen-infused TPE, and the full-length Nitro midsole is a change from the original Magnify, which mixed foams. The Puma Grip rubber outsole offers good coverage with a little exposed foam down the middle to help smooth heel-to-toe transitions.

The 1080 v13 introduces a softer version of New Balance’s Fresh Foam X, clearly squishier than previous generations, under a mesh upper with generous heel padding for a very comfortable step-in feel. Its outsole has good rubber coverage at the key impact areas over the forefoot and heel, though the rubber is not quite as thick as the Puma’s.

Fit and Sizing

Both testers found the fit straightforward. The two shoes have a similar amount of space in them, with plenty of room in the toe box and a nice lockdown fit. The Magnify Nitro 2 has a slightly sock-like, stretchy front end, so it feels a touch more snug around the forefoot.

One sizing note worth checking: in the same UK size 9, one tester needed a US 10 for the Puma and a US 9.5 for the New Balance. New Balance sometimes runs short in UK-to-US conversion, but that was not an issue with the 1080 v13, so ordering your normal running shoe size works for both.

On the Run: Cushioning and Responsiveness

This is where the two shoes really separate. If you imagine a scale of cushioning softness, the 1080 v13 sits firmly on the soft end, in the same realm as shoes like the Cloudsurfer. It delivers a big, luxurious sinking softness that previous versions of the shoe did not have, especially for heel strikers, who get loads of foam to sink into at the heel. The trade-off is that you do not get a huge amount of bounce back.

The Magnify Nitro 2 is firmer, with a denser foam that feels more responsive and more resilient underfoot. It is not a firm shoe by any means, but rather a balanced one: you get a stable platform with a genuine kick-back feel, even on easy runs. It sits closer in character to the Triumph, a solid daily trainer for high mileage.

Grip, Stability and Durability

Two more points favour the Puma for winter running. Its Puma Grip rubber outsole is thicker and grippier than the 1080 v13’s, a real advantage on wet, leaf-covered pavements, and the firmer platform makes it the more stable of the two shoes.

Durability impressions are early but telling. After roughly 90km in the 1080 v13, some visible compression of the soft foam has started to appear. The Nitro midsole, by contrast, shows no change after similar mileage, and its resilience means the ride should hold up better over time. Neither shoe is pitched as a speed shoe, though the Puma’s firmer foam gives it a bit more versatility for progression runs.

Which One Should You Buy?

One tester chose the 1080 v13 for its outstandingly soft feel, using it for relaxed 10K to 15K daily runs at around 5:20 per kilometre, with no racing or intervals planned. If you love plush cushioning, this is the rarer, more distinctive feeling on the market, and it is the easier shoe to recommend widely.

The other tester picked the Magnify Nitro 2, finding it better suited to long runs beyond the 10K mark, where the 1080 v13’s softness starts to feel tiring. The Puma is the better all-rounder: more resilient foam, better grip, more stability, a bit more versatility, and a lower price, with Puma’s frequent sales making it worth watching.

Conclusion

Both are excellent max cushion updates, just aimed at different tastes. Choose the New Balance 1080 v13 if you want the softest, most luxurious ride and mainly run shorter easy miles. Choose the Puma Magnify Nitro 2 if you want a more balanced, durable all-rounder that stays lively deep into long runs and costs less.