New Balance Unveils Best Fresh Foam X 1080 Yet

Few shoes fit so many. And while New Balance has a long history of catering to every foot, style, and type of runner, few of its shoes deliver on so many levels as the 1080. 

It’s the intro to premium performance, offering walkers to racers a neutral, lightweight, and versatile high-cushion option that’s especially favored for training/recovery. With a redesigned outsole and newer (read: lighter) foam, the Fresh Foam X 1080v13 makes an easy case as the daily go-to option for many speeds of runners. We caught up with senior global product manager Paul Zielinski to get the full details on New Balance’s redesigned flagship. 

Outside: What motivated New Balance to update the popular Fresh Foam X 1080v12?

Paul Zielinski: For version 13, we were motivated by new learnings from our Sports Research Lab (SRL). They helped us understand how we could provide the best Fresh Foam X running and walking experience to date. The Fresh Foam X 1080 is one of our most important running models; if we were to make just one shoe, the 1080 would be the one. We were also motivated by the idea that a 1080 could be for any circumstance, whether training for a marathon, your first 5K, or just a walk with the dog or to your favorite coffee shop, while styled with your best fit.

Are there any updates to the new 1080v13’s integration of Fresh Foam? 

The shoe is entirely new and innovative with the latest SRL learnings mentioned, bringing exceptionally soft cushioning that’s lighter weight, with increased midsole stack heights for you to run and walk longer, more comfortably. The new Fresh Foam X also delivers a redesigned outsole, which, in the 1080v13, translates to improved fit for long runs, walks, and casual all-day wear.

(Photo: New Balance)

How did New Balance develop this latest version?

We tapped the long partnership with our Sports Research Lab for the right ingredients and took additional time to get this right. We spent an extensive amount of time testing new rocker profiles to enhance the smooth underfoot experience. The team also thoroughly tested the mechanical properties of our Fresh Foam X compound to ensure runners and walkers felt supremely soft cushioning with great energy return and bounce. That time spent in our lab and with runners and walkers doing extensive wear-testing led us to the best version of 1080 yet.

Please tell us about how that technology (mentioned above) translates to performance.

Our brand new ingredients in the Fresh Foam X 1080v13 provide a lighter, more cushioned experience for runners and walkers—with more energy return and a smoother underfoot ride than the previous version. This just means whether you’re going for a long run, a leisurely walk, or simply on your feet all day, you’ll feel the benefit the second you put the shoe on. The new outsole design promotes additional forefoot stiffness for smooth transitions. On top of that, there’s a brand-new, engineered mesh upper material that offers all-day versatility with reflective details and a structured fit.

What else sets this shoe apart from the competition?

Let’s put it this way: The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 weighs only 9.2 ounces for men’s and 7.3 ounces for women’s—an amazing weight savings from the previous version of the 1080! 

(Photo: New Balance)

Why will outdoor enthusiasts in particular appreciate the Fresh Foam X 1080v13? 

You could wear a 1080 for almost any occasion. The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is my everyday running shoe—it’s perfect for road running and walking around town! It’s also my go-to travel choice when I need a shoe to wear comfortably that styles great for everyday use. 

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