New Balance 880v15
I think we’ve all had those folks who are friends for a season and then one or both parties decide it’s time to move on, but that isn’t this shoe. The New Balance 880 is here to be your ride or die.
Men: 10.7 oz
Women: 8.4 oz
Drop: 6mm
MSRP: $140
The Outsole
Made to grind with you, the outsole of the 880 has a thick rubber outsole that provides durability and plenty of traction on the roads. To save some weight on the shoe the rubber is split in the forefoot and goes right around the heel leaving a fair amount of exposed material in the mid foot, but in my experience this hasn’t affected the run or durability of the shoe.
The Midsole
The midsole is built with Fresh Foam X. Like many brands this seems to be a fairly non specific designator as the midsole for the 880 has a very different feel that that of the 1080 or 860, though all are Fresh Foam X. This foam feels like it has a bit more density to it than it’s softer 1080 companion, but still plenty of cushion to get those miles in and get your training done. The foam has plenty of bounce in it for running but does have a bit more ground feel than the 1080.
The Upper
This shoe is built to be a workhorse and we see that in the upper as well. It’s well cushioned around the heel and locks the foot in nicely. New Balance has a history of being a higher volume shoe and this version maintains that tradition but I never felt my foot sliding around in the shoe. It is nicely breathable and has a great feel during the run.
The Run/Walk Experience
This shoe is built for utility and to get the job done. I love this for the athlete who is heading out for the daily mile or two. It is durable and has plenty of underfoot cushion and structure to keep you healthy.
There isn’t anything particularly fancy about this shoe, but that is part of the beauty of it. It is there day in and day out to keep you moving. If you aren’t a fan of the max cushion shoes but still want protection on the roads, this is the shoe for you. It has a nice flair on the base and feels incredibly stable underfoot. As someone who leans toward max cushion for my longer runs, I tend to use this on my weekday easy runs.
This is one of my favorite shoes to reach for when I’m heading out for a recovery walk or a walk with Spirit.
The Gym
The 880 does very well in the gym for almost anyone. Whether you’re getting your cardio and lifting done, or you like to do classwork in the studio, the 880 treats you well and provides a solid base for movement. The outsole isn’t too grippy and allows for freedom of movement across all the surfaces in the gym.
Daily Living
The 880 is fantastic for daily life. It has a wide variety of color availability and should blend in nicely to any work environment.