New Balance 880v15 Performance Review

The Fresh Foam X 880 has long been New Balance’s answer to shoes like the Brooks Ghost – that is, a middle-of-the-road, everyday running shoe that tends to hover around the $140 price point (in recent years, anyway).

These shoes don’t necessarily provide the most dynamic ride or tech a brand has to offer, but they are staples when it comes to reliability and are often seen on the feet of new runners as well as experienced runners who perhaps don’t want a lot of flash in their performance footwear.

This year, we see some considerable changes to the 880 which, on paper anyway, take this model from a moderately-cushioned workhorse to a high-stack shoe that rivals (or exceeds) the millimeters of foam found in the realm of more premium daily trainers.

But do the New Balance 880v15’s specs match the experience? Let’s find out.

What is the New Balance 880v15?

According to New Balance, the 880v15 has an “[u]nwavering and reliable Fresh Foam X midsole for the everyday runner, looking for an everyday mileage companion. A slightly increased midsole height provides enhanced cushioning.”

The word “everyday” continues to come up more times than I can count when reading through the rest of the 880v15’s product materials, and it’s with good reason. “Everyday” epitomizes most aspects of the shoe, and that’s not to say it’s a bad thing. It just means there’s not much about the 880v15 that’s built with a wow factor in mind.

But to say “slightly increased midsole height” is an understatement, unless New Balance is using vastly different parameters for measuring its stack heights this year…

New Balance quoted anywhere from 29-31mm in the heel and 23-25mm in the forefoot of last year’s v14; whereas the specs for v15 are listed at 40.5mm in the heel and 34.5mm in the forefoot. Now, I was no math major, but I’m pretty sure jumping around 10mm in stack height is significant [Editor’s Note: that’s almost half an inch!]. The setup has also shifted from an 8mm to a 6mm drop.

Cushion

The Fresh Foam X moniker along with the midsole stack (which now clocks in at a couple of millimeters higher than even the New Balance 1080v14) could fool you into thinking you’re going to find something close to the softness and little bit of bounce-back associated with those 1080s of recent years. And that’s not the case.

The additional cushioning was noticeable when first stepping into the 880v15, and, for the most part, it remained so when standing or walking around. 

But this formulation of Fresh Foam X isn’t all that soft, and the feeling underfoot became even a little firmer when running. Don’t get me wrong, the extra foam (particularly under the forefoot) was appreciated on longer runs and gave me more range than I had in the 880v14. But the firm-ish feel and mild stiffness of the rocker still had me tapping out before the 2-hour mark in the 880v15.

Part of that can be chalked up to preference. But regardless, the 880v15 doesn’t offer an especially responsive or bouncy experience, and I found it difficult to pick up the pace in it. It’s instead built for reliability and a consistent (if not kind of uninspiring) ride whose character remains steady from the beginning of a run to the end.

The change to the overall geometry is at least somewhat to thank for that consistency. The updated 6mm drop was an improvement for my stride in that transitions felt slightly smoother here than in the 880v14.

There was, however, still a touch of clunkiness in the heel that never improved for me. I’m not quite sure why that was, but it may have had something to do with the construction, which is a touch more supportive than some other neutral shoes.

Support

The mild underfoot stiffness and slightly wider platform, the heel counter and additional structure built into the upper, plus the medial sidewall all contributed to the support in the 880v15.

The upper’s large “N” overlays had a significant impact on the feeling of containment; in fact, the one on the medial side, combined with the height of the midsole’s sidewall, felt like too much for my finicky feet. I had a similar issue with the design of the 1080v14, though the upper in that shoe broke in better over time (plus the overlay was smaller to begin with), and I didn’t notice quite as much stiffness under the midfoot in general.

That said, those who aren’t looking for a true stability shoe but also don’t want to be entirely left to their own devices will likely enjoy the supportive touches that surround the foot here in the 880v15.

Traction

New Balance went with a vertically-oriented rubber layout in the forefoot of the 880v15 and a recognizable horseshoe pattern that traces around the lateral and medial heel.

The raised, pod-like segments of rubber retained their tread pretty well throughout testing, and I didn’t have any problems in run-of-the-mill wet and dry conditions.

Overall, I’d expect about average performance from the outsole as I’d not likely reach for the 880v15 in the most challenging of winter road conditions, and its exposed Fresh Foam X at the midfoot may be prone to extra wear for some footstrikes.

Upper

The upper is an engineered mesh that has a little bit of forefoot breathability and is comfortable overall. I didn’t experience any rubbing or hotspots.

Padding around the heel collar was comfortable without being too excessive (though it rides the line). And the aforementioned midfoot overlays and the somewhat high-riding heel add structure to the rear two-thirds of the upper, resulting in a cozy sensation that some will love but others (like myself) may find a little too substantial on-foot.

Despite a padded, gusseted tongue, the lacing over the midfoot had to be finessed a bit to get the right balance of lockdown without any lace pressure over the top of the foot. But, other than some occasional movement within the midfoot of the shoe on steeper downhills or sharper turns, I felt enough security for the type of relaxed running I was doing in the 880v15.

Is the New Balance 880v15 wide foot friendly?

The forefoot of last year’s 880v14 – particularly at the lateral pinky toe area – felt pretty cramped to my slightly-wide-to-wide feet. The 880v15 in the same, standard-width women’s 6.5 was more accommodating in that spot.

The fit is also average-to-slightly-wide in the midfoot, though those who benefit from a higher volume may notice a bit of pressure over the top of the foot. The heel felt pretty standard with regard to width.

While I had a much better fit experience in the 880v15 compared to the 880v14, I still recommend true wide-footers – especially if the forefoot is where you need some extra space – opt for one of the additional widths available in men’s and women’s sizing. If you tend to be only barely wide-ish, the standard width may be enough for you this time around.

Luckily, the 880 is a hugely popular model in running retail, so the odds of being able to try it on at your local running store are in your favor.

Is the New Balance 880v15 worth $140?

While it’s not the most exciting shoe in its price bracket and may not represent one of my personal favorites, it does provide solid value at $140.

In fact, I respect New Balance for resisting the urge to up the price simply because the v15 has more – a lot more – stack height than its predecessor. Rather than trying to pass off the 880v15 as a more premium experience, the $140 price tag lets consumers know the type of shoe they can expect – and it delivers well on those expectations.

How to use the New Balance 880v15

The New Balance 880v15 is best for casual wear and easygoing daily runs that don’t involve much in the way of pace changes.

New Balance 880v15 Summary

While the New Balance 880v15 packs some significant differences in the way of lots of added stack height and a shift in geometry, some longtime fans of the line may not find those changes have made this version quite as unrecognizable as they may have feared once they get it out on the roads.

The fit now offers a bit more comfort, and the Fresh Foam X, despite there being so much more of it, still rides somewhat firmly when combined with the stiff-ish rocker underfoot. The $140 price tag further retains the spirit of the 880 as an affordable shoe for those who may be new to running; yet it also serves those looking for a reliable shoe to eat up some miles. Throw in some lifestyle chops, and you have a shoe that will likely make a lot of people happy.

How does the Author Run?

Annie Keris (age 39, 5’0” 117lbs): Typically follows a “two days on, one day off” running routine. “On” days include daily miles, speed work, and long runs. An “off” day usually involves yoga and mobility/recovery work. Enjoys occasional racing but perhaps enjoys the training process even more. Gravitates most toward the half marathon distance, but ventures into the 10k and 5k as well. The marathon is thus far uncharted territory…

Disclosure

While New Balance did provide a pair of the 880v15 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.