New Balance 880v14
The Shakout
Men: 9.5 oz
Women: 7.4 oz
Drop: 8MM
MSRP: $140
Mileage at Time of Review: 35 Miles
When looking for a pair of New Balance shoes, the hardest part about figuring out which shoe is best for you is the numbering system they have traditionally used in both their running and lifestyle shoes. With shoes from 540vx to 1080vx, there isn’t much in the naming that really stands out. Luckily some of their newer shoes now have more memorable names.
The 880 is New Balance medium cushioned, neutral running shoe. In the last few years the 880 has gotten better and better and I think this is the best version yet.
The Breakdown
The Outsole
The 880 is built for daily training and to get you through a lot of miles, so the outsole has a full layer of rubber over the entire base of the shoe. This provides excellent traction for both runners and walkers and helps to maintain the durability of the shoe regardless of condition or mileage. There is a bit of exposed Fresh Foam just in front of the heal, but so far while there is a bit of wear in that area, I’m not specifically worried about this region breaking down, as there is plenty of rubber on the heal and forefoot.
The Midsole
The midsole is made up of a great chunk of New Balance Fresh Foam. The midsole of the new 880 provides an excellent amount of cushion for all your daily miles. It feels to me like the 880 and the 1080 are becoming very similar shoes in the amount of cushion that they provide. One of the the biggest differences, in my opinion, between the shoes these days are that the 1080 feels like it has a slightly more elastic or stretchy upper while the 880 has a wider profile. The arch profile in the midsole continues to be fairly low, so if you really enjoy feeling the arch beneath your foot you may need to add an insert for that.
Overall the midsole has held up quite well under testing. I’ve spent time on this shoe running outside, walking the dog, on the treadmill and in the gym and there is little to no visible compression or any wear that would suggest any sort of midsole degradation.
While this is not New Balance’s max cushion trainer, it has a substantial amount of cushion underfoot and I am all about that life. I think that this shoe strikes a good balance between being soft enough to handle any of the mileage you throw at it, while not being so soft that it creates instability for the user. As I said before, it has begun aggressively chasing the 1080 in terms of overall cushion.
The Upper
The synthetic mesh upper of the 880 is likely where New Balance saved a bit of money to keep it at the lower price point, which is fine with me. There isn’t anything special about the upper, but there also isn’t anything that detracts from the shoe for me in the upper either. I do think that if we are comparing this to the 1080, the upper of the 1080 is better as it has a bit more flexibility and I’ve always been a fan of the stretch upper in the 1080.
The upper is nice and roomy and has an ample amount of volume. This shoe in no way has a race fit, so if you’re using it for your long runs there is plenty of room for your foot to swell into. If you have a narrower foot this could be mildly problematic, though New Balance is also the company that makes more widths available in more colors than any other shoe company on the market I know of, so even that shouldn’t be a problem to finding the right fit.
The heal collar has plenty of cushion as does the tongue, so you have the ability to lock the foot down and feel very secure and comfortable on the run.
Running and Walking
It’s so easy in the shoe world right now to get really excited about all the new technology that goes into shoes, and in one of those good times bad times moments, the 880 doesn’t have any of it. What the 880 does provide is ample cushion and a stable platform to get a majority of your running done in and this is a very good thing!
As someone who works in the running industry and sees customers regularly who come in dealing with plantar fasciitis, achilles strains or calf strains, a common cause for those issues among runners is spending too much time in their plated shoes. I love running in plated shoes like the New Balance SC Elite, but these go fast shoes are tools meant to help us put the finest edge on our racing blade. The 880 is the shoe you want to spend a majority of your time in though, or a shoe similar to it. It is a hard worker, meant to take a beating and keep coming back for more!
While there isn’t anything really flashy about it, I think there are some very thoughtful features in this shoe that make it one nearly everyone can consider. I think that this is a shoe that can be personalized to the individual very easily, as it has a fairly low arch in the overall profile and a lot of volume in the shoe itself. This makes it an ideal shoe for adding custom orthotics or for trying out a few different inserts to arch profile for your foot that is just right for you.
The Gym
I really dig the 880 for the gym, because it provides ample cushion for any cardio work on the treadmill, but isn’t so squishy that it feels unstable when doing weighted activities. There is potential that this shoe has too much volume to comfortably strap yourself into a rower or a stationary bike. In general I think that a lot of that will depend on the brand of the equipment and its upkeep.
Work
While New Balance has the reputation as the dad shoe, I think that the 880 provides a very comfortable and stylish option for a work shoe. It comes in a range of colors and provides the structure and support necessary to keep you comfortable for a full work day and any activities you may have before or after. If you find that you need a bit more cushion, consider the 1080 or the Mor.