New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v7

$190; Men’s 301 g (10.6 oz.), Women’s 238 g (8.4 oz.); Drop ratio: 8 mm The 1080 was introduced a couple years ago as New Balance’s premium cushioning trainer. It was also one of the flagship shoes to incorporate a huge swath of Fresh Foam throughout the midsole. The last version saw New Balance redesigning how the Fresh Foam behaved underfoot, and they did so with a great deal of success. It’s not surprising to see that the 1080v7 is a more modest update. The angles of the midsole cut have been altered to improve the ride a touch, and the flex grooves on the outsole have also been modified. Some runners also felt that the upper in the last edition could have been slightly more comfortable, and it appears that New Balance listened, introducing a new mesh that our testers felt was comfy and hotspot free. The 1080v7 is a subtle update, but a nice one for this soft, cushioned ride.