TRIED &
TESTED Tried & Tested by THE MODERN ATHLETE TEAM
Shoes to Use
We rather enjoying putting the latest running shoes to the test , and this month we got to grips with some designs from New Balance and PUMA . Here ’ s what we thought of them .
New Balance 1080 v12
Category : Road , Neutral | Gender : Men ’ s and Women ’ s | Reviewed by Sean Falconer
As regular readers of this mag will know , I recently started running again after suffering with Long COVID for the past few months . As a result , my new pair of New Balance 1080s have sat in their box longer than they should have … and with each passing day I could have sworn they were whispering louder and louder to be let out ! Well , now that I am running again , I thought it was high time I put them to the test .
I have done a fair bit of running in the New Balance 1080 v11 shoes , which I reviewed in our February 2021 edition , so when I ( finally ) got to lace up the new v12s , it made for a handy comparison . Because I am a huge fan of the v11 , I am happy that the v12 is basically an update with minimal changes , but before I get to that , I need to share an extremely important difference that you need to be aware of .
I normally wear a UK 8.5 , which means that I require the length of a size 8 and the extra width in the forefoot of the half-size up . However , the UK 8.5 of the v12 felt way too long on my foot , so I tried the UK 7.5 , and whilst the length was just right , the shoe was still a bit too tight . Fortunately , New Balance brings out shoes in multiple widths , and its 2E model of the UK 7.5 , with a wee bit extra width , proved to be the winning solution for my feet . The point is , try different options when buying to find the best size for your feet .
Same Great Ride
In terms of comfort , cushioning , bounce and shockabsorption , the v12 provides pretty much the same ride as the v11 , thanks to the healthy dose of Fresh Foam X in the midsole and durable rubber on the outsole , but New Balance has changed the shoe quite a bit above the midsole . The HypoKnit upper features some slightly thicker , more rigid weave sections for added structure , but is still light , breathable and satisfyingly stretchy in all the right places , while still feeling strong and supportive .
The big change is in the heel and collar of the new shoe , where a traditional plastic heel counter ( which cups the heel and lower Achilles ) and padding replaces the soft rubber UltraHeel design introduced in the v11 .
Now I love the feel of the v11 heel and have never had any complaints about it , but I read several other reviews that didn ’ t agree with me . Others found that it rubbed their Achilles up the wrong way , or didn ’ t grip their heel well , but as they say , each to their own , because while I actually like the v11 in this regard , the v12 is comfy and secure , so this is by no means criticism of the v12 on my part .
The shoe has a 34mm heel and 26mm forefoot , giving you a fairly traditional 8mm drop , and this substantial stack height in the heel dropping to the forefoot gives you a rocker geometry that pushes you on to your forefoot faster for a smoother transition from landing to toe-off . The midsole is also where the 1080 ’ s secret to success lies : Plush cushioning and reliable durability , in a shoe that feels ultra-light . I find that the Fresh Foam midsole is better for longer runs , not racing or speed work , as the material is not as bouncy and ‘ racy ’ as other shoes in my collection , but again , this is definitely not criticism , just a case of playing to its strengths .
Overall , the 1080 was already considered by many to be one of the best neutral shoes on the market for longer runs , and this version has taken it up another notch .
New Balance 880 v12
Get Them Here
Available at a recommended retail price of R3299 at www . newbalance . co . za , or you can ask for them at leading running retail stores that stock New Balance . ( The pair I was given to test are royal blue with a hint of green and yellow , but there other colour versions available online and in-store .)
Category : Road , Neutral | Gender : Men ’ s and Women ’ s | Reviewed by Sean Falconer
When I reviewed the New Balance Fresh FoamX 880 version 11 ( v11 ) in April 2021 , I wrote that it was a solid ,
dependable workhorse shoe that
76 ISSUE 154 | www . modernathlete . co . za will do a good job for most runners . I added that it was a minor update of an already popular shoe , and I thought New Balance has done well to introduce good tweaks that make the shoe lighter , softer and more comfortable . Now I have had the opportunity to weartest the v12 , and I think it ’ s still better .
The most exciting part of the update is the dual-layer