I
’ ve done quite a bit of running in previous models of the 1080 in the last couple of years – I reviewed the v11 in our February 2021 edition , and the v12 in our December 2022 edition . I found the v11 very much to my liking , enjoying the bouncy , responsive ride , and the comfort of the stretchy upper , and I even liked the softer , stretchy heel collar ( first introduced in the v10 ) that some runners complained about , saying it allowed the heel to slip inside the shoe .
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More Bounce for Your Buck
I ’ m going to say this right up front : I am a huge fan of the New Balance 1080 range , so when I was invited to the launch of the new 1080 v13 ( version 13 ), I was excited to get my hands on the latest edition of this superstar neutral shoe . The fact that comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout was the MC for the evening just made it all the better . Very , very funny man , is Schalk ... and a serious runner , too ! But I digress , let ’ s get back to the shoes …
– BY SEAN FALCONER
That heel collar was replaced in the v12 with a conventional padded collar design , which solved the slipping problem for the afore-mentioned runners , but overall the v12 was just a minor update of the shoe . However , a new issue cropped up , in that my normal shoe size 8.5UK in the new version felt too long for my foot , so I opted for a 7.5 UK 2E - the widest version – and found a better fit for my foot . This is why I always recommend that one should try on shoes before buying , because shoes can differ from year to year in terms of sizing and fit . The good news is that the new v13 fits perfectly in my normal sizing , so if you also found it hard to get the right fit in the v12 , I think you ’ ll be very happy with the v13 .
Minor but Good Tweaks
In terms of the differences between the v13 and its predecessor ,
New Balance has tweaked the shoe throughout . Firstly , the composition of the Fresh Foam X midsole has been tweaked to make it a bit more plush , so it feels even more like walking on air-filled cushions than previous models , which translated into a bouncier ride . I loved that on my long runs ! To make this softer midsole work , it has been widened a wee bit , for stability , and instead of one main longitudinal flex groove and three horizontal grooves in the midsole and outsole design , the shoe now has a number of diagonal flex grooves that promote a rocker motion as you transition on to your forefoot , thus making the shoe feel faster . I loved that , too ! a little further in this regard , for a still more structured fit , but it still has that awesome sock-like fit that is super-comfy and breathable . Man , is this a comfy shoe !
Built for the Long Road
As with the v11 and v12 models that I have run in , as well as other New Balance shoes , I find that the Fresh Foam X midsole is better for longer runs , not racing or speed work , as I prefer that plush bounciness on the long run versus preferring a lower profile , racier shoe when I want to go fast . As I wrote in those previous reviews , that is definitely not criticism , just a case of playing to the strengths of each shoe . Overall , I agreed with many runners and fellow reviewers that I have spoken to , that the 1080 is one of the best neutral shoes on the market , especially for longer runs , and this version has taken it up yet another notch . If you ’ re looking for cushioning , bounce ad comfort , this shoe will make your feet happy !
Another minor tweak is that the midsole stack is 1mm taller , going from 37mm to 38mm , but the drop from heel to forefoot is now 6mm instead of 8mm . That actually slightly reduces the natural rocker motion provided by the v12 , but in turn , those new flex grooves of the v13 promote it , so I found the ride similar , but the v13 definitely feels faster . Meanwhile , the v12 ’ s HypoKnit upper had a slightly tighter weave overall , and some thicker sections for added structure , compared to the v11 . The v13 goes
GET THEM HERE :
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13 retails at a recommended price of R3599 , and you can get them at most New Balance stockists , or order them online on www . newbalance . co . za .
Images : Courtesy New Balance
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