New Balance 1080 v15 Review: Introducing Infinion

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

For nearly ten years, the best-selling New Balance 1080 built its reputation on Fresh Foam — the midsole that gave it its signature soft, springy ride. Fresh Foam wasn’t just part of the shoe, it was part of its identity.

But maintaining relevance, especially among technology-focused runners, requires constant innovation. Enter Infinion Foam, New Balance’s latest foam technology. Using a supercritical process that infused nitrogen into the midsole, Infinion is designed to feel lighter and livelier than Fresh Foam.

New Balance told us that their new midsole foam outperformed Fresh Foam in lab testing across cushioning, responsiveness and energy return. Plus, it’s engineered for longer lasting performance, delivering the same underfoot feel from mile one to mile ten.

Of course, our Fleet Feet review team had to know for sure. We tested the 1080 v15 on long runs, recovery days and plenty of steady miles. Here’s what you need to know.

Our reviewers agree — the new midsole foam in the 1080 v15 feels lighter, more stable and more energetic than previous iterations.

I’ve been wearing the 1080 since my early days as a Fleet Feet Outfitter, beginning with the v9. I’ve always loved the plush, springy cushioning that seemed to bounce along with me during every stride. But as I started having chronic problems with my left foot, I noticed that the softer the shoe, the worse my foot felt. I could no longer wear my beloved 1080 for fear of aggravating the injury.

Now with the introduction of a slightly firmer and more stable midsole foam, I’m hopeful this version will be one I can really rely on for easy mileage.

Travis, who’s been training through wintry conditions in Pittsburgh, shared a similar sentiment. “I was a little nervous to run in the 1080 because my knee and IT band haven’t been responding well to high-cushion, soft shoes. But with a combination of a good warm-up and stretching, I didn’t feel any pain during my 4-mile treadmill run. The shoes are surprisingly light, which makes the ride feel very smooth. Best of all for me, the Infinion cushioning doesn’t feel overly plush or unstable, keeping my knee and IT band happy.”

Tom, like Travis, has been mostly confined to the treadmill due to snowstorms in upstate New York. But despite the “dreadmill,” he’s enjoyed his runs in the 1080 v15.

“The Infinion foam feels soft for cruising over longer distances but maintains an energetic bounce that keeps things exciting when picking up the pace. The heel absorbs impact nicely and firms up through the midfoot and toe, so it doesn’t feel too squishy or counterproductive. Even when I wasn’t running, I caught myself spontaneously bouncing from foot to foot just to feel the cushioning while I was walking or standing in line at the store [I’m sure his fellow shoppers in the queue enjoyed that]. The outsole is super grippy too. I took these out when there was snow on the ground and never felt like I was going to slip.”

Thankfully I don’t have to worry about running in the snow since I live in South Florida, but I still appreciated the extra traction on the outsole. It’s strategically placed around the high-abrasion areas (the forefoot and heel), while the midfoot is left exposed. This is done to reduce weight, using the heavier rubber material only where you absolutely need it.

The midsole isn’t the only update to the new 1080. The v15 gets a brand-new, circular knit upper, which New Balance says is more breathable than the prior version.

To be honest, I’ve never been a good judge of breathability — my feet feel equally sweaty no matter which shoes I wear. This is where I really lean on my fellow reviewers to be the judges.

“The perforated upper actually helped keep my feet warm during my winter runs in frigid temperatures,” says Tom. “They were still plenty breathable during an indoor treadmill workout I had to do after a foot of snow fell.”

Travis agreed, saying “The upper material feels flexible and airy, which was nice for the warm gym setting I was running in.”

The shoe features ultra-plush padding in the heel collar and tongue, which New Balance says was possible without adding weight to the shoe, thanks to the significant reduction from the new midsole material.

While the upper material looked and felt great (Travis and Tom loved the Afterglow colorway they received), we noticed it fits quite a bit longer than the last version. I usually wear a 6.5, but I would go down to a 6 in this shoe. Tom says he would have preferred a half-size down, too.

However, Travis found the v15 to fit perfectly. “I felt like the v14 didn’t fit my foot correctly in terms of width and length,” he says. “It just felt a little stiff and too short. The v15 feels much more in line with the usual fit I expect.”

If you agree with Travis and thought the v14 felt too short, you’ll probably enjoy the fit of the v15. If the v14 fit perfectly for you, then you should consider going a half-size down in the v15. And if you’ve never worn the New Balance 1080, I recommend going into your local Fleet Feet to try them on!

Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

The biggest headline of the 1080 v15 is, of course, the new Infinion foam. It’s so much lighter that the shoe’s weight has dropped by a full ounce compared to the 1080 v14, despite adding extra padding in the upper. It also feels more stable than Fresh Foam X, which was a win in our book. We also noticed it felt a bit more energetic.

“The New Balance 1080 v15 still has the feel and essence of a daily trainer, but the ride is lighter with a little more pop,” says Travis.

“The new Infinion foam feels a bit more stable than the Fresh Foam X but still maintains the soft and bouncy feel I love in the 1080,” Tom agrees. “Plus, it definitely feels like the durability of the midsole will hold up better than past versions that used the Fresh Foam X compound.”

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the 1080 v15 stacks up. Here’s what we found:

Our reviewers put the New Balance 1080 v15 in the highly cushioned, smooth category where it fits in with the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 28 and the Brooks Glycerin 23. All three shoes use their brands’ proprietary cushioning — ASICS uses their FF BLAST PLUS midsole foam, and Brooks uses DNA Tuned cushioning. New Balance’s Infinion foam and Brooks’ DNA Tuned foam are both nitrogen-infused, supercritical foams that are designed to feel lighter and livelier than their more traditional counterparts.

The New Balance 1080 v15 is best for runners and walkers seeking a plush yet lively ride, who may have found previous versions of the 1080 to feel too squishy or unstable.

Tom and Travis both agreed that the 1080 can handle faster paces thanks to the supercritical midsole foam, but it really shines on relaxed, easy runs.

“If you want one shoe you can pull out day after day for everything, the 1080v15 is a solid choice,” says Travis. “It will also make a comfortable walking shoe and is a smart choice for being on your feet all day.”

“My first time wearing the 1080 v15 was while working 10+ hour days at the 2025 New York City Marathon Expo,” says Tom. “The lightweight feel and bouncy cushioning were life-savers during the long hours standing on concrete. If the 1080 can keep me feeling fresh during those long shifts, there’s no doubt they’ll keep me moving during long runs, long walks and everything in between.”