New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 Introduction
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 is a impartial every day coach constructed with cushioning from New Balance’s Fresh Foam X expertise.
What’s curious concerning the Fresh Foam X expertise is that not the entire foam of their totally different sneakers appears to be comparable.
Having examined the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13, the midsole expertise was very totally different as that shoe was softer the place this shoe is way more steady but in addition extra responsive.
This shoe falls in a aggressive lineup with the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 and the Saucony Ride 17. This shoe is constructed effectively from a sturdiness perspective however the power return from each the Gel-Nimbus and Ride are going to be higher.
The shoe is available in at 9.5 oz for males’s dimension 9, which is an effective weight for the aim of the shoe. At $140, the shoe is priced under a lot of its rivals.
In phrases of updates from final yr, there are just a few. First, the toe-to-heel drop has gone decrease from 10mm in final yr’s model to 8mm on this yr’s model. The total stack heigh is comparatively the identical, only a decrease heel drop.
The shoe is barely lighter – 0.5 oz – than final yr’s as the froth is now up to date with the Fresh Foam X cushioning.
The higher on the shoe has modified barely as effectively, which makes the shoe really feel a bit extra type becoming than final yr’s mannequin.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 First Impressions
When first taking this shoe out of the field, I seen that it was comparatively light-weight.
The development of the higher regarded easy and the rubber on the underside regarded prefer it was constructed for a lot of miles. My first run within the shoe was my first simple run after taking per week off.
The shoe was comparatively easy and steady. I didn’t really feel a lot power return but it surely responded effectively as I performed round with my paces. The shoe by no means felt prefer it was serving to me but it surely additionally didn’t get in the way in which both.
My later runs within the shoe included strides, hill repeats, and tempo efforts. The shoe dealt with all of those with ease. I undoubtedly perceive why some folks love this shoe as it might deal with a wide range of runs and simply doesn’t get in the way in which.
As I mentioned earlier, there’s not a lot power return so it doesn’t really feel such as you’re getting a lot assist both. For one effort, I needed to push the tempo a bit however appeared to wrestle doing it with this shoe.
It’s not mild or bouncy sufficient for the skilled runner to push to these increased, threshold paces. For the extra novice runner, it’s an ideal all-around shoe.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 Upper
The development of the higher on this shoe is excellent. It’s a tremendous mesh with enough padding throughout.
The design is totally different this yr because the higher is now one piece. I had no points with the lacing system and the shoelaces stayed tied even on a single knot.
The tongue was redesigned this yr and appears to remain in place higher than final yr’s model. The shoe matches true to dimension. The toe field was barely tight however not sufficient for me to wish to get a large width.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 Sole Unit
The midsole options the Fresh Foam X expertise. It shouldn’t be a thicker midsole than in v13 however the heel drop has modified from 10mm to 8mm. Because of the change in foam, this model is lighter than the earlier iteration as effectively – albeit not an enormous distinction.
As I had talked about earlier, this foam shouldn’t be the softest nor does it give a lot power return. It’s not practically as smooth because the 1080 v13 though the expertise is comparable.
The decrease heel drop does assist give a easy, snug experience for these simple miles. It’s additionally decently extra responsive and steady – dealing with totally different paces throughout the similar run very effectively.
The traction on the outsole is nice. I by no means felt slippage in wet circumstances and it gripped in addition to a street shoe would on grassy or gravel surfaces. The outsole is product of Ndurance rubber, which is NB’s proprietary rubber that claims to reinforce sturdiness. It is identical materials as within the earlier model however the structure is a bit totally different this time, hoping to extend traction in excessive put on areas whereas additionally utilizing a bit much less rubber total. This is probably going the contributing issue to the shoe’s weight reduction on this new model.
In comparability to the Gel-Nimbus 26, this shoe is feels agency and doesn’t have the identical power return because the Nimbus. While I believed the Nimbus was agency, this shoe is firmer.
That being mentioned, this shoe is lighter and has a decrease stack top. This shoe feels extra responsive and may deal with a few of these quicker paces higher than the Nimbus.
The outsole grips are comparatively much like me.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 Conclusions
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 is a good every day coach that performs an element for nearly any runner.
For the skilled runner, it’s an ideal simple day shoe the place you may find yourself incorporating some strides or pickups. For the novice runner, it’s an ideal on a regular basis shoe with nice versatility.
This shoe will keep in my rotation as a simple day shoe or a few of these group runs the place the tempo picks up only a bit previous simple.
My greatest challenge stays the worth level. For just a bit bit extra, you will get different sneakers with higher power return, softer cushioning, or lighter weight.
There isn’t sufficient on this shoe for it to face out from others and to justify saving a couple of dollars. I do suppose it does the job as a workhorse shoe.