The New Balance 1080 has been the brand's most popular running shoe for the past few years, and the v12 lives up to its hype. The New Balance 1080 has been the brand's most popular running shoe for the past few years. [But how does the 1080v12 compare to the other best running shoes on the market and to newer everyday shoes like the Nike Pegasus 39 and On Cloud Monster? I wore the New Balance 1080v12 for a variety of sessions, from steady to fast tempo runs. For a review of the New Balance 1080v12, read below.

The New Balance 1080v12 will be available in April 2022, priced at $159/£145. Women's sizes range from US 5-13 (UK 3-9), with three shoe widths: standard, wide, and extra wide. The women's shoes are available in white, purple, black, and apricot.

For men, the 1080v12 is available in US sizes 7-16 (UK 6.5-14) and comes in the same standard, wide, and extra-wide widths. At launch, it will be available in five colors: black, gray, navy, orange, and blue.

Design-wise, the 1080v12 is a big improvement from previous versions of this shoe. New Balance abandoned the molded heel counter of the v11, which widely divided runners, and added a hypo knit upper. During a Peak District run with one of the shoe's designers, he explained that New Balance listened to runners' feedback and switched to a more traditional heel counter in v12.

In terms of fit, the v12 comes up big, in fact, almost a half size too big. I typically run in a U.K. 5 and tested the 1080v12 in a U.K. 4.5 and they still feel roomy. If you are shopping online and can't try them on beforehand, I would suggest buying a half size down.

Upper

The upper of the New Balance 1080v12 is made from the brand's "hypo knit" material, which is stretchy and comfortable across the top of the foot. It is also reinforced in areas that need the most support. Overall, however, the bootie construction is lightweight and wraps around the foot nicely. During testing, I found the upper to be a good mix of breathable and supportive.

As mentioned above, the heel counter has also been completely redesigned in v12, with the hard plastic removed and replaced with a more traditional heel with a padded collar. This is a major improvement and prevents the tightness and blisters around the heel that many runners experienced in v11.

The tongue is also nicely padded and I was able to wear these straight out of the box without any friction, hot spots, or blisters.

Midsole

The midsole contains New Balance Fresh Foam X, which has a good amount of cushioning to allow you to pick up the pace should you need it, yet still feel responsive, plush underfoot The shoe has a very good amount of cushioning to allow the foot to feel plush yet responsive. During testing, I had a good amount of shoe versatility - it is definitely ideal for long, easy miles, but there is enough snap to wear this shoe while picking up the pace. There is a good amount of bounce underfoot when wearing this shoe, and I enjoyed running in it.

If you are a serious speed runner or a runner who prefers to run in lighter shoes, you may find the weight of the 1080v12 uncomfortable. But if not, this is a good shoe that can do just about anything.

Outsole

As with previous iterations of this shoe, the outsole ensures that the 1080v12 is still best suited for the road. The lugs aren't deep enough to handle technical trails and don't offer much grip, but there is definitely enough traction to keep you safe on wet sidewalks and light tracks.

I tested these running shoes on a variety of runs and was impressed with the shoe's versatility. They are not the kind of shoes I would normally wear on a fast tempo run, but I was able to handle them well. Also, on slower, easier miles, the shoe was plush, resilient, and exciting. A great all-rounder and the perfect shoe for beginners looking for something soft and supportive. [But with the v12, I finally understood why this shoe has such a devoted following. This is a durable running shoe that can be worn for any occasion, from a 5K to a marathon. It is a great example of what is expected from an everyday running shoe, and a reminder that you don't need multiple running shoes in your closet to train well for a race.

The downside is that the 1080v12 is a bit heavier than previous models, but this may be a sizing issue.

If you don't mind paying hundreds of dollars for two pairs of running shoes, the 1080v12 will meet most of your training needs. The shoe is comfortable enough to wear on long runs, responsive enough to wear on race day, and the fresh foam has enough snap to handle speedier training sessions.

The 1080v12 is a big step up from the v11, and hopefully the molded heel has been eliminated. That said, the sizing is a bit rough, and we recommend going down a half size to avoid making a running shoe that is too big and unflattering.

If you're looking to spend less, I'd opt for the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39, which has also received some major improvements and is $40 cheaper than the New Balance 1080v12. If you're looking for something more exciting for race day, I'd check out the New Balance RC Elite v2, which is on the list of best carbon fiber running shoes.