Details
Brand
New Balance
Heel To Toe Drop
10 mm
Breathability
9/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Blown rubber outsole• TruFuse foam• 3D print on the upper• Stretchy neoprene tongue• Engineered Fantom Fit upper• Available in wide widths• Insoles are removable• Improved Flex Grooves• Midsole T-BEAM offer light stability for neutral runners
Upper
The New Balance 880 V7 features a Fantom Fit upper that’s lightweight and constructed of engineered mesh. The upper is supposed to be seamless but a few runners mentioned that when worn sockless, they experienced uncomfortable rubbing and blister formation. A snazzy looking 3D print on the upper adds a nice design touch and also provides additional support for the wearer. A neoprene tongue provides a nice amount of stretch to that area and both the heel collar and tongue are well-padded for comfort. Inside the shoe is a removable insole. Reviewers liked the comfortably sized toe box of the V7 and mentioned that they liked the soft upper material. A few folks did mention that the tongue had a tendency to slip out of place, but this was a minor issue. In terms of updates, the V7 upper has a bit more give to it than the V6 upper. The thinner mesh improves air circulation while still managing to offer support. The toe box is nice and roomy, more so than before. The upper also wraps the foot better than before without causing uncomfortable pressure points.
Midsole
The 880 V7 has a midsole that’s infused with TruFuse foam. This type of foam is actually lighter than the type of EVA foam you’d get in other running shoes. It offers protection from impact and energy-return for wearers. Reviewers felt that the midsole was well-cushioned and worked well for distance training. In addition, a few reviewers pointed out that the heel was nicely padded and that the plush cushioning did not cause instability. A few reviewers also mentioned that they felt the midsole cushion felt bouncy. Runners used to stiffer shoes may not like the soft foam in the New Balance 880 V7.
Outsole
The outsole of the New Balance 880 V7 is composed of blown rubber. The material is very durable and provides a nice degree of traction. This version of the 880 features much more prominent Flex Grooves which help to produce a much smoother ride overall. The outsole has also been improved significantly, to ensure a greate r amount of grip underfoot. Reviewers enjoyed the fact that the shoe required virtually no break-in period since the outsole was not overly stiff and rigid. Runs went smoothly ride off the bat.
Breathability
The New Balance 880 V7 gets a breathability makeover thanks to its new engineered mesh material which improves air circulation quite a bit for wearers. The shoe also features a wider toe box to help with ventilation. The shoe still fits well, but it’s not overly snug so as to make the fit uncomfortable. The Fantom Fit’s breathable upper design was well-liked by reviewers and few users reported fit issues. The shoe is also available in wider widths for those who need a bit of extra room to breathe.
Comfort
The majority of reviewers loved the V7’s lightweight feel, which is greatly helped by the TruFuse foam. It cushions super well without weighing the shoe down. The result is a responsive speed feeling shoe with a very comfortable fit. Even the heel area and tongue are well-padded. The best part? No break in period is required. According to reviewers, it’s easy to start on a run with the shoes right away. Runners also reported that the shoe fit true to size. It’s not just the fit of the shoe that’s comfortable it’s the ride too, and that means the 880 V7 is nearly perfect in this area.
Style
This shoe features a surprisingly fresh, modern style. It’s a step above most other New Balance models and a step in the right direction. Several color options for both men and women are available and all of the variations seem to fit right into current fashion trends. The shoe could easily be worn casually, that’s really how good it looks. The women’s versions aren’t overly pink and girly, which is a nice change of pace. For men, there’s a nice mix of colorful options and more subtle variations. It’s a very nice color selection and really great overall design.
Durability
The New Balance 880 V7’s durable blown rubber outsole can definitely keep up with runners as they move through training. Even with a fairly lightweight construction, the shoe doesn’t seem to deteriorate rapidly. Runners didn’t report any glaring lifespan issues. The TruFuse foam seems to hold its shape well over time, the thin upper doesn’t tear easily, and the outsole holds its own quite well. The shoe should handle well throughout a training season. It should last well over 300 miles.
Protection
The New Balance 880 V7 offers various forms of protection for wearers. First, the outsole is the first layer of protection. It protects itself against friction and resulting wear. It also protects wearers from slipping on wet surfaces. Second, the midsole protects wearers from feeling too much of the impact of running. The TruFuse foam is lighter than EVA but still cushions really well. The upper wraps the foot for a snug fit to secure wearers and protect them from too much inner movement eliminating the chance for blister formation. There’s also the T-BEAM present in the midsole which works to provide very mild pronation control for neutral runners.
Responsiveness
The 880 V7 feels lighter than it actually is and this greatly helps with the shoe’s overall responsiveness. Reviewers loved the quick ride they got in this shoe and found it responsive enough for speed training and racing. The cushion is bouncy without feeling overly soft. The shoe also features better ground feel than before making the overall ride super smooth. The TrueFuse foam really delivers in terms of rebound and manages to do so without taking on added weight.
Support
The New Balance 880 V7 is pretty supportive. The new engineered mesh does a lot of work to ensure the wearer is well supported. The new upper wraps the foot a lot better than in the previous iteration without overly constricting blood vessels and cutting off circulation. The 3D resin featured on the upper also offers support. It’s not just a nice aesthetic touch, this feature also locks in the foot so the wearer doesn’t slip out of the shoe while moving.
Terrain
The V7 is made for the road. It can probably handle hard packed trails but it’s just not designed for off-road use. It offers the wearer a nice connection with the ground and too much ground feel can be detrimental for trail running, especially without the presence of a rock plate. That’s not to say that the outsole is not tough, it certainly is, it’s just not designed specifically for trail running. Still, the 880 V7 is well-designed for its intended job: to run on pavement.
Price
This New Balance shoe is priced affordably and offers quite a few features making it an excellent option for both new and inexperienced runners. It offers plenty of cushioning but is also a great choice for wearers looking for a shoe for speed training. It’s a good option for both short and long distance runners and provides a great amount of feedback and energy-return that will suit a variety of runners. It should also stand the test of time. Runners will be able to rely on the New Balance 880 V7 throughout training.
Drop
The New Balance 880 V7 features a standard 10mm drop. No complaints from reviewers and both heel and forefoot strikers seemed content with the shoe’s geometry. Even with the 10mm drop, the shoe feels closer to the ground than before. According to reviewers, the ride in the V7 felt a lot smoother.
Stability
The 880 V7 actually offers an important amount of stability via its midsole T-BEAM. Neutral runners won’t have to worry when their form gets sloppy since the shoe includes this corrective feature. Sure, you should always pay attention to your form, but this is a nice touch for this cushioned neutral trainer. The nice grippy outsole also contributes the shoe’s overall stability and so does the fit of the upper. This version of the shoe features a better upper fit for improved support and stability.
Flexibility
The V7 features new and improved Flex Grooves to enhance overall flexibility that was missing previously. The more flexible design eliminates the need for a breaking in period and enhances ground feel. Reviewers loved the feel of the ride in the 880 V7 and very much enjoyed the fact that they could head out for a run right away without experiencing a stiff first few runs in the shoe.
Traction
The New Balance 880 V7 provides a nice amount of traction. The blown rubber outsole performs the bulk of the shoe’s gripping action. In fact, the outsole has been improved to allow for better traction since the last version of the 880. Reviewers found the shoe gripped surfaces well helping with an overall stable ride experience. An aggressive tread might add on too much weight and cause the shoe’s ride to suffer so the updates on the V7 work well to add gripping ability with compromising the overall ride feel of the shoe.
Bottom Line
The New Balance 880 V7 is a significant and well-designed update for this line. The numerous changes to the upper, outsole and general design make for a great training shoe. The 880 V7 is a shoe that feels lighter than it should be, runs faster than expected, and fits comfortably. The cushioning is luxurious without compromising stability and support. Improvements have greatly helped overall breathability as well. It’s hard to see where New Balance could continue to improve with the 880 V7.
