Customer Reviews New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v9

Outstanding shoes. Apparently neutral to under-pronated, which is what I need as I have a suppinated stride. Got these for walking as they have the curved heel that should aid in the rocking motion of walking. Tried these for the first time and DOUBLED the length of my normal walk. Light weight, especially compared to the all terrain shoes I'd been wearing which were nearly a full pound heavier as a pair, though still lightweight. Good stability and excellent cushioning. Arch support is slight, and I need more, so use an insert. Was concerned this might cause heel slippage, but when laced through the rear most eyelets at the top, and laced fairly snuggly, it wasn't an issue. Laces are also slightly stretchy, which is a plus. Downsides are that Zappos only offers these in three fairly boring styles, black, black and grey, or black and white. My first try was the black and white and I found that the white was very white and would likely get soiled pretty easily as I walk outdoors and my routes aren't over super clean areas. They'd be fine for indoor use or if you're in an area of the country such as the south where sidewalks and streets are generally very clean with no dust or mud or other junk. And while the "N" logos on the shoes are super reflective for safety, as is a bit on the tongue, there is no reflective area on the rear of these, which is where reflective material is most important when walking or running after dark to alert cars that are coming upon you from your blind side. On the New Balance 990s I'd tried before these the upper part of the outer heel was a super reflective panel, which is great. With these, nothing. A NB logo but not reflective. The fresh foam soles are bright white, and have dimples and little slits on a porous surface. This will likely mean they'll catch and hold dirt and they are fairly difficult to clean, requiring a tooth brush and a fair amount of work. Even then, I doubt I'll ever be able to keep them looking new, as they will inevitably trap dust and dirt with use. The 990s are built more traditionally with a solid padded heel, while these are the bootie style with a softer and slightly lower back part of the heel. Both are very comfortable, but the bootie style of these are a great sensation on your feet. Very snug, smooth, and comfortable fit and it is literally like wearing light slippers with a supportive and cushioned sole attached. Ventilation is excellent, though it also means that if you get the slightest splash of water on them, it goes right through to your socks and feet, as I found when walking through very shallow puddles on sidewalks after a snow melt. But the upside is that they seem to dry very quickly. Everyone has different feet, different strides, and different needs for shoes, but for me these are great.

New balance placed a large seam under the arch of the foot. It was as if I was walking with a rock in my shoe. I have several new balance shoes and they all fit great. Not the 1080 what were they thinking putting a bulky seam under the foots arch?

These are great shoes! This my second pair of 1080’s. First were v7 and glad to see that v9 have not changed dramatically. I would say this is a neutral shoe with a great deal of cushioning from the foam soles. I got the Gunmetal/Outer Space… nice look without being to gaudy. I also like the “bootie” construction because the tong is attached and will not slip to the sides.

Long time runner but health issue has made me turn to walking to keep in some sort of shape as I enter my "golden years" as they say. New Balance shoes have always been a half size larger than the majority of all my other shoes so I knew what size to order when buying the 1080v9. They arrived and fit perfectly. They are great shoe for walking on smooth and even terrain like streets, hardpacked sand or gravel trails or other walking areas available to the general public. I wouldn't recommend them for off road trails unless they are well maintained and free of buried rocks or roots across trails. Wet and mossy trails are also a problem like we have up here in the Pacific Northwest. Otherwise, a great shoe for walking and trying to stay active and in shape. I use these only for walking and not for basic day to day wear. I am sure they would be no problem but if you are a big guy/girl in the plus 200lb range then don't expect them to last a long time.

Excellent shoes. I'm an active and big guy with wide feet, these do the trick when I work out.

This is my fourth or fifth 1080 now, and so far this is probably my favourite version. This is a shoe made for comfort. Right out of the box it felt like I had been using it for months. After my first (treadmill) run in them, it doesn't seem like they will need to be broken in. The styling is pretty good, too. The black and white might be a bit on the boring side for what I usually go for, but that's hardly anything to complain about. Overall, I really like the seamless mesh design of the shoe as it adds to a glove-like feeling around my feet. Very happy with these shoes.

I’m going to have to return my second pair of these, due to a defective toe cap. Both pair I’ve had have a collapsed toe cap on the right foot. I’ve worn New Balance for 25 years but I think this is my last pair. Zappos has great customer service! New Balance, not so much!

If you think is the same as the 1080v8 think again. I have put over 2000 miles on my 3 pairs of the 1080v8. Yes, I know. That is too many. But I love them. I was crushed when I tried the 1080v9. They changed several things. The heel is a disaster. I wanted to love them. After just a bit in the house I had blisters. The heel now has these strange outcroppings of material. It feels like your heel is rubbing all the time, and the back cushioning on the heel is completely gone in this model. I am saddened. I have to start completely over to find a favorite show after 2 year in the 1080v8. The material is also different. I felt blisters forming in the toes and I never had that in the previous version. The eyelets around the laces are also cheap

Great shoes for comfort, but one problem: I began wearing them on May 21 EVERY OTHER DAY (alternating them with a pair of Brooks shoes), and by June 22 the right front sole was partially worn through! Zappos is replacing them and I hope that this was a one-off!

These sneakers are great but they tend to be sized smaller than other NB sneakers. I’m normally an 11 4E and in these I’m an 11.5 4E.

These shoes are the most comfortable shoe I've ever owned. I love New Balance shoes, and have always just opted for way-cheap discounted ones, but finally having a higher end model has opened my eyes and I see what I've been missing out on now. I love that I can slip them on without untying them and they go on snug. The Fresh Foam is super comfortable. The size is amazing, I have wide feet and the 4E width is perfect. The style isn't my favorite, but that's okay because they are so comfortable.

I have an extremely high arch in my left foot (and just high arch in the right) and I also have metatarsalgia in my left foot (exterior foot pad worn out and very thin). So I started wearing orthotics this spring and had trouble finding a shoe that had a large enough toe box and enough arch support to handle my situation. This shoe has been a true blessing! I feel like I am walking on air compared to other shoes and feel no pain whatsoever. I have other shoes that are cushiony and comfortable... except... in the toe box area, so these 1080v9 solved that problem. I've been wearing them extensively for the last three months and they show hardly any wear on the tread. But I'm going to order another pair right now to have it handy. Thank you, New Balance!

I normally wear a medium width shoe, I tried these on at a local store and found the toe box very narrow. I ordered the wide version from Zappos, and they fit well. They are very lightweight, and have sufficient cushioning. I don't wear them for running, but for work and walking. I do have concerns to see how long they will hold up, but so far so good. Very comfortable and light. I was going to try Hoka's but always had good luck with New Balance.

These shoes replace a pair of New Balance 1080v8 that I consider the best pair of walking shoes I have ever owned. There doesn't appear to be much that has changed in the v9 except they have removed some padding from the heel, perhaps to save on weight. This observable change doesn't seem to have any negative effect out of the box. However, my v8 shoes lasted 9 months before I needed to replace them. This is much better than the more common 6 month life span I expect from New Balance shoes. I hope the change in design doesn't shorten their life. My normal week is 5 days walking roughly 5.5 miles per day at a slow pace. New Balance 10 1/2 EEEE fit my feet like a custom made shoe. However, I have been told that not all their products are made on the same last.

I love the fit and comfort of the shoe. With an orthotic it is 1½ sizes larger than my foot size.

As stated above they are much narrower compared to my other NB products. Seems if they were made in the USA, they would have better QC. Very lightweight and comfortable. Let's see how they last compared to the Skechers that were half the price?

Size chart incorrect on Zappos site. States US size 12 is equivalent to Euro size 45. Shoes arrived and on box a 12 is a Euro size 46.5. Shoes seem nice, but they're too big. Should have stuck with local shoe store and avoided the inconvenience.

The back wall of this shoe is very stiff and plasticky, and feels like a dress shoe. I don't like it.

What Happened to New Balance?! ... specifically this model shoe. I had the previous version and loved them. I looked everywhere locally for these, but none of my local retailers carried them any longer. The NB 1080 V8 was the best running shoe I've ever had. I ran into people randomly that had the same shoe and were also really complimentary. When I received these I was incredibly disappointed. The feel and quality of the design and manufacturing is just cheap compared to the previous model. Holding the two next to each other, the v9 is noticeably narrower in the upper toe box area. The attachments for the laces are much more flimsy - just poor quality feel. There's noticeably less cushion and your foot sits "on top of" the insole, rather than "in" it. If you had the v8, don't expect the same quality or fit. I also recently bought a pair of the NB fresh foam cross trainer - similar build and quality to the 1080 V9. I thought it was an anomaly from the 1080 V8 fresh foam, but after receiving the 1080 V9, I think it's a NB platform design change. Couldn't be more disappointed - but that's why I love Zappos - ease of returns when something doesn't work out.

I supinate, have a wide foot, but like a lighter running shoe. This one fits for me.

These are possibly the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn so I bought this 2nd pair before the first one pair wore out! When my ortho doctor recommended this model because of the stiff sole, I expected that they might relieve my arthritis pain but would be uncomfortable to walk on. I was very pleasantly surprised the moment I put them on. The stiff sole keeps my foot from flexing but the foam insole and flexible uppers feel great. I'd been wearing size 11 4E's and Zappos recommended 11-1/2. I ordered the size 11 and they were too snug so I sent them back. From now on, I'll take Zappos' advice. I noticed that the newest versions are a bit colorful for my tastes so, hopefully, they'll have something a bit more subdued when I'm ready to buy these again.

Extremely comfortable. I work in the cath lab at the hospital so I’m on my feet all day. Very happy with these. Add the fact that I get multiple compliments of the look also

Great shoes. Perfect fit!

I have been wearing these for a week now and that are great. Very comfortable. My feet don't hurt like they have before. I'll update in a few more weeks.

Great shoes and bought a pair for a friend. New to NB so now I say bye to the swoosh!