Diadora’s Mythos Blushield Vigore V Serves Up a Sturdy, Stabilizing Ride
The Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore V is a surprisingly smooth, premium stability running shoe designed for daily training.
The New Balance 1080v15 has been overhauled into a lighter, more responsive, and more versatile training shoe.
It’s early February and time to buy new running shoes! Have you been shopping for a new pair of high-mileage trainers yet?
A good place to start is the recently launched New Balance 1080v15, which is one of the most improved premium everyday training shoes heading into 2026.
In what seems like a lifetime ago, New Balance unveiled a new EVA foam technology in 2016 called Fresh Foam. What initially made that midsole foam special was that it used data-driven, geometric designs—convex hexagons for stability on the medial side and concave for cushioning on the lateral side—to create a lightweight, plush and balanced ride.
Ultimately that evolution of that foam helped the 1080 morph into a very cushy, maximally stacked everyday trainer, but, as new, more energetic foams debuted, it also became a middle-of-the road comfortable cruiser that lacked the responsiveness of some of its peers.
This year’s 1080v15 has a new supercritical midsole foam called Infinion, which is softer, lighter, and livelier than the semi-soft/semi-responsive EVA-blend Fresh Foam X midsole foam that was in the most recent iterations of the 1080. The end result is a lighter and more energetic ride than all of the previous 1080 shoes, and because of that, a much more versatile training shoe that reasserts itself among the group of premium (plateless) everyday trainers.
Price: $170
Weights: 7.8 oz (women’s 8); 9.1 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 38mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
What’s New: The biggest new feature of the 1080v15 is the new single-layer midsole made from a new compound that New Balance calls Infinion. (It looks like it’s a two-layer midsole, but it’s actually one layer with a silver paint job over the top portion.) New Balance hasn’t released too many details about it, but it says it will provide longer lasting performance than its previous Fresh Foam X midsoles with enhanced cushioning and energy return. A cushioned and gusseted tongue, a soft heel collar, and padded heel tab are additional comfort details in this year’s model, while a breathable mesh upper, supportive internal heel cup, and reflective highlights on the rear side panels offer functional improvements.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The new 1080v15 has a different interior volume profile than previous models, but there are now three widths available to accommodate a wider range of runners. The Standard width version is decidedly more narrow than last year’s New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v14 with a longer toe box. (I wear-tested the Standard width shoe, but if you have wider feet make sure you try on the Wide or X-Wide versions.)
The step-in feel is even more plush than its predecessors, with a comfortable locked-in sensation at the heel and midfoot. The toe box is roomy, but more in length than width. It still lacks any kind of propulsion plate, which means your gait can be at the liberty of how you’re able control the foam through the heel-to-toe gait cycle. (In other words, runners who need a stable shoe might have challenges with the 1080v15.)
Aside from those aspects, the ride is the bright, shining highlight of the new 1080v15. Whereas the previous editions of the 1080 felt somewhat soft and comfortable, some of the recent models also started to feel stodgy—slightly heavier, a bit too wide, and a bit too sturdy—compared to some similar trainers. This new edition, highlighted by the new foam, a slightly narrower profile, and a lighter overall weight, makes this shoe feel vibrant and fun. It’s still an everyday trainer that you can lace up for long runs, recovery runs and pre- and post-workout warmup and cooldown runs, but it just feels more sprightly in every stride.
Why It’s Great: The New Balance 1080 franchise was due for an overhaul, and this represents a dramatic reinvention of this popular shoe. While it had improved slightly in recent years, it needed a new foam package that would allow it to keep pace with the rising performance found in other high-mileage, every day training shoes. The upgrades are profound with many positives and only a few drawbacks. If you’re looking for a versatile everyday trainer that’s comfortable and responsive, this is a good one to consider.
Why You’ll Love It: The bouncy, energetic sensation you’ll feel running at any pace is the thing I love most. It’s a significant departure from what the 1080 shoes have felt like for years, a distinct up-leveling of the small degree of responsiveness the Fresh Foam X midsole foam provided. The new supercritical Infinion midsole foam elevates the 1080 status above some of its peers in the everyday training category and starts to blur the lines of higher level performance-oriented trainers. The bottom line is that it’s made long runs and those standard midweek runs feel better and, quite frankly, almost effortless. It’s not going to be a shoe for super-fast workouts, but I’ve found it great for tempo runs, fartleks and post-run strides.
Why You Might Not Like It: While some might consider this shoe a little too soft and slightly unstable, the biggest drawback of the 1080v15 might be its internal shape and how it fits. It’s decidedly narrower than all of the previous versions of the 1080 and many other shoes in this category, and it’s oddly a little bit longer. I have narrow feet with long toes, so while I noticed the differences, I wasn’t concerned with narrower interior. Obviously, having three width options is a good thing, but it will take some time to make sure you find the right fit for you.
Pros: Overall, there have been good improvements to the New Balance 1080. The new version of the 1080v15 offers great energy return, shock absorption, comfort, and versatility. It’s not a super high-performance training shoe, but it’s no longer just an easy cruiser for Zone 1 and Zone 2 running. Plus, it’s available in numerous colors, not just the day-glo yellow that I have been wearing. (Also FYI: there is also a $5 price increase over last year’s model, but the upgrades are certainly worth it.)
Cons: The narrower profile and bouncier foam have made this shoe a touch less stable. I wouldn’t say it’s unstable, but it doesn’t offer the sturdy girth of previous models. While I noticed it right away, it only seemed to be a detriment late in a 16-mile run when my gait had fatigued and I was ready to be done. Otherwise, I’d consider it a plus that it’s more dynamic, bouncy, and responsive. However, if you’re a runner who needs stability in your training shoes, the 1080v15 is probably not a good option to consider.
About the Author
Contributing editor Brian Metzler is the Content Director for UltraSignup.com. He has wear-tested more than 2,000 running shoes and is the author of “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” (2019) and “Trail Running Illustrated” (2021). He has raced just about every distance from 100 meters to 100 miles, but he’s most eager to share stories about his experiences pack burro racing in Colorado and riding trains to run trails in Chamonix, France.
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