New Balance 1080 v10 vs Beacon v2

I have be using the Clifton 6 for longer distance and as a heavy volume cushioned shoe. Clifton 6 is without a doubt my favorite shoe of all time. It doesn't have a ton of pop and doesn't feel fine but it works well for everyday easy runs and strides. The durability is fantastic and the fit is very comfortable. You might want to consider it.

I have been eyeing the 1080 though. It has good reviews and seems to be very comfortable. It might also be a little less soft than the Clifton which might be a plus? Interested to hear what folks think of the 1080.

I stockpiled the Beacons. I am afraid to try the Beacon v2 because of the heel. All shoes that I tried with a flared heel cause the shoe to slip.

I haven't run in the 1080v10 before, but I've gone through 4-5 pairs of the 1080v9s. I love them. Great cushion for easy runs and longer mileage days (especially if you are running on asphalt). Love them. They are on the heavier side of things, but that's to be expected and certainly not a knock on them. With that being said, if you needed to drop down to a quicker pace, you could. I've knocked out some decent tempo runs on the road with them (5:20-5:30 pace) so they have plenty of pop if you need it. Overall, I love that show and couldn't recommend it enough

I liked the old Beacon, admittedly haven't tried v2 yet, and found the Peg Turbo to be similar if you can get over the weird heel shape.

If you end up with the 1080 I'd be interested to hear a compare/ contrast. Always looking for reviews of shoes from people who like the shoes that I like.

I loved the beacon v2's but had to return them because they rubbed up on the upper inside of my right arch (super annoying) and got the 1080v10's instead. Different feel (more cushy) but I still enjoy them a lot and they've been versatile on long runs and faster ones (although I'm super slow so...)

I’ve not run in the Beacon but I gave the 1080’s a try and love them. Used to wear nb almost exclusively but then their shoes went to crap. Hadn’t bought nb in years. Seems like they are back in the game. 1080’s are a well cushioned, light responsive shoe. Good for 20 milers as well as short fast tempo runs. I’m about to buy a second pair.

Have run in both beacon 2 and 1080 v10. Really enjoy both

Pros

Beacon- Lighter, cheaper, great cushion for the weight..have even raced in there. Granted I'm not as fast as a lot of LRC folks

1080 v10- Great for longer runs, durable, decent grip(compared to beacon), surprisingly handy for even tempo paces

Cons

Beacon - Not as durable as 1080, suspect grip/less outsole rubber

1080 - Heavier than beacon, pretty costly

Beacon v2 is available for close to 50$ right now which is honestly a steal.

I'm a huge fan of the Beacon v1 -- absolutely my favorite shoe of all time. I've gone through 4 pairs and still have 3 new pairs sitting on a shelf. Many people seem to wear these for easy/long runs, but because of their light weight I use them for workouts and races (HM and marathon) with great success. The perfect combination of light weight, cushion, and responsiveness. They may not be super durable, but I'm in Clydesdale territory so I'm luckly to get 300 miles out of any shoe.

The Beacon v2 is "OK" in my opinion. The fit is slightly different than the Beacon v1 (more room in the toebox), and I'm in size 15 so I can't just go down a half-size. It's equally as light as the v1, but there's just something different about the fit and feel of the v2 that I don't prefer compared to the v1. The fit feels a little sloppy. The large heel tab on the Beacon v2 did not bother me at all.

The 1080 v10 is a good-to-great shoe for me. This is what I use for easy and long runs due to the cushion. It's definitely significantly heavier than the Beacon, but it feels significantly more plush. Because there's no exposed foam on the outsole it should be more durable than the Beacon, but the added rubber makes it heavier. I've never really used it for workouts before, but I think it would be fine for tempo-ish pace, but just a little heavy. For me the fit of the 1080v10 is spot-on. Right out of the box it felt comfortable. Other than the weight, the only other major downside is the price, about $150 from what I remember. It also has a bit of a heel tab, but I don't notice it at all.

Is the Beacon and good everyday shoe for a 130lbs forefoot striker?

Semisi wrote:

Is the Beacon and good everyday shoe for a 130lbs forefoot striker?

I would say there are better shoes for you. The beacon definitely is for forefoot strikers though. I often switch between forefoot and heel striking and the beacon is very jarring for heel striking. The beacon is probably the most overrated shoe online imo. I don’t really like the foam but it is a very light weight shoe.

For the ops question, I’ve only tried the 1080v10 in store, I didn’t buy it as I’m cheap and never pay full price but it felt crazy soft and comfy. Way way softer than the beacon. If it was cheaper I’d try it out, my only concern is that it maybe even too soft for running.

Beacon is great. I get 300 miles of tempo work in them. Toe box is roomy so I am surprised that V2 is roomier. How about the heel locking foot down? I always have problem with that type of heel and you didn't really say. Beacon, I just lace and go without much thought and shoe has no movement.

I never ran in the first version of the Beacons so I can't compare v1 vs V2. The V2 does a good job of locking down my heel and midfoot. I have narrow heels and I do have issues with heel slippage in some shoes. I do routinely "lace lock" every pair of running and soccer shoes I own to do everything I can to snug up the heel, including the Beacons.

Hi Tom,

I read your summery with great interest as I am also a big fan of the Beacon. Spent about 20 years running in old-school Asics shoes and than triend the Beacon V2 and after 400Km in them I will never look back. I love the shoes.

However, I recently got the 1080V10 as well as I read it is better suited for a marathon than the beacons, but I just cant get to like these shoes. Not sure why, perhaps it is the fit or the weight(?) it feels like it has a NEGATIVE drop with my heels being lower than my toes.. i know it is not true but it is the sensasion I get from them. It does not roll through the gate as fast or with as much easase as the beacon.. .. I think the 1080V10 still miles better than my Asicc cumulus I had before but still no Beacon.

Since I am planning yo run my first Marathon in October this year, i wonder if I should just give up on the 1080v10 and go with the Beacon V2 or V3.. or am I going to miss the extra cushioning during the marathon distance?

I see you wrote youbrun marathon in the beacon.. what would you recommend..?? And if yiu run marathon in a beacon, what is the use or extra benefit of still keeping thr 1080V10??

Thank you from Norway.