New Balance Fresh Foam 980
Overall Grades And Reviews
How This Shoe Compares To Its Competitors
- Bottom 25% out of 1,419 shoes with reader reviews
- Bottom 25% out of 1,417 shoes designed for everyday
- 209th out of 210 shoes made by New Balance
Pros
-
Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
-
Rated among the top 25% of shoes on comfort.
Cons
-
Most reviewers like this shoe less than their last shoe.
-
Rated among the bottom 10% of shoes overall.
-
Rated below average on cushioning.
-
Rated among the bottom 10% of shoes on durability.
LetsRun.com Reviewer Ratings
Overall Ratings Breakdown
| 10 |
0%
|
| 9 |
23%
|
| 8 |
43%
|
| 7 |
27%
|
| 6 |
3%
|
| ≤ 5 |
3%
|
- LRC Grade
- 8.1
- Average Review
- 7.8
- Median Review
- 8.0
- LRC Grade
- 8.8
- Average Review
- 8.7
- Median Review
- 9.0
- LRC Grade
- 8.6
- Average Review
- 0.0
- Median Review
- 0.0
- LRC Grade
- 7.4
- Average Review
- 7.1
- Median Review
- 8.0
- LRC Grade
- 8.4
- Average Review
- 8.1
- Median Review
- 9.0
- LRC Grade
- 8.2
- Average Review
- 8.1
- Median Review
- 8.0
Score Distribution
| 10 |
0%
|
| 9 |
23%
|
| 8 |
43%
|
| 7 |
27%
|
| 6 |
3%
|
| ≤ 5 |
3%
|
Score Distribution
| 10 |
20%
|
| 9 |
37%
|
| 8 |
37%
|
| 7 |
7%
|
| 6 |
0%
|
| ≤ 5 |
0%
|
Score Distribution
| 10 |
0%
|
| 9 |
0%
|
| 8 |
0%
|
| 7 |
0%
|
| 6 |
0%
|
| ≤ 5 |
100%
|
Score Distribution
| 10 |
10%
|
| 9 |
7%
|
| 8 |
37%
|
| 7 |
13%
|
| 6 |
20%
|
| ≤ 5 |
13%
|
Score Distribution
| 10 |
27%
|
| 9 |
27%
|
| 8 |
13%
|
| 7 |
13%
|
| 6 |
13%
|
| ≤ 5 |
7%
|
Score Distribution
| 10 |
17%
|
| 9 |
20%
|
| 8 |
33%
|
| 7 |
23%
|
| 6 |
3%
|
| ≤ 5 |
3%
|
Shoe Comparison
|
New Balance Fresh Foam 980
|
Brooks Ghost 15
|
HOKA ONE ONE Bondi 8
|
Puma Deviate Nitro 2
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image |
This Shoe
|
Top Rated Trainer For Sale
|
Most Comfortable Trainer For Sale
|
Most Durable Trainer For Sale
|
| Shoe Properties | ||||
| Shoe Type |
Trainer
|
Trainer
|
Trainer
|
Trainer
|
| Pronation Control |
|
Neutral
|
Neutral
|
Neutral
|
| Weight |
|
9.6 oz. (men's), 8.4 oz. (women's)
|
11.1 oz. (men's), 10.1 oz. (women's)
|
9.1 oz. (men's), 7.6 oz. (women's)
|
| Stack Height |
|
35mm.
|
43mm.
|
37mm.
|
| Forefoot Height |
|
23mm.
|
39mm.
|
31mm.
|
| Drop Height |
|
12 mm.
|
4 mm.
|
6 mm.
|
| Upper material |
|
Refined 3D Fit Print mesh, Recycled Materials include:
|
Engineered mesh, Lycra comfort frame, Internal heel counter, Pillowed Tongue
|
Mesh Upper, PWRTAPE
|
| Shoe Released |
|
Q4 2022
|
Q3 2022
|
Q1 2023
|
| MSRP |
$110
|
$140
|
$165
|
$160
|
|
LRC Ratings
Out of 10
|
||||
| Overall |
8.1
|
9.2
|
9.0
|
8.8
|
| Comfort |
8.8
|
9.1
|
9.6
|
8.8
|
| Cushioning |
8.6
|
9.1
|
9.6
|
8.7
|
| Durability |
7.4
|
8.8
|
8.1
|
9.0
|
| Appearance |
8.4
|
8.2
|
7.8
|
8.7
|
| Value |
8.2
|
8.6
|
7.7
|
8.8
|
Reader Reviews
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
40 miles per week, underpronator, medium arches- Overall
- 8.0
- Comfort
- 8.0
- Durability
- 8.0
- Appearance
- 9.0
- Value
- 8.0
Perfect.
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
50 miles per week, neutral pronator, low arches- Overall
- 7.0
- Comfort
- 9.0
- Durability
- 10.0
- Appearance
- 10.0
- Value
- 9.0
Didn't ride exactly like I thought it would. Much firmer than it was marketed as. But what that actually translated to was a snappy, up-tempo shoe good for daily runs and speed work. Because it was so firm, runs over about 75 min were a little more exhausting than they should have been.
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
85 miles per week, underpronator, high arches- Overall
- 8.0
- Comfort
- 10.0
- Durability
- 10.0
- Appearance
- 10.0
- Value
- 10.0
Super versatile shoe, light, but plush cushion. Shoe transitions well between a variety of paces.
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
30 miles per week, underpronator, medium arches- Overall
- 8.0
- Comfort
- 7.0
- Durability
- 9.0
- Appearance
- 7.0
- Value
- 9.0
It's been a very good shoe. Before this I ran in the Nike Pegasus for several years. I ended up having knee surgery and afterwards switched to these shoes to help take some pressure off my knee (recommendation from my sports chiropractor). They are a durable pair of shoes that get the job done. I don't think they are as comfortable as the Pegasus, but I will definitely be getting another pair of these. I'm happy with my purchase.
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
40 miles per week, neutral pronator, high arches- Overall
- 9.0
- Comfort
- 9.0
- Durability
- 9.0
- Appearance
- 6.0
- Value
- 7.0
It is a great shoe!
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
75 miles per week, overpronator, low arches- Overall
- 5.0
- Comfort
- 8.0
- Durability
- 1.0
- Appearance
- 9.0
- Value
- 5.0
Great shoe other than the rubber. The rubber used is way too soft and wears out very quickly. I've had several pairs and with all of them by around 100 miles there was no rubber left in the toe area. This created a hole in the shoe. If the rubber were more durable this would be an amazing shoe. In it's current state it's an average shoe at best.
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
60 miles per week, neutral pronator, medium arches- Overall
- 7.0
- Comfort
- 8.0
- Durability
- 6.0
- Appearance
- 9.0
- Value
- 7.0
Good shoe but sole heats up at faster speeds.
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
10 miles per week, neutral pronator, high arches- Overall
- 8.0
- Comfort
- 9.0
- Durability
- 8.0
- Appearance
- 9.0
- Value
- 9.0
This shoe has held up well, and fits my foot well too. I even have subjected it to some cross-training with no negative consequences.
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
100 miles per week, neutral pronator, medium arches- Overall
- 6.0
- Comfort
- 10.0
- Durability
- 3.0
- Appearance
- 10.0
- Value
- 6.0
Good comfortable shoe but rips easily
-
New Balance Fresh Foam 980 Review
40 miles per week, high arches- Overall
- 8.0
- Comfort
- 7.0
- Durability
- 7.0
- Appearance
- 3.0
- Value
- 10.0
Been running distance workouts and some long runs in it for a few months now; got it for free but enjoying using it.