Shoes similar to the New Balance 880
Ranked by ride similarity. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The closest current match to the New Balance 880 is the Brooks Ghost 18. The Ghost is the other default shoe-store neutral: the same wide width run, the same walker-friendly brief, within $10 at list. Through 2023 the two were near-interchangeable 10 mm workhorses; the 880 v15 went max-stack and 6 mm while the Ghost stayed traditional.
- Brooks Ghost 18Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Jul 28, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
The New Balance 880 is a width-friendly neutral workhorse, rebuilt in 2025 as a high-stack rockered cruiser. Everything below is measured against the current 880 v15 (10.1 oz, 6 mm drop, 40.5 mm heel). No shoe matches it exactly, so each pick lists what carries over and what does not.
- 10.2 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 36 mm heel
- $150 list
The Ghost is the other default shoe-store neutral: the same wide width run, the same walker-friendly brief, within $10 at list. Through 2023 the two were near-interchangeable 10 mm workhorses; the 880 v15 went max-stack and 6 mm while the Ghost stayed traditional.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: the same weight, 4.5 mm less heel stack, 4 mm more drop, $10 more at list.
- 10.1 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Pegasus is the benchmark neutral daily the 880 gets cross-shopped against: springier from its Air unit, $10 less, narrower width run. The 880 counters with widths to 4E and a calmer, more orthotic-friendly ride.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: the same weight, 3.5 mm less heel stack, 4 mm more drop, $5 more at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
The Ride runs the same do-everything neutral brief on an 8 mm drop at a similar price. It is over an ounce lighter than the current 880 and stayed traditional where the 880 went maximal.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: 1.2 oz lighter, 2.5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $5 more at list.
- 9.2 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42 mm heel
- $155 list
The Clifton is where 880 shoppers land when they want light and cushioned, and the v15's rebuild moved the 880 into its territory: similar stack, with the Clifton about an ounce lighter. The 880 wins on widths and outsole rubber.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: 0.9 oz lighter, 1.5 mm more heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $15 more at list.
- 9 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40 mm heel
- $170 list
The 1080 is the plush in-brand sibling, $30 up at list. The v15 blurred the gap; RunRepeat called it a budget-friendly 1080. The 1080 v15 keeps the softer supercritical foam and the springier ride.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: 1.1 oz lighter, the same drop, $30 more at list.
- 9.7 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
Two value-priced neutral workhorses that shoppers put side by side. The 880 v15 is taller and lower-drop (40.5 mm, 6 mm) than the Gel-Cumulus 28; the Cumulus is lighter and quotes an 8 mm drop.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: 0.4 oz lighter, 2.5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $5 more at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $150 list
The GT-2000 is what the shoe store hands you one shelf over when your gait check says overpronation: same widths story, same workhorse brief, plus guidance geometry the 880 does not have.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: 1.2 oz lighter, 3.5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $10 more at list.
- 9.4 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42.5 mm heel
- $150 list
The Wave Rider is the other traditionalist's daily that recently modernized, on the same two-year timeline as the 880's own rebuild. It runs firmer with a plate; the 880 wins on widths.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: 0.7 oz lighter, 2 mm more heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $10 more at list.
- 9.2 oz
- 0 mm drop
- 28 mm heel
- $160 list
The zero-drop end of the same shelf, and a real option now that the 880 has slid to a 6 mm drop. Both are wide-fit workhorses sold in multiple widths at around $150. The Torin is far lower (28 mm against 40.5) and completely flat, so it asks more of the calf and gives back more ground feel. Going this direction is a project rather than a swap.
Against your New Balance 880 v15: 0.9 oz lighter, 12.5 mm less heel stack, 6 mm less drop, $20 more at list.
Chasing a specific older version?
If it is a particular 880 you miss, start from that version's page: what replaced it, and where old stock still exists.
Questions runners ask
- What is the most similar shoe to the New Balance 880?
- The Brooks Ghost 18. The Ghost is the other default shoe-store neutral: the same wide width run, the same walker-friendly brief, within $10 at list. Through 2023 the two were near-interchangeable 10 mm workhorses; the 880 v15 went max-stack and 6 mm while the Ghost stayed traditional.
- Do any of these match the New Balance 880's 6 mm drop?
- Yes. The New Balance 1080 v15 matches it exactly. The others sit lower, which changes how the landing loads your calves and Achilles.
- Why switch away from the New Balance 880 at all?
- The usual reasons: a version you loved got discontinued, an update changed the ride, or the fit moved away from your foot. The list above is ranked by how closely each shoe matches the current 880 v15, with the differences called out honestly.