What replaced the New Balance 1080 v11?
Updated July 30, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The 1080 v12 replaced the v11 in April 2022. It softened the foam, added more rocker, and swapped in a plusher stretch-knit upper, gaining about an ounce and $10 in the process. Many still call it the best 1080.
At a glance
- The 1080 v12 is 1.1 oz heavier
- Drop is unchanged at 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: 1080 v11 vs v12.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeThe v12 leaned into what the 1080 is for: soft, easy miles in a forgiving fit. Doctors of Running called it a cushioned, versatile neutral trainer with nearly no flaws, and the only real knock was the weight. It became the version loyalists measure everything else against.
Stick with the 1080 v11 if
- You want the lighter, snappier feel; the v12 gained a full ounce
- You prefer a trimmer, less stretchy fit
Old stock is gone; see alternatives below.
Move to the 1080 v12 if
- You want the plushest version of the classic 8 mm 1080
- Your easy days are about comfort, not pace
Where the New Balance 1080 is now
Four generations separate the New Balance 1080 v11 from the 1080 v15 (2026), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- The 1080 v15 is 0.2 oz lighter
- 6 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 8 mm to 6 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $20
What loyalists said about the update
The fan favorite. Reviews ran warm to glowing, the stretchy knit flattered a wide range of feet, and when the v13 landed a year and a half later, the v12 was the shoe everyone suddenly wanted back.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining 1080 v11 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Men's stock is gone.
Women's: Check remaining stockAvailability last checked Jul 30, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the 1080 v12, these come closest to what the 1080 v11 did.
- 9.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 43.5 mm heel
- $165 list
The Nimbus is the most common cross-shop: another tall, plush, premium cruiser at a similar price. It runs a little firmer and more structured than the modern 1080, with a narrower width range.
Against your New Balance 1080 v11: 0.7 oz heavier, 9.5 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $15 more at list.
- 9.2 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42 mm heel
- $155 list
The Clifton is the lighter way to get a tall, soft, rockered daily. The trade is a snugger fit and fewer width options than New Balance offers.
Against your New Balance 1080 v11: the same weight, 8 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $5 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the New Balance 1080 v11 still available?
- Partially. Women's sizes still turn up on Amazon, but men's stock is gone. If your size shows up, decide quickly; discontinued stock only shrinks.
- Is the 1080 v12 a downgrade from the New Balance 1080 v11?
- No. Most runners rate the 1080 v12 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- How much heavier is the 1080 v12?
- 1.1 oz heavier in a men's US 9: 10.3 oz against the New Balance 1080 v11's 9.2 oz.
- Is the New Balance 1080 still made?
- Yes. The current version is the New Balance 1080 v15, released in 2026, 4 versions on from the New Balance 1080 v11.
- What is the closest current alternative to the New Balance 1080 v11?
- The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28. The Nimbus is the most common cross-shop: another tall, plush, premium cruiser at a similar price. It runs a little firmer and more structured than the modern 1080, with a narrower width range.