What replaced the New Balance 880 v11?
Updated August 7, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details
THE SHORT ANSWER
The 880 v12 replaced the 880 v11 in March 2022 at $135, up $5. It softened the main foam, added the line's first FuelCell forefoot insert, widened the heel platform, and gained about 0.7 oz with a roomier fit.
- New Balance 880 v12Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The 880 v12 is 0.7 oz heavier
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: 880 v11 vs v12.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Faithful successorThe same workhorse, a bit more of it. The softer foam and FuelCell insert read as upgrades on paper, but the v12 gained 0.7 oz and a fit problem: Believe in the Run called it one of the best workhorses on the market and still could not get the roomy upper to hold. RoadTrailRun's title was the era in three words: Just Fine Enough.
Stick with the 880 v11 if
- The v11's snugger fit worked for you
- You care about the 0.7 oz; the v11 is the lighter shoe
- Clearance v11s are around at $100 or less
Old stock is gone; see alternatives below.
Move to the 880 v12 if
- You want the softer forefoot the FuelCell insert brings
- Your foot needs the extra room the v12 added
- You like the wider, more planted heel
Where the New Balance 880 is now
Four generations separate the New Balance 880 v11 from the 880 v15 (2025), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- The 880 v15 is 0.4 oz heavier
- 8.5 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 10 mm to 6 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
What loyalists said about the update
Where the grumbles started. Nobody hated the v12; the recurring notes were the weight gain and a midfoot that needed lace tricks to lock down. Loyalists kept buying it, and kept mentioning the v11.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining 880 v11 stock
Old stock goneAmazon's stock of the New Balance 880 v11is gone in both men's and women's sizes, and discontinued stock does not come back. The best current match is the Brooks Ghost 18.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the 880 v12, these come closest to what the 880 v11 did.
- 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 v11: 0.5 oz heavier, 4 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $20 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 v11: 0.4 oz heavier, 5 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $15 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 v11: 0.8 oz lighter, 6 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $15 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the New Balance 880 v11 still available?
- No. Amazon's stock of the New Balance 880 v11 is gone in both men's and women's sizes, and old-model stock does not come back. Your move is the successor or a close alternative.
- Is the 880 v12 a downgrade from the New Balance 880 v11?
- No. The 880 v12 keeps the same ride and fixes small things. If you liked the New Balance 880 v11, the update carries over without an adjustment period.
- How much heavier is the 880 v12?
- 0.7 oz heavier in a men's US 9: 10.4 oz against the New Balance 880 v11's 9.7 oz.
- Is the New Balance 880 still made?
- Yes. The current version is the New Balance 880 v15, released in 2025, 4 versions on from the New Balance 880 v11.
- What is the closest current alternative to the New Balance 880 v11?
- 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.