What replaced the New Balance 880 v12?
Updated August 7, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The 880 v13 replaced the 880 v12 in early 2023 at $140, up $5. The ride carried over nearly unchanged; the update tightened the v12's roomy midfoot and switched to a firmer, more extensive rubber outsole.
- New Balance 880 v12Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- New Balance 880 v13Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The 880 v13 is 0.2 oz lighter
- 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 v12 vs v13.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Faithful successorThe nadir of the modern line, and only by accumulation. The v13 fixed the v12's fit and changed little else, which left a 10.2 oz trainer with a 22 mm forefoot in a market that had moved on. Doctors of Running graded it B to B+ and called it too heavy; RoadTrailRun noted the forefoot was low by modern standards. Fine for walkers and easy miles, hard to recommend past that.
Stick with the 880 v12 if
- The v12's roomier midfoot fits your foot better
- Discounted v12s are functionally the same shoe
- You want the softer blown-rubber forefoot feel
Move to the 880 v13 if
- The v12's midfoot slop bothered you
- You want the tougher outsole for high mileage or walking
- You are between the two at full price; the fit is the only real difference
Where the New Balance 880 is now
The line has moved three versions past the New Balance 880 v12, and the current model is now the 880 v15 (2025). Measured against your shoe:
- The 880 v15 is 0.3 oz lighter
- 8.5 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 10 mm to 6 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
What loyalists said about the update
The version that made the base restless. Not a backlash, an exhaustion: reviews and threads agree the v13 was heavy and dull, and it turned the v14's slim-down into an event. Walkers and orthotic wearers, the line's core, kept buying it without complaint.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining 880 v12 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.
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the 880 v13, these come closest to what the 880 v12 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 v12: 0.2 oz lighter, 4 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $15 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 v12: 0.3 oz lighter, 5 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $10 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 v12: 1.5 oz lighter, 6 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $10 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the New Balance 880 v12 still available?
- For now. Amazon still lists the New Balance 880 v12, but the size run is thinning and prices swing with remaining stock. If your size is there, this is the late window, not the early one.
- Is the 880 v13 a downgrade from the New Balance 880 v12?
- No. The 880 v13 keeps the same ride and fixes small things. If you liked the New Balance 880 v12, the update carries over without an adjustment period.
- How much lighter is the 880 v13?
- 0.2 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 10.2 oz against the New Balance 880 v12's 10.4 oz.
- Is the New Balance 880 still made?
- Yes. The current version is the New Balance 880 v15, released in 2025, 3 versions on from the New Balance 880 v12.
- What is the closest current alternative to the New Balance 880 v12?
- 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.