Review of the New Balance 880s

A couple of weeks ago, my friends at New Balance sent me a pair of their 880 Running Shoes to review. I’m a long-time fan of New Balance (I even trained for my first marathon in NB’s), so I was excited to see what the 880s were all about.

My first Impression of the 880s: Cute!

I swear, I’m not one of those people who buys sneakers based on their color, but I was happy to see the gray and teal. When it comes to running sneakers, I’m all about performance. If it’s a great shoe, I’m sold. If the color is cool, it’s just an added bonus. Well, hello, added bonus!

I also liked the floral pattern on the inside lining of the 880s. It added a subtle feminine touch to the shoe. I like it.

Ok, now that you know I think these sneakers are stylin’, let’s get onto the more “serious” stuff. I’m sure you want to know how these 880s perform, right? I thought so.

As soon as I put on the 880s, they felt comfortable, and not at all like your typical brand new, stiff sneaker, so I didn’t worry at all about breaking them in. I even took them out for a 6-mile treadmill workout right out of the box. The fit was snug, but not restrictive; it actually felt pretty natural. I always think new sneakers feel weird on my feet (compared to my old ones) and never fit quite right until I run in them a few times. The 880s were like an old friend and didn’t require that awkward, adjustment period at all. It was just lace up and go for me with these babies!

When I started my run on the treadmill, I immediately thought: HOLY CUSHIONING! New Balance wasn’t joking when they advertised the 880s as cushioning shoes. There’s even extra cushioning in the tongue and around the ankle, which adds to the overall comfort. I’ve never run in a shoe quite like this before, but it felt great.

The 880s are designed for runners with a neutral gait, and provide plenty of stability. I definitely felt the extra support in the arch as well as overall in the base of the shoe. My foot felt nice and secure and very stable in them.

After my treadmill run, I decided to give the 880s another go outside on the roads. They still felt really comfortable, and I felt a nice, soft landing on every stride. I can only imagine how the 880s would feel on a long, outdoor run. I’m really curious, so I might need to give them another test drive sooner than later!

Obviously, I’m a huge fan of the 880s. They’re an awesome sneaker for everyday runs (and potentially long training runs). My only gripe with them, however, is that they seem to run a little large. I’m almost always a size 8 in running shoes, but these were a tad roomy in the toe area. No big deal, but I just wanted to let you guys know in case you want to buy a pair.

What’s your favorite type of running sneaker?

Lunch

Today’s lunch was eaten in two parts. The first part was a slice of leftover pizza with a side salad.

Part two of lunch was a repeat of the exact same snack I ate on Tuesday afternoon: Stonyfield lemon yogurt with fresh blueberries mixed in. I cannot get enough of this combo! So good!

Off to walk the pug!

See ya tomorrow! I have a very special surprise for you guys!

Tagged as: 880s, New Balance, pizza