New Balance keeps rolling out greatness in 2017. That includes the new 880, a special shoe to be found only in running specialty stores and New Balance’s website.

I loved this shoe from the word “Go”. It felt almost like nothing at all. In fact, when I looked up the weight afterwards and saw it was 11oz for a men’s 9, my first thought was “No they’re not”. The 880 feels much lighter than it really is.

That’s despite how cushioned and stable the midsole feels. Even though they’re a neutral shoe, they gave the impression of some light support, but kept flexibility. The 880 is cushioned enough for distance, but responsive enough for speed. Their weight could be a factor when fatigue sets in at the end of a sprint session, though. The shoe sits atop a midsole of TruFuse, a lightweight (12% lighter than EVA) foam with rubber elements for springiness.

The ankle fits fantastically, with or without heel-locking, but depending on your foot, you’ll probably prefer one way or the other.  The toe box is another great fit and that area plus the midfoot cradle should work for a variety of feet.

The 880v7 is a truly remarkable shoe in its versatility. This is the shoe by which all others should be measured

Score: 9.5/10