Creating an innovative shoe that not only stands out from the crowd, but meets and exceeds consumers’ expectations can be a daunting task. With their newly reimagined Fresh Foam 980, New Balance hopes to succeed where others have fallen into the abyss of mediocrity.
On Performance and Design…
The Fresh Foam 980 uses innovate design and new materials technology pairing a near-flat 4mm heel-to-toe drop with a cushioned and geometrically-supportive sole in an attempt to bridge the minimalist/maximalist divide.
But before you ever lace up the Fresh Foam 980, you’ll notice how the New Balance design team beautifully married form and function making this neutral cushioning shoe one of the cleanest models on running store shelves. The hexagonal design that seamlessly extends from the breathable mesh upper into the midsole is as much about performance as it is about sharp aesthetics.
Taking a page from the minimalist playbook, the Fresh Foam features a welded and flexible upper void of any protruding seams or overlays. It’s highly breathable so your feet never get overheated on heavy mileage days. And the interior offers a custom-like fit that keeps feet comfortable whether you run with or sans socks.
The heart and soul of the design however rests within the convex and concave hexagonal design structure of the midsole which aims to provide structure and cushion in just the right spots.Different from its REVlite midsole (both in terms of structure and density), the Fresh Foam is more plush, but still offers cushioning and energy rebound. This innovative midsole is created from a single piece of foam and constructed using 3-D printing technology. The result is a light and nimble ride that weighs less than both the Brooks Transcend and Hoka One One Conquest.
Notes from the Road…
While they look similar to shoes in the maximalist category, the Fresh Foam 980 seems to fit more in that in-between zone attempting to merge the best aspects of the minimalist and maximalist movements. For those runners who didn’t feel confident buying into the zero-drop movement, the Fresh Foam 980 opens up the doors to more natural running.
New Balance has gone all in on this shoe, and admittedly the PR campaign had our run guru’s expecting to ride on a soft pillowy cushion of nirvana. While the 980 met our expectations in terms of overall comfort, the Fresh Foam proved to be significantly firmer and less responsive than advertised.
While the plush interior of the shoe was well liked, our run team was torn on the tongue design. The thick tongue design reminded one of our run gurus of the over-fluffed style of skateboarding shoe’s circa the early 90’s. For our other runner, while the thickness was noticeable it never proved to be a hindrance or nuisance.
Bottom Line…
The Fresh Foam 980 offers an intriguing option for runners looking for a shoe that offers the benefits of a natural ride with additional cushioning.
*Gumption Gear Review received the product samples featured in this review from New Balance. The items featured were provided solely in exchange for testing the products and providing our honest views and opinions. We received no other form of compensation for this or any related review.