The runners reported a soft and responsive underfoot feel, a bit like the effect of a plate but without the carbon. The shoe is a little stiff from the heel to midfoot, but the front of the shoe did flex with my toes and never felt like it was restricting movement. It runs lighter than its weight would indicate, and does its part to make for a very enjoyable running experience. What this translates to is a soft forgiving ride that isn’t mushy with a forgiving forefoot landing that has a subtle pop that’s not explosive.

Some runners have doubts about the cushioning, which is more effective at a leisurely pace and less so at higher speeds. Both have fine true to size uppers and extensive durable rubber coverage although I find the Mizuno’s deeply decoupled heel easier to roll forward. I also think with such firmer rubber the actual outsole design should be reconsidered to give the front of the shoe more cushion and more flex at the ball of the foot.The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v12 introduces the Fresh Foam X technology to the 880 Series, making the shoes bouncier and ever so comfortable to wear to everyday runs. The Fresh Foam layer appears to be unchanged in firmness from v12 with the FuelCell layer slightly softer. It might sound like I didn't enjoy running in the Fresh Foam X 880v12, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

From daily exercise to specialized, high-level training program, to head-clearing relaxation, there are a lot of forms that an everyday running regimen can take. New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v12 review TL;DR: New Balance reimagines its workhorse running trainer with an updated dual-layer midsole and more comfortable upper than ever before – if only it were a bit more affordable. This was not a factor when running in the shoe, but when lacing up, I didn't feel confident that the tongue wouldn't tear or slide down when running.

It has a equally fine all smooth fitting true to size upper that is a bit less dense and thick than the 880. I find them to be extremely comfortable on the foot and to hold the foot just fine with no messing around. Many, if not most trainers these days are trending towards a forefoot stack at least in the high 20’s but here, given all the rubber, I imagine adding to the front without reducing the heel height would add to weight. A blown rubber outsole completes the Fresh Foam X 880v12, supplying a sticky grip for multi-directional traction. This systematic process is to ensure that we have experience with each shoe in a large variety of conditions to provide expansive and thorough reviews for the public and for companies.