The Basics
- Gender: Men’s | See Women’s
- Type: Trail
- Manufacturer: New Balance
- Price: 110.00
Runner’s World Review
Like the road shoe by the same name, the 980 promises a plush ride. Wear-testers say it's on the firm side, although adequate over soft ground; tests in the RW Shoe Lab indicate average cushioning and one of the stiffest flexibility scores in this guide. But the toothy outsole prevents any slippage on even the roughest terrain.
Bottom Line: A great-fitting shoe with a stable ride best for bigger runners.
All the Stats You Need!
- Weight: Very Heavy | 11.2 oz
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: Low | 5.7 mm
- Heel Height: Low | 29.9 mm
- Heel Cushioning: Firm
- Forefoot Height: High | 24.2 mm
- Forefoot Cushioning: Firm
- Flexibility: Stiff
- Stability Features: Some
- Energy Return: More
We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective — and exclusive — data. In addition to a shoe's weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.
