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New Balance 880 and New Balance 990 are neutral running shoes from New Balance. They are cushy, comfortable, and are great for almost any kind of running. Plus they can work as casual sneakers as well…
Then what is the difference between the New Balance 880 and 990?
To find that out, let’s compare New Balance 880 v11 and New Balance 990v5 today. At the time of writing this post, these two are the current versions of the shoes.
Below we have tried to include as much detail as possible while comparing New Balance 880 Vs 990. We hope that you find what you are looking for in this post.
Let’s proceed…
This is our winner
Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
New Balance 880 v11
Why did we pick this one?
- Fresh Foam X cushioning.
- Molded external heel counter.
- Good ankle stability.
- Extended support for Achilles.
- Smooth heel-to-toe transition.
The main differences between New Balance 880 Vs 990
- The heel-to-toe drop of New Balance 990 is 12mm and the heel-to-toe drop of New Balance 880 is 10mm.
- New Balance 880 is a neutral running shoe and New Balance 990 is a neutral shoe that can support mild overpronation.
- New Balance 880 is a bit lighter than New Balance 990. For women, New Balance 880 weighs around 8.7oz or 247g whereas New Balance 990 weighs around 11.3oz or 320.35g. For men, New Balance 880 weighs around 10.5oz or 298g whereas New Balance 990 weighs around 14oz or 397g.
- New Balance 880 uses the newer Fresh Foam X whereas New Balance 990 still uses the older ENCAP midsole material.
- For the men’s version of the shoe, New Balance 880 has five more sizes available than New Balance 990.
- New Balance 880 has one more toe-box width available than New Balance 990 for both versions.
- The latest generation of New Balance 880 is 11 whereas the current generation of New Balance 990 is 5.
New Balance 990 Vs 880 – An Overview
New Balance 880 is a neutral running shoe and New Balance 990 is a neutral running shoe with some support for overpronation. Both of these running shoes are cushy and comfortable and provides you with good breathability.
These are high mileage shoes and will provide you with a comfortable ride mile after mile.
In the following sections, we are providing you with an in-depth comparison of New Balance 880 and New Balance 990.
So, without further ado, let’s proceed…
New Balance 880v11 Vs New Balance 990v5 – Features at a glance
| New Balance 880v11 | New Balance 990v5 | |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
| Type | Neutral | Neutral, Mild Stability |
| Heel-to-toe Drop | 10mm |
12mm |
| Weight |
8.7 oz /247 grams (Women) 10.5 oz / 298 grams (Men) |
11.3 oz./320.35g (Women) 14 oz./397g (Men) |
| Arch Support | Medium | Medium |
| Midsole Type | Fresh Foam X | ENCAP |
| Technology | Fresh Foam X, Molded Footbed, Blown Rubber, Double Jacquard Engineered Mesh, Molded External Heel Counter | ENCAP, Blown Rubber, Dual Density Collar Foam |
| Sizes |
5.0 – 13.0 (Women) 6.0 – 20.0 (Men) |
5.0 – 13.0 (Women) 7.0 – 16.0 (Men) |
| Width |
Narrow, Standard, Wide, X-Wide (Women) Narrow, Standard, Wide, X-Wide (Men) |
Normal, Wide (Women) Normal, Extra Wide 2E (Men) |
| Use | Long Distance, Treadmill, Road | Long Distance, Treadmill, Road |
| Editor’s Rating |  |
|
PRODUCT
New Balance 880v11
FEATURES
TYPE: Neutral
HEEL-TO-TOE DROP: 10mm
WEIGHT: 8.7 oz /247 grams (Women) / 10.5 oz / 298 grams (Men)
ARCH SUPPORT: Medium
MIDSOLE TYPE: Fresh Foam X
TECHNOLOGY: Fresh Foam X, Molded Footbed, Blown Rubber, Double Jacquard Engineered Mesh, Molded External Heel Counter
SIZES:5.0 – 13.0 (Women) / 6.0 – 20.0 (Men)
WIDTH: Narrow, Standard, Wide, X-Wide (Women) / Narrow, Standard, Wide, X-Wide (Men)
USE: Long Distance, Treadmill, Road
EDITOR’S RATING
PRODUCT
New Balance 990v5
FEATURES
TYPE: Neutral, Mild Stability
HEEL-TO-TOE DROP: 10mm
WEIGHT:11.3 oz./320.35g (Women) / 14 oz./397g (Men)
ARCH SUPPORT: Medium
MIDSOLE TYPE: ENCAP
TECHNOLOGY: ENCAP, Blown Rubber, Dual Density Collar Foam
SIZES:5.0 – 13.0 (Women) / 7.0 – 16.0 (Men)
WIDTH: Normal, Wide (Women) / Normal, Extra Wide 2E (Men)
USE: Long Distance, Treadmill, Road
EDITOR’S RATING
New Balance 990 Vs. New Balance 880 – A head to head comparison
In the above sections, we have covered a brief overview and some major differences between New Balance 880 and New Balance 990.
In the following sections, we have covered an in-depth comparison of the major features of these two shoes. By the end of this section, you will be equipped with the required details to pick the perfect running shoe for your needs.
Outsole
The outsole of New Balance 990 is made from blown rubber. It provides you with excellent grip and stability while running.
It has two kinds of rubber on the outsole. The lateral, medial, and heels have a harder rubber lining with the center of the forefoot having a softer rubber.
This softens your landing and will provide you with additional shock absorption. Also, the forefoot has flex grooves that provide you with optimal flexibility to the sole.
The outsole of New Balance 880 is made from blown rubber as well. This rubber will provide you solid grip and stability.
Also, the heel area and the forefoot have harder rubber lining that will provide you with added protection to the heel-strikers.
For optimal flexibility, this outsole has flex grooves that will help you with the smoother heel-to-toe transition.
Midsole
The midsole of New Balance 990 is made from ENCAP. It is a lightweight cushioning that combines lightweight foam with a polyurethane rim.
This provides you all-day support and is great for running longer distances. This kind of foam is high shock absorbing and will provide you with all-around protection.
The lightweight EVA foam that is present through the lateral mid-foot to the heels and around the medial mid-foot provides you with added stability.
Also, it has the Ortholite premium sockliner that provides you with additional cushioning and arch support.
The New Balance 880 midsole is made from Fresh Foam X. It delivers plush cushioning and is a softer material. It is highly shock-absorbing and will provide you with adaptable cushioning that adjusts itself according to your stride.
It has a molded footbed that will provide you with additional comfort and cushioning.
Due to the lightness of the Fresh Foam, this running shoe is much lighter in weight than 990.
Also, you will find a messy honeycomb pattern on the sides of the midsole. This reduces the overall weight of the midsole and optimizes the flexibility of this shoe.
Upper
The upper of New Balance 990 is made from a mixture of suede and leather. It is comfortable and breathable and will provide you with a good fit.
However, if you are used to an engineered mesh upper, you may not get that same kind of flexibility from this upper.
It is breathable and will not suffocate your feet and will keep your feet comfortable and cool. The additional eyelets are lined with a hard material to make them last longer.
Also, you can see a lot of sewing to put together the leather and the mesh. However, that will not irritate your skin or make you uncomfortable in any way.
It has flat laces that will secure the midsection of your feet and the well-padded tongue and collar will keep the ankle joint stable.
The upper of New Balance 880 comes with Double Jacquard Mesh and provides you with a fully customized fit.
It is softer than the upper of New Balance 990 and will move with your feet. This will provide you with a non-restrictive movement and you can run more naturally in them.
Also, the external heel counter reduces the movement of the foot and provides you with increase comfort.
As with many of the running shoes, this latest version of New Balance 880 has also adopted the added Achilles support. This is not as prominent as the 860, but it is there. This reduces the heel slip and will help you to avoid accidents.
It is highly breathable and will keep your feet cool and dry during your running sessions. The tongue and the collar area have a good amount of padding and provide you with excellent ankle stability.
Weight
In terms of weight, New Balance 880 is lighter than New Balance 990. In fact, New Balance 880 is much lighter than New Balance 990.
New Balance 880 weighs around 8.7oz /247g for women and 10.5oz/298g for men.
New Balance 990 weighs around 11.3oz/320.35g for women and 14oz/397g for men.
Price
The price of New Balance 880 is much lesser than New Balance 990. If you compare the prices of the current versions of these two shoes, there is almost a whopping $50 price gap between these two.
If you don’t fancy owning an icon like 990, then go with 880. It is an excellent shoe and will provide you with an excellent running experience.
However, if you always wanted to run in 990 and be a proud owner of this legendary shoe, then who am I to stop you from having that joy in your life. 🙂
In the above sections, you will find almost all the similarities and differences between New Balance 880 and New Balance 990.
However, there are a few alternatives that will be able to provide you with a similar running experience. We have included a couple of them below for you to have a look at.
Similar Shoes
Running Shoes Similar To New Balance 880v11
New Balance 880 is a neutral running shoe with soft and stable cushioning. It is lightweight and breathable and will keep you comfortable throughout the miles.
Brooks Ghost 14 is a running shoe that has neutral pronation and is excellent with cushioning. Brooks Ghost has been a very consistent performer throughout the years.
These are the reasons that we think Brooks Ghost will be the perfect alternative to New Balance 880.
- THIS WOMEN'S SHOE IS FOR: Runners looking for a smooth ride that won’t distract from the fun of the run. The Ghost 14 offers a simplified midsole construction which creates more seamless transitions. This Brooks Ghost 14 is a certified PDAC A5500 Diabetic shoe and has been granted the APMA Seal of Acceptance. We recommend ordering Brooks running shoes 1/2 to one size larger than your dress shoe.
- SUPPORT AND CUSHION: The Ghost 14 offers neutral support while providing high energizing cushioning. Ideal for road running, cross training, the gym or wherever you might want to take them! Predecessor: Ghost 13
- BALANCED, SOFT CUSHIONING: BioMoGo DNA and DNA LOFT cushioning work together to provide a just-right softness underfoot without losing responsiveness and durability - yet it feels lighter than ever. DNA LOFT now makes up the entire midsole, for a softer, smoother, ride.
Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Running Shoes Similar To New Balance 990v5
New Balance 990 is a neutral running shoe with some amount of stability. It is responsive, cushy, and will provide you with a good quality ride.
Also, it has good breathability and will provide you with a good amount of mileage.
Asics Gel-Kayano is a running shoe that will provide you with a similar running experience. It has an excellent shock absorption capacity and will provide you with good breathability and running experience.
These are the reasons that we think it will be a perfect alternative to New Balance 990.
- Engineered mesh upper improves breathability:
- OrthoLite X-55 sockliner: Improves comfort
- AHAR Plus Outsole: Strategically positioned in critical areas of the outsole, this exceptionally durable compound is 50% more durable than standard ASICS High Abrasion Rubber.
Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
In the above sections, you will find almost all the similarities and differences between New Balance 880 Vs New Balance 990. However, while comparing we found a couple of things that we liked more about 800 than 990.
New Balance 880 is much lighter than New Balance 990 and has more sizes available for the men’s version. Also, the number of toe-box widths available in New Balance 880 is more than New Balance 990. The Fresh Foam X cushioning of New Balance 880 is softer than New Balance 990 and is more comfortable that way.
These are the reasons that we chose New Balance 880 over New Balance 990.
If you own any of these two shoes, we would love to share your story with our readers. Let us know in the comment section below.
Madhusree Basu
Author, Admin
Blogger and a fitness enthusiast. She loves running and Yoga and everything in between. She started running to manage her weight and to eat to her heart’s content. A true foodie at heart she shares whatever knowledge she has gained throughout the years about weight management and fitness.
