This offering is for a new pair of men's New Balance 880 v14 running shoes in a size 10.5 D (US). Note: the "D" sizing indicator represents a men's medium or standard shoe width. It's also worth noting these are generally among New Balance's most popular shoes as a versatile daily trainer for the neutral runner. As viewed in the pictures, these shoes are mostly black with some gray and white accents. Some detailed specifications include the following...

• Pronation type: Neutral with some modest stability features (as discussed below)

• Drop: 8 mm

• Heel stack height: 35 mm

• Forefoot stack height: 27 mm

• Weight (each shoe): 9.6 oz (per digital scale)

• Other notes: The outer rubber sole on this version of the 880 is not as thick as previous versions, and more in line with industry standards. This probably explains the reduction in weight from the previous versions.

I land somewhere between a neutral and a stability running shoe when it comes to a trainer. For me, this shoe leans "neutral", but there are some modest stability qualities. As expected, there is no "post" or even higher density foam on the medial side of the shoe. There is a reinforced heel counter and ample foam padding around the collar that helps with lock-in and limits movement to either the medial or lateral side. I am also noting a bit more substance to the upper material along the sides that further aids with the lockdown. As I look at the geometry of the midsole, there is some foam wall build-up, especially on the medial side, and some flaring out from the upper to the outer (rubber) sole, which would offer some protection against pronation and a respectable landing platform or footprint. As I view the shoes from the rear, I like the bevel design, and for me it's ideal because its more aggressive towards the lateral side. In other words (and this is especially true for heel strikers), the bevel is going to guide your landing slightly to the lateral side (outside), and then roll the foot back to the midline, all the while still offering a bit of support against pronation. Finally, I noticed the flex grooves in the outer sole are no longer horizontal. They do not track exactly vertical, from the forefoot to the heal, but the change still adds to the stiffness of the forefoot, enhancing the rocker design at toe-off and limiting medial/lateral flex (i.e., the shoes won't "twist" as much from one side to the other).  Again, these are all subtle features, but collectively they help keep the foot in place and more stable through the gait cycle.

Additionally, the midsole foam has changed in this current version of the shoe. In previous versions, there was both Fresh Foam X and FuelCell in the midsole. In this current version (v14), it's all Fresh Foam X. Now some may claim this makes for a better midsole, while others will argue the opposite. My feelings, having run in both shoes, is that they both have their place. This current version does feel a little softer on the landing, while the aforementioned flex groove orientation changes on the outer sole help to maintain the toe-off responsiveness. The latter was a benefit of FuelCell in the midsole forefoot of previous versions. One analogy that I have often heard is that FuelCell is like the bounce you might experience on a trampoline, while Fresh Foam X feels more like landing on a pillow. This probably explains why this version also feels a little softer to me. Finally, I want to briefly mention the modest drop of 8 mm (down from 10 mm in previous versions). This is probably not a huge deal, but lower drop measurements generally benefit those experiencing some hip and knee soreness, while also requiring a little more from the ankle and foot. Like I said, the "drop" change is modest, but I still thought the general reasoning (benefits) for the change are worth noting.

I bought a small lot of New Balance shoes that were all new-in-the-box. This is actually my size, but I have too many pairs of them (so a few are collecting dust on the shelf). As a result, I am making this new-in-the-box pair available.