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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:NewBalance 980 Review}} The 980 was an attempt to capture the Minimax market that is dominated by Hoka, and it should have been a grea..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:NewBalance 980 Review}}
The 980 was an attempt to capture the [[Minimax]] market that is dominated by [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka]], and it should have been a great shoe. It's thickly cushioned, has a relatively low drop and it looks great. New Balance described it as "award-winning cushioning" and "incredibly soft", which all sounds wonderful, but this hyperbole bears no resemblance to the shoe itself. Instead of being soft, the 980 is quite firm and provides surprisingly little cushioning. I classify the NB 980 as "balanced", which is part way between a minimalist shoe and a massively cushioned [[Minimax]] shoe. The nearest competitor to the 980 is probably the Brooks PureFlow.
{{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. The thick, firm midsole provides good protection on uneven surfaces, so it's a good choice for someone wanting protection without cushioning. However, for road use you can get a shoe that's lighter and provides far more cushioning, like the [[Hoka Clifton]], or a lot lighter with a little more cushioning like the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]. Heavier runners who land hard may find the firm cushioning works better for them. (Of course all runners should aim to land lightly, and [[Cadence]] can help with this.)
* {{H:cushioning}}. The foam midsole in the 980 is thick, but surprisingly firm. Don't expect the soft ride that New Balance advertises.
* {{H:drop}}. The 980 has 10mm of drop when unloaded, which I believe is far too much. However the drop is less when you're wearing the shoe, but still more than is advisable.
* {{H:structure}}. The 980 uses a single density of foam, and the area under the arch is only slightly raised so there shouldn't be problems with pressure on the arch of the foot. The rear edge of the heel does not have as much tapering as you typically see in a shoe this thick. This squared off age could exacerbate heel strike in those that have not fixed their [[Overstriding]]. The forefoot tapers gently and nicely from the ball of the foot to the front of the shoe.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The 980 has little flexibility. The combination of the hard foam and the outsole the covers the entire surface severely reduces flexibility.
* {{H:outsole}}. The 980 has a continuous layer of hard rubber outsole that covers the entire lower surface of the shoe. This approach has become a little unusual in modern running shoes as it reduces flexibility and increases weight. Modern manufacturing techniques make it quite practical to put the outsole over just of the areas that have the highest abrasion. The texture on the outsole means it has relatively little grip on soft surfaces, or on asphalt that is slightly muddy or has loose gravel.
* {{H:shape}}. The 980 is the classic shoe shape that does not match the human foot, and narrows excessively in the toe box. I'd recommend [[Shoe Modifications| cutting open the toe box open]] to prevent toe problems.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is inflexible and mostly seamless other than the transition from the unpadded forefoot to the padded rear foot. The ankle opening is nicely padded, and other than the poor shape on the forefoot the 980 is a comfortable shoe.
* {{H:tongue}}. The 980 has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces. The tongue is well-padded and comfortable.
* {{H:lacing}}. The 980 has traditional flat laces that are high friction and stay tied.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The heel counter is quite solid, but the padding around the heel counter will prevent any problems from the edge digging in.
{{BuyShoes|RW=T|RRS=T|AZ=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==New Balance 980 and PureFlow==
The nearest competitor to the 918 is probably the Brooks PureFlow. Like the 980, the PureFlow is what I consider a "balanced" category shoe that is part way between minimalist and the massively cushioned [[Minimax]] style of shoes. I would choose the PureFlow over the NB 980 for its lighter weight and similar cushioning.
* Similarities
** {{H:cushioning}}. Both shoes have similar levels of cushioning which comes from fairly thick but firm foam.
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:trails}}. The 980 offers more protection on rocky trails, and its midsole does not have holes that stones would get lodged in.
* Advantage [[Brooks PureFlow]]
** {{H:flexibility}}. The PureFlow is quite a bit more flexible.
** {{H:drop}}. While neither is zero-drop the PureFlow has far less drop, especially when loaded.
** {{H:weight}}. The PureFlow is a little lighter.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-Pure-Flow-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks Pure Flow 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-Pure-Flow-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks Pure Flow 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-Pure-Flow-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks Pure Flow 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-Pure-Flow-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks Pure Flow 3 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|}
==New Balance 980 and Hoka Clifton==
Comparing the NB 980 and the [[Hoka Clifton]], the Clifton is a clear winner for its lightness and cushioning. I think that the Clifton is the shoe that New Balance were trying to make when they created the 980.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:flexibility}}. Neither has much flexibility.
** {{H:drop}}. Neither is zero-drop, but the Clifton has far less of a drop than the 980.
** {{H:longevity}}. The extra outsole on the 980 improves longevity, but its foam breaks down more quickly.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:grip}}. The 980 has slightly more grip.
** {{H:price}}. The 980 is a little cheaper.
** {{H:availability}}. The 980 is more widely stocked.
* Advantage Hoka Clifton
** {{H:cushioning}}. The Clifton has far thicker, softer cushioning.
** {{H:weight}}. The Clifton is lighter.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]
|}
==New Balance 980 and Asics Gel Hyper Speed==
The NB 980 and the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] are radically different shoes. The Hyper Speed is an extremely light weight, stripped down shoe. However, while the Hyper Speed weight only slightly over half the NB 980, it offers similar levels of cushioning.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:cushioning}}. The cushioning is quite similar between the shoes, though the way they achieve the cushioning is quite different. The NB 980 has a thick but firm midsole, where the Hyper Speed is much thinner but softer. However, running with the NB 980 on one foot and the Hyper Speed on the other, I'm struck by how similar the cushioning is.
** {{H:drop}}. Neither is zero-drop, and loaded they are quite similar.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:availability}}. The 980 is more widely stocked.
* Advantage [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]
** {{H:weight}}. The Hyper Speed is much, much lighter.
** {{H:price}}. The Hyper Speed is cheaper.
** {{H:flexibility}}. The Hyper Speed has a lot more flexibility.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]
|}
==New Balance 980 and Saucony Kinvara==
Comparing the 980 and the [[Saucony Kinvara]], I prefer the Kinvara as it is lighter, better cushioned, more flexible and more comfortable.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:availability}}. The both are reasonably easy to find.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:grip}}. The 980 has more grip.
* Advantage [[Saucony Kinvara]]
** {{H:flexibility}}. The Kinvara is more flexible.
** {{H:drop}}. The Kinvarais zero-drop, the 980 is 10mm!
** {{H:cushioning}}. The Kinvarais more softly cushioned.
** {{H:weight}}. The Kinvara is lighter.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-5-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-5-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-5-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-5-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Outside]]
|}
==New Balance 980 and Asics GT 2000==
I like to compare shoes against the [[Asics GT 2000]] as it represents the traditional running shoe. The GT 2000 is over engineered and includes many things I dislike in traditional running shoes. These excessive features go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]] and are more likely to cause problems than solve them.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:drop}}. Both have far too much drop.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:cushioning}}. Neither is well cushioned for its weight, but the 980 does not have the anti-[[Pronation]] features that can cause problems.
** {{H:flexibility}}. The 980 is more flexible.
** {{H:weight}}. The 980 is lighter.
* Advantage [[Asics GT 2000]]
** {{H:availability}}. The GT 2000 is a common shoe, available pretty much anywhere that sells running shoes.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
The 980 was an attempt to capture the [[Minimax]] market that is dominated by [[Hoka Shoe Review| Hoka]], and it should have been a great shoe. It's thickly cushioned, has a relatively low drop and it looks great. New Balance described it as "award-winning cushioning" and "incredibly soft", which all sounds wonderful, but this hyperbole bears no resemblance to the shoe itself. Instead of being soft, the 980 is quite firm and provides surprisingly little cushioning. I classify the NB 980 as "balanced", which is part way between a minimalist shoe and a massively cushioned [[Minimax]] shoe. The nearest competitor to the 980 is probably the Brooks PureFlow.
{{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. The thick, firm midsole provides good protection on uneven surfaces, so it's a good choice for someone wanting protection without cushioning. However, for road use you can get a shoe that's lighter and provides far more cushioning, like the [[Hoka Clifton]], or a lot lighter with a little more cushioning like the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]. Heavier runners who land hard may find the firm cushioning works better for them. (Of course all runners should aim to land lightly, and [[Cadence]] can help with this.)
* {{H:cushioning}}. The foam midsole in the 980 is thick, but surprisingly firm. Don't expect the soft ride that New Balance advertises.
* {{H:drop}}. The 980 has 10mm of drop when unloaded, which I believe is far too much. However the drop is less when you're wearing the shoe, but still more than is advisable.
* {{H:structure}}. The 980 uses a single density of foam, and the area under the arch is only slightly raised so there shouldn't be problems with pressure on the arch of the foot. The rear edge of the heel does not have as much tapering as you typically see in a shoe this thick. This squared off age could exacerbate heel strike in those that have not fixed their [[Overstriding]]. The forefoot tapers gently and nicely from the ball of the foot to the front of the shoe.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The 980 has little flexibility. The combination of the hard foam and the outsole the covers the entire surface severely reduces flexibility.
* {{H:outsole}}. The 980 has a continuous layer of hard rubber outsole that covers the entire lower surface of the shoe. This approach has become a little unusual in modern running shoes as it reduces flexibility and increases weight. Modern manufacturing techniques make it quite practical to put the outsole over just of the areas that have the highest abrasion. The texture on the outsole means it has relatively little grip on soft surfaces, or on asphalt that is slightly muddy or has loose gravel.
* {{H:shape}}. The 980 is the classic shoe shape that does not match the human foot, and narrows excessively in the toe box. I'd recommend [[Shoe Modifications| cutting open the toe box open]] to prevent toe problems.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is inflexible and mostly seamless other than the transition from the unpadded forefoot to the padded rear foot. The ankle opening is nicely padded, and other than the poor shape on the forefoot the 980 is a comfortable shoe.
* {{H:tongue}}. The 980 has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces. The tongue is well-padded and comfortable.
* {{H:lacing}}. The 980 has traditional flat laces that are high friction and stay tied.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The heel counter is quite solid, but the padding around the heel counter will prevent any problems from the edge digging in.
{{BuyShoes|RW=T|RRS=T|AZ=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==New Balance 980 and PureFlow==
The nearest competitor to the 918 is probably the Brooks PureFlow. Like the 980, the PureFlow is what I consider a "balanced" category shoe that is part way between minimalist and the massively cushioned [[Minimax]] style of shoes. I would choose the PureFlow over the NB 980 for its lighter weight and similar cushioning.
* Similarities
** {{H:cushioning}}. Both shoes have similar levels of cushioning which comes from fairly thick but firm foam.
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:trails}}. The 980 offers more protection on rocky trails, and its midsole does not have holes that stones would get lodged in.
* Advantage [[Brooks PureFlow]]
** {{H:flexibility}}. The PureFlow is quite a bit more flexible.
** {{H:drop}}. While neither is zero-drop the PureFlow has far less drop, especially when loaded.
** {{H:weight}}. The PureFlow is a little lighter.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-Pure-Flow-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks Pure Flow 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-Pure-Flow-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks Pure Flow 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-Pure-Flow-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks Pure Flow 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-Pure-Flow-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks Pure Flow 3 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|}
==New Balance 980 and Hoka Clifton==
Comparing the NB 980 and the [[Hoka Clifton]], the Clifton is a clear winner for its lightness and cushioning. I think that the Clifton is the shoe that New Balance were trying to make when they created the 980.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:flexibility}}. Neither has much flexibility.
** {{H:drop}}. Neither is zero-drop, but the Clifton has far less of a drop than the 980.
** {{H:longevity}}. The extra outsole on the 980 improves longevity, but its foam breaks down more quickly.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:grip}}. The 980 has slightly more grip.
** {{H:price}}. The 980 is a little cheaper.
** {{H:availability}}. The 980 is more widely stocked.
* Advantage Hoka Clifton
** {{H:cushioning}}. The Clifton has far thicker, softer cushioning.
** {{H:weight}}. The Clifton is lighter.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]
|}
==New Balance 980 and Asics Gel Hyper Speed==
The NB 980 and the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]] are radically different shoes. The Hyper Speed is an extremely light weight, stripped down shoe. However, while the Hyper Speed weight only slightly over half the NB 980, it offers similar levels of cushioning.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:cushioning}}. The cushioning is quite similar between the shoes, though the way they achieve the cushioning is quite different. The NB 980 has a thick but firm midsole, where the Hyper Speed is much thinner but softer. However, running with the NB 980 on one foot and the Hyper Speed on the other, I'm struck by how similar the cushioning is.
** {{H:drop}}. Neither is zero-drop, and loaded they are quite similar.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:availability}}. The 980 is more widely stocked.
* Advantage [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]]
** {{H:weight}}. The Hyper Speed is much, much lighter.
** {{H:price}}. The Hyper Speed is cheaper.
** {{H:flexibility}}. The Hyper Speed has a lot more flexibility.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]
|}
==New Balance 980 and Saucony Kinvara==
Comparing the 980 and the [[Saucony Kinvara]], I prefer the Kinvara as it is lighter, better cushioned, more flexible and more comfortable.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:availability}}. The both are reasonably easy to find.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:grip}}. The 980 has more grip.
* Advantage [[Saucony Kinvara]]
** {{H:flexibility}}. The Kinvara is more flexible.
** {{H:drop}}. The Kinvarais zero-drop, the 980 is 10mm!
** {{H:cushioning}}. The Kinvarais more softly cushioned.
** {{H:weight}}. The Kinvara is lighter.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-5-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-5-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-5-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Kinvara-5-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Outside]]
|}
==New Balance 980 and Asics GT 2000==
I like to compare shoes against the [[Asics GT 2000]] as it represents the traditional running shoe. The GT 2000 is over engineered and includes many things I dislike in traditional running shoes. These excessive features go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]] and are more likely to cause problems than solve them.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:drop}}. Both have far too much drop.
* Advantage NB 980
** {{H:cushioning}}. Neither is well cushioned for its weight, but the 980 does not have the anti-[[Pronation]] features that can cause problems.
** {{H:flexibility}}. The 980 is more flexible.
** {{H:weight}}. The 980 is lighter.
* Advantage [[Asics GT 2000]]
** {{H:availability}}. The GT 2000 is a common shoe, available pretty much anywhere that sells running shoes.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-Fresh-Foam-980-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance Fresh Foam 980 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
