Discontinued · road · Daily / Long run · $115
New Balance Fresh Foam 680 v8: 35 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 261 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for daily, long run, at a target pace of 7:30–10:00 /mi on road.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is New Balance Fresh Foam 680 v9.
New Balance tuned this midsole balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is above average: the midsole rebounds well without feeling unstable. 35 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 8 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot flexes easily, so the shoe adapts to slower, shorter strides. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It runs small; most runners size up a half. Expect roughly 400 miles from the outsole, about $0.29 per mile at $115.
For the foams and plates New Balance uses across its line, read the New Balance brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
268 g / 9.5 oz
7 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
35 mm
1 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
8 mm
2 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$115
45 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
3 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~400 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the New Balance line it is lighter than the brand's median (278 g / 9.8 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (36 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Asics GT-2000 13(2024)
266 g / 9.4 oz · 36 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $140
Lightweight support with mild guidance — stability without the bulk.
Asics GT-1000 14
265 g / 9.3 oz · 34 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $110
Entry-level stability trainer — mild guidance at a friendly price.
Under Armour Velociti Pace
265 g / 9.3 oz · 34 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $100
Entry-price Velociti daily trainer for steady everyday miles.
Saucony Tempus 2
269 g / 9.5 oz · 33 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $190
Saucony Tempus 2: 33 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 264 g — specs from independent lab testing.