Women's Fresh Foam X 880 v15

Support. They are the same idea of shoe - a cushioned daily trainer you can put most of your mileage in - but the 880 is neutral and the 860 adds stability features for runners whose feet roll inward. If you have never been told you overpronate and your current shoes wear evenly, the 880 is the one. If a shop has fitted you into stability shoes before, look at the 860 instead.

B is the standard women's width and fits most people. D is wide - choose it if your foot spills over the edge of the sole, if standard shoes leave marks across the forefoot, or if you have been sized wide before. Width is the fit variable most people never adjust, and getting it right does more for comfort than going up half a size. New Balance also make 2A narrow and 2E extra-wide; ask us if you need those.

The American Podiatric Medical Association reviews products for their effect on foot health, and grants the Seal of Acceptance to ones their panel judges beneficial. It is not a performance rating and it does not tell you how the shoe runs. What it does tell you is that podiatrists looked at it and were content - which is worth knowing if you are on your feet for long stretches or have had foot trouble.

Take your usual running size. The 880 has a conventional running shoe fit - not roomy like an Altra, not snug like a racer - and the engineered mesh upper has enough structure to hold its shape rather than stretching to yours. Because it comes in multiple widths, the better adjustment for a fit that feels tight across the forefoot is to change width rather than length.

It is New Balance's cushioning foam, and this version is the softest they have made. Roughly 3% of it comes from bio-based sources rather than petrochemicals - a small figure, stated plainly. In use it is soft on impact without the bottomless feeling some max-cushion foams have, which is what makes it suitable for daily mileage rather than only for recovery days.