New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4

Name: New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4
Brand: New Balance
Rating: 4.6 (34 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.0 oz · 23/17mm stack · 6mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance Fresh Foam Zante Trainer replaced it

How it ranks

The New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4 trails most daily trainers in our data. Value and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Cushioning scores well below its other sub-ratings. Most runners who compared it with another shoe preferred the other shoe. The rating is based on 34 runner reviews and 3 other rated shoes in the Fresh Foam Zante product line.

Below average

Overall

Below average 69

Value

Exceptional 99

Appearance

Excellent 95

Comfort

Good 87

Durability

Decent 75

Cushioning

Decent 72

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

98 Very high

Very high 98

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Product line track record
Our ratings
External ratings

What runners say

“Responsive yet cushioned, quick on intervals, light but supportive.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“Firm and responsive enough to get through heavy miles but not clunky.”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33

“Wears rubber by big toe down to cushion around 300 miles.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw

“Arch rigidity causes toebox to permanently bend upward after 200-300 miles.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for middle distance came from the Saucony Fastwitch 7

“Lasts beyond 500 miles, while earlier versions managed only 400.”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“The 6mm drop hits that sweet spot between minimalist and cushioned.”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33

“Stretchy upper hugs foot for personalized feel without being too tight.”

4/5 Full review 90 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8

“Same size, different colors fit completely differently.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“After 50 miles, cushioning feels less bouncy.”

3/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 4

“Wider-than-average toebox leaves feet unblistered.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“Low-volume midfoot requires loosening laces to avoid constricting the foot.”

3/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 4

“Drop encourages mid-sole strike and better weight transition.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“Not good on trails and provides limited ankle support.”

3/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“Rewards good form and pace but unforgiving when sore.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

“Trainer cushion and comfort but feels like a fast shoe.”

4/5 Full review 90 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8

“Fantastically grippy rubber gives zero slip.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for middle distance came from the Saucony Fastwitch 7

“In v2, toe box was short and knit upper didn't hold foot well.”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33

“500 miles before they feel too tired for training.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“Older models had rubbing construction and bunched stitching that irritated feet.”

3/5 Full review 60 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike LunarGlide+ 3

“Roomy toebox with laces that cinch across arches.”

5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Freedom ISO

“You feel the road and it pushes back on you.”

4/5 Full review 90 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8

“Better described as responsive than soft.”

4/5 Full review 90 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8

“Occasionally need to re-lace to minimize pressure.”

3/5 Full review 60 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike LunarGlide+ 3

“Different than the original Zante v1.”

3/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

Prefer this shoe over another

32% 16/50

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

At 8.5 oz, reviewers find it light and quick for tempo work.
Reviewers use it for everything from easy miles to road races.
It lists at $100, below the $150 median for daily trainers for sale, and reviewers rate value 4.9 out of 5.

Cons

Several reviewers call the ride firm and unforgiving on long, slow runs.
Reports of how long it lasts vary widely, from cushioning going flat by 100 miles to pairs still running well past 500.
The original Zante scores 98 on twenty-two reviews and the v2 99 on nine, both above this version.

Fresh Foam Zante v4 rates 69. This shoe has very high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante

Each dot is one version of the Fresh Foam Zante, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

92 2015 95 2016 66 2017 69 2018

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Fresh Foam Zante v4 This shoe

2018 · 34 reviews

69 Below average

98 Confidence
Fresh Foam Zante v3

2017 · 29 reviews

66 Below average

98 Confidence
Fresh Foam Zante V2

2016 · 9 reviews

95 Excellent

90 Confidence
Fresh Foam Zante

2015 · 22 reviews

92 Very good

95 Confidence

Runner Ratings

34 ratings

5/5 23

4/5 7

3/5 4

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 8.0 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 8.5 oz · Women's 7.5 oz
Release: 2018 Q1
MSRP: $100
Stack: 23/17mm
Drop: 6mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Zante V4

4/5

Overall

Good low drop road shoe for tempo runs and longer road races. I've worn them for races up to the marathon. Inexpensive, comfortable for my wide feet in 2E width.

Anonymous runner · Aug 23, 2018

65 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Has the comfort of the v2 with the durability of the v3

5/5

Overall

Have been running in Zantes for about two years now, and although I like the v3 and especially the v2, I think that the v3 combines the best features of the previous two iterations. The foam is as good, if not better than the earlier Zantes, and I'm finding that these shoes have lasted well beyond 500 miles, whereas the other Zantes barely held together for 400 miles. The upper material is also much nicer than the v3 - very breathable and durable. The only downside I've found is the color choices in the shoe, but these are running shoes, so it's ok to be a little adventurous with stuff like that.

Anonymous runner · Jul 14, 2018

55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 5/5

NB Zante v4: Solid, but not as good as the v3

3/5

Overall

As with anyone who has ran in the NB Zante line, there will never be anything like the magical feel of the original v1. It was somehow light, quick, supportive, and durable all at the same time. None of the more recent iterations (v2-v4) have captured this magic; however, the v4 is especially far off the mark. It does not remind me of the original NB Zante v1. Now, having said that, the Zante v4 is NOT a bad shoe …. it is just different than the original Zante. This current shoe is light, quick (feels most comfortable whilst running in the 5:30 - 6:30 range), fitting through the midfoot, and highly breathable. However, I have noticed that this is not a good shoe to take on the trails, and it does not provide much ankle support (first Zante that has given me some achillies issues). Pros: Light, quick, breathable, snug in the midfoot/forefoot Cons: Not good on trails, less support in the ankle/achillies region Overall, a solid shoe that fits the budget for moderate road mileage

Anonymous runner · Jul 2, 2018

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 3/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 4/5

Zante V4

5/5

Overall

This shoe is the model for a reliable, leightweight trainer that can handle both your easy mileage and your harder running days. The first pair I wore lasted me 700+ miles, and at a $100 dollar price it’s a bargain for the insane durability, showing no wear on the outsole and the cushioning still hold up solidly to this day. Very comfortable fit, including a soft heel collar and tounge, which in combination with a wider than average toebox has left my feet completely unblistered. However, those looking for a shoe to stroll in for long, slow runs may be disappointed, the shoe rewards good form and solid pace but can be unforgiving on days where soreness might be slowing you down. Especially the last few miles of hour+ long runs. Overall, amazing shoe that I’ve come back to and still use as my daily trainer In this current training cycle.

Anonymous runner · Jul 2, 2018

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

3/5

Overall

I'm generally a fan of lightweight, low(ish) drop shoes, and at under $100, these seemed like a great deal. I'd mostly been running trails, but decided to get a pair of road shoes for some upcoming races. Initially I was impressed by the springy feeling at toe-off. The shoes felt light and snappy, with just enough cushion. The midfoot is somewhat low volume -- I find I have to loosen the middle laces before putting the shoes on to keep them from constricting the top of my foot. This may not be a problem for you if you have a lower volume foot. Unfortunately, after 50ish miles, the cushioning started to feel less bouncy. I've put around 100 miles in with the shoes now, and they feel like my old Kinvaras did after 4-500 miles. The lack of cushion feels most pronounced in the forefoot. I guess you get what you pay for, but IMO the "Fresh Foam" seems due for a update.

Anonymous runner · May 1, 2018

40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 4