Light Weight Trainer that can go the distance
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Apr 25, 2018
90 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4
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
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.
Confidence
98 Very high
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.”
“Firm and responsive enough to get through heavy miles but not clunky.”
“Wears rubber by big toe down to cushion around 300 miles.”
“Arch rigidity causes toebox to permanently bend upward after 200-300 miles.”
“Lasts beyond 500 miles, while earlier versions managed only 400.”
“The 6mm drop hits that sweet spot between minimalist and cushioned.”
“Stretchy upper hugs foot for personalized feel without being too tight.”
“Same size, different colors fit completely differently.”
“After 50 miles, cushioning feels less bouncy.”
“Wider-than-average toebox leaves feet unblistered.”
“Low-volume midfoot requires loosening laces to avoid constricting the foot.”
“Drop encourages mid-sole strike and better weight transition.”
“Not good on trails and provides limited ankle support.”
“Rewards good form and pace but unforgiving when sore.”
“Trainer cushion and comfort but feels like a fast shoe.”
“Fantastically grippy rubber gives zero slip.”
“In v2, toe box was short and knit upper didn't hold foot well.”
“500 miles before they feel too tired for training.”
“Older models had rubbing construction and bunched stitching that irritated feet.”
“Roomy toebox with laces that cinch across arches.”
“You feel the road and it pushes back on you.”
“Better described as responsive than soft.”
“Occasionally need to re-lace to minimize pressure.”
“Different than the original Zante v1.”
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.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
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.
Release year
-
Fresh Foam Zante v4 This shoe
2018 · 34 reviews
69 Below average
98 Confidence
-
2017 · 29 reviews
66 Below average
98 Confidence
-
2016 · 9 reviews
95 Excellent
90 Confidence
-
2015 · 22 reviews
92 Very good
95 Confidence
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
New Balance Zante
3/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 8, 2018
60 mpw training for middle distance came from the Nike LunarGlide+ 3
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Cushioning
- 3/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
New New Balance Zante 4 - The foam is still fresh
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Freedom ISO
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Excellent
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018
75 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
The best shoe I've ever owned
5/5
Overall
xc5evr · Feb 7, 2018
40 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 6
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from New Balance
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4 In Context
More on the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante Trainer next version
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3 previous version
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante V2
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante
Reviewers Also Ran In
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3 7 runners
- Saucony Kinvara 8 3 runners
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34 2 runners