5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Apr 5, 2015
60 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam 980
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
New Balance Fresh Foam Zante
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.2 oz · 23/17mm stack · 6mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance Fresh Foam Zante V2 replaced it
How it ranks
The New Balance Fresh Foam Zante is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Value and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. Most runners who compared it with another shoe preferred it. The rating is based on 22 runner reviews and 3 other rated shoes in the Fresh Foam Zante product line.
Very good
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
95 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.
- Brand rating
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“Virtually no support; back doesn't reach the heel; very unstable”
“Super slippery—not recommended for trails or wet conditions”
“Fits like a racing flat with snug midfoot but ample toe-box room”
“Fit is great, very snug but not suffocating; runs a half-size short”
“Full-length sole is smooth and quiet with good traction, but tacky feel scrubs off energy”
“Horrible durability. They do not last.”
“Super light, feels very fast, with enough but not overly soft cushioning”
“Very light and feels fast, yet comfortable enough for a marathon”
“Durability better than expected for weight; outsole wore evenly”
“400-450 miles before wearing through the outsole where you push off”
“Lightweight, snug comfortable fit; stretchy upper hugs foot in place”
“Moderate cushioning and low stack height make for a responsive feel”
“Feel lighter than they are, and genuinely light for their comfort and cushioning”
“Heel cushion allowed deliberate overstriding downhill safely”
“Softer in heel, firmer in forefoot”
“Grip is no good when it's slippery”
“Runs fairly true or maybe just a touch small”
“Fresh Foam rides more like a Kinvara than a Nimbus—firmer than expected”
“Tiny bit of slipping between socks and liner occasionally”
“Initial bump in midfoot area; sensation subsided over time”
“Laces are a little annoying—they're quite wide”
“They're some of the firmest shoes in my lineup”
“Grippy continuous outsole felt slightly inefficient”
Prefer this shoe over another
67% 20/30
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- At 7.5 oz, reviewers find it fast for tempo runs and racing.
- Reviewers praise the snug, sock-like upper with room for the toes.
- Many runners use it for everything from easy miles to marathons.
Cons
- Durability is the weakest dimension at 3.9 out of 5, and two reviewers wear through the outsole sooner than they expect.
- Two reviewers find it firmer than they expect from Fresh Foam.
- Two reviewers find it slippery in the wet and on trails.
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
-
2018 · 34 reviews
69 Below average
98 Confidence
-
2017 · 29 reviews
66 Below average
98 Confidence
-
2016 · 9 reviews
95 Excellent
90 Confidence
-
Fresh Foam Zante This shoe
2015 · 22 reviews
92 Very good
95 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 7.2 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 7.5 oz · Women's 6.8 oz
- Release
- 2015 Q1
- MSRP
- $100
- Stack
- 23/17mm
- Drop
- 6mm
Runner reviews
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Mar 22, 2015
100 mpw came from the Saucony Kinvara 5
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
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 In Context
More on the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante Trainer
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3
- New Balance Fresh Foam Zante V2 next version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Brooks Pure Flow 3 3 runners
- Saucony Kinvara 5 2 runners
- Saucony Kinvara 6 2 runners