NB Vongo: Best Bet for Logging Road Miles
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 15, 2019
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Ghost 11
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo v4
Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 9.1 oz · 4mm drop · 29/25mm stack
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo v5 replaced it
How it ranks
The New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo v4 ranks above most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 7 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the Fresh Foam Vongo product line. Another 5 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.
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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
75/100
What runners say
“4mm drop, highly cushioned, moderately stable, and surprisingly quick off the toe.”
“The only shoe I've run in that has not injured me.”
“Fair amount of cushion to prevent shin splints.”
“The drop is a bit low and will stress the rear chain more than higher drop shoes.”
“Will top out around 600 miles.”
“Break down quickly.”
“Very comfortable immediate feel upon putting it on.”
“Stable without a traditional medial post.”
“Runs a bit longer than most trainers.”
“Good amount of stability and a sturdy, supported feeling.”
Prefer this shoe over another
67% 6/9
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
Pros
- Reviewers rate comfort 5.0 out of 5 and cushioning 4.7 out of 5, and three praise both on easy and long runs.
- Two reviewers say it is stable without a traditional medial post.
- The Fresh Foam Vongo v3 before it scores 70 on twenty reviews, against this version's 84.
Cons
- Reviewers rate durability 4.1 out of 5, its lowest dimension, and reviewers split on it, one at 200 miles expecting 600 and another reporting quick breakdown.
- Two of seven reviewers who answered report an injury while running in it.
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.
50
60
70
80
90
100
25
50
75
100
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo
Each dot is one version of the Fresh Foam Vongo, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2021 · 6 reviews
74 Decent
58 Confidence
-
Fresh Foam Vongo v4 This shoe
2019 · 7 reviews
84 Good
75 Confidence
-
2018 · 20 reviews
70 Decent
90 Confidence
-
2017 · 7 reviews
61 Below average
77 Confidence
-
2017 · 8 reviews
59 Bottom-tier
80 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 9.1 oz
- Release
- 2019 Q2
- MSRP
- $140
- Stack Height
- 29mm heel - 25mm toe
- Drop Height
- 4mm
Runner reviews
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 10, 2019
80 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- 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 Vongo v4 In Context
More on the New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo
- New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo v5 next version
- New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo v3 previous version
- New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo
- New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo v2
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19 2 runners
- Brooks Ghost 11 1 runner
- Mizuno Wave Rider 22 1 runner