Best overall shoe
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 7, 2019
35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas Supernova
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.5 oz · 6mm drop · 23/17mm stack
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 ranks below most daily trainers in our data. Value and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 34 runner reviews and 3 other rated shoes in the Fresh Foam Zante product line.
Decent
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
95/100
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.”
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 Sep 14.
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 on 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.
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 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
70 Decent
95 Confidence
-
2017 · 29 reviews
65 Below average
94 Confidence
-
2016 · 9 reviews
99 Exceptional
96 Confidence
-
2015 · 22 reviews
98 Exceptional
96 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 8.5 oz
- Release
- 2018 Q1
- MSRP
- $100
- Stack Height
- 23mm heel - 17mm toe
- Drop Height
- 6mm
Runner reviews
OUTSTANDING MODEL
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 4, 2019
25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Altra Lone Peak 3.0
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reader review
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019
60 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019
30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Free RN Distance 2
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019
55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the PUMA Faas 300 v3
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- 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