Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Mar 1, 2016
55 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 1080 v4
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
New Balance Fresh Foam Zante
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.5 oz · 6mm drop · 23/17mm stack
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. The rating rests on 22 runner reviews and 3 other rated shoes in the Fresh Foam Zante product line.
Exceptional
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
96/100
What runners say
“Virtually no support; back doesn't reach the heel; very unstable”
“Fits like a racing flat with snug midfoot but ample toe-box room”
“Horrible durability. They do not last.”
“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”
“Super slippery—not recommended for trails or wet conditions”
“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”
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 Sep 14.
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.
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
-
2018 · 34 reviews
70 Decent
95 Confidence
-
2017 · 29 reviews
65 Below average
94 Confidence
-
2016 · 9 reviews
99 Exceptional
96 Confidence
-
Fresh Foam Zante This shoe
2015 · 22 reviews
98 Exceptional
96 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 7.5 oz
- Release
- 2015 Q1
- MSRP
- $100
- Stack Height
- 23mm heel - 17mm toe
- Drop Height
- 6mm
Runner reviews
Reader review
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jan 13, 2016
55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 6
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Dec 17, 2015
50 mpw came from the Newton Distance IV
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
johnacox20 · Dec 15, 2015
55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Pure Flow 3
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
ReallySlow · Dec 11, 2015
50 mpw came from the Saucony Kinvara 6
- Comfort
- 5/5
- 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 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