Discontinued · road · Tempo / Daily · $110
Even lighter Zante with a snug, fast fit.
Built for tempo, daily, at a target pace of 6:30–9:00 /mi on road.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5.
New Balance tuned this midsole firm (2/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 24 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 6 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot flexes easily, so the shoe adapts to slower, shorter strides. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It runs small; most runners size up a half. Expect roughly 300 miles from the outsole, about $0.37 per mile at $110.
For the foams and plates New Balance uses across its line, read the New Balance brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
230 g / 8.1 oz
45 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
24 mm
12 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$110
50 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
2 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~300 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the New Balance line it is lighter than the brand's median (278 g / 9.8 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (36 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
On Cloud Waterproof
250 g / 8.8 oz · 24 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $180
On Cloud Waterproof: 24 mm heel stack, 6 mm drop, 272 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Hoka Solimar
241 g / 8.5 oz · 26 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $130
Hoka Solimar: 26 mm heel stack, 6 mm drop, 232 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Nike Rival Fly 4
235 g / 8.3 oz · 30 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $100
Firm, low and cheap — the no-frills speedwork trainer.
Adidas Adizero RC 5
210 g / 7.4 oz · 28 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $90
Lightweight, firm budget racer for track work and 5Ks.