It’s truly unfortunate that New Balance decided to discontinue the beloved Zante, a running shoe that had captured the hearts of countless runners. Its lightweight design, responsiveness, and comfort made it a favorite among many.
However, fear not, because we come bearing good news!
In this article, we’ve discovered the perfect replacement. The Zante has gracefully retired, passing the baton to a more evolved and equally outstanding successor, ready to carry on the remarkable work it began.
Cheer up as you can once again lace up with confidence and take your runs to new heights.
Related:
New Balance Zante Replacement
Hello everybody! My name’s Eric Barber. I’m a non-elite runner who reviews running shoes day in and day out.
Let’s cut to the chase…
The New Balance Fresh Foam X Tempo series took over for the beloved New Balance Zante in that versatile and comfortable running shoe space. It can also be seen as the evolution of the Beacon lineup.
I think the big thing with the Zante was how comfortable it felt on foot. You could take the Zante out for a run, but you could also just take it out walking around. It was just a shoe that felt good no matter what you used it for.
But it seems that New Balance have gone back towards more of a Zante formula with the Tempo. They’ve gone back to the same last as what was on the Zante, similar midsole heights, a softer compound, and then that just wearable clean nice comfortable upper that’s perfect for any occasion.
But the burning question remains: Is the new Fresh Foam X Tempo v2 an improvement or even superior to the Zante?
I think the Fresh Foam X Tempo v2 is exceptionally soft and remarkably flexible. It’s going to be very versatile for a wide variety of your training needs and I think it is going to be a significant upgrade over the past version, Tempo v1, and over the Fresh Foam Zante.
So, whether the previous iteration of the Tempo didn’t quite meet your needs or you’re on the hunt for a shoe similar in spirit to the Zante but in a next-generation package, the Fresh Foam Tempo v2 is the perfect shoe for you.
Related:
How can you use the Tempo v2?
Just like I would use the Zante, I’m going to use the Tempo v2 for daily training, tempo sessions, and commuting to the track to rip some 800s. You can run 3 miles to the track, rip a 6/8 meter workout, and then run 3 miles back home or whatever case may be.
I wouldn’t be using it for easy days because the stack height is just not quite there to help really take the pressure off of those feet.
I feel like the Skechers GoRun Ride 10 can do these types of workouts as well.
Related:
New Balance Fresh Foam Tempo v2
The Tempo V2 brings a fresh update to a shoe that may have raised some eyebrows in the past.
The original Tempo never quite secured a permanent spot in my running shoe rotation. However, with the Tempo V2, we’re witnessing some pretty drastic updates that breathe new life into this model.
But what’s the inspiration behind the Fresh Foam X Tempo V2?
The Tempo V2 from New Balance is a fun, distinctive, and versatile addition, and fills a unique niche within New Balance’s extensive lineup. They cater to diverse consumer preferences, and I genuinely believe that the Tempo V2 appeals to anyone seeking a sleek, well-cushioned, flexible, and exceptionally comfortable option.
I think the Zante was a shoe that a lot of people really liked and really gravitated to, and when it switched to the Tempo v1, I think a lot of people were wondering how they could get that Zante feel back.
I think you’re going to get that with the Tempo v2 but in a little bit of a new package. The first thing that I noted when I put this shoe on my foot was that Fresh Foam X compound, and man, this is soft. It feels cushioned, and it feels very squishy but you’re low to the ground.
Related:
Fresh Foam X
With 18mm of stack height in the heel and 12mm in the forefoot and 6mm drop, the midsole features the softest Fresh Foam X compound that they have. They’ve specifically decided to go that way because it is going to maximize the level of cushioning in this kind of height as well as just maximize the flexibility.
That softness is just going to allow the shoe to shift and move for you. It’s always a game a little bit in terms of looking at how thick or how thin you can go based on your materials, but they’ve definitely tried to get the Tempo v2 as close to the ground as they possibly can in as high a cushioned and most flexible package that they possibly could.
I just want to emphasize that if you’re a forefoot striker, just know that you want to have resilient lower limbs so you’re not putting too much strain on your ankles, Achilles, soleus, arches, etc.
The Tempo definitely encourages you to get up on your toes and do that forefoot striking.
Related:
Outsole
There’s just the right amount of rubber on this classic New Balance outsole.
When we talk about flexibility, you can see this unique geometric shape on the outsole, which we’ve seen before in other Fresh Foam shoes. The outsole layout provides some of the flexibility. It’s decoupled and really designed to morph and move with your foot.
I think New Balance have taken data and overlaid it on top of this outsole pattern and see where the maximum durability and protection is necessary and then really try to deconstruct from there.
So, the outsole configuration is done to lower the weight of the shoe, maximize the foam of the shoe, and just keep the durability where it should be for this type of entry-level running shoe.
Durability-wise, you’re not buying this shoe to run in it for 6 months for example.
Related:
Upper
The engineered Hypoknit upper is baby-soft, stretchy, comfy, and very comfortable and truly feels like a slipper. The upper has a knit feel to it, but it’s not like the Nike 4% Flyknit knit; it kind of is in that ballpark a little bit.
Related:
However, the heel counter is pretty flexible and sloppy and the lockdown is not the best. I didn’t feel incredibly secure in the Tempo v2, but that’s okay knowing New Balance is going for more comfort dynamic.
So, if you prefer shoes that are not as over-engineered and are a little simpler in their designs, the Tempo is not very complex when it comes to the upper construction by any means.
What they did was just take the same upper material used on the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 and bring it down into the Tempo v2.
Really, the idea is about making sure that they provide the protection that is needed for an everyday training shoe but something that’s just going to disappear on the foot after miles out on the road.
You’re not going to worry about it and there’s nothing fussy about. It’s a really nice balance between soft supple comfortable while still maintaining the performance needed in a high-end training shoe.
That is a great thing to hear because I feel like the 1080 has really set itself apart from the competition and has set that standard of premium comfort.
So, with the Tempo v2, you get a lot of those similar benefits but in the $110 price tag; you just can’t beat it.
Related:
Wrap-up
I think what’s really important within Fresh Foam X and FuelCell foam material is that you have different solutions and different experiences wherever you might be along your weekly training or monthly training.
I definitely view the Tempo v2 as having an opportunity to fit into not just somebody’s running repertoire but also just your daily use repertoire.
The Temo v2 is a great alternative to the Fresh Foam Zante. It’s a performance running training shoe that I believe you can run in five days a week, but I also just think the versatility of this shoe is amazing, and you’re going to find different uses for it in your everyday life that you wouldn’t normally have imagined out of a performance running shoe.
This pretty much wraps up this New Balance Zante replacement article. I hope you’ve learned something new today, and I’ll see you in the next one 🙂
