New Balance Fresh Foam Tempo Review
Zante lovers, meet Tempo!
Likes
- Lightweight, breathable upper
- Effortlessly smooth ride
- Comfortable lockdown
Dislikes
- Could improve stability
- Not optimized for slower paces
- Some irritation from heel collar
What's New
Evolved from the New Balance Zante shoe line, the Fresh Foam Tempo features a new Fresh Foam X midsole built to be softer and bouncier than the Zante models of the past. The shoe's HYPOKNIT upper boasts a secure lockdown that's both accomodating and supportive. Finally, the grippy outsole features strategically placed blown rubber on the forefoot and heel to increase durability while creating a soft ground feel.
The Bottom Line
The New Balance Fresh Foam Tempo is an all-around solid shoe that toes the line between a performance speed trainer and a lightweight everyday trainer. Like the New Balance Zante line, the Tempo boasts a smooth, responsive ride designed to handle faster paces. That said, if you loved the responsiveness of the Zante, then you might be left desiring a little more "Tempo" from the Fresh Foam X midsole. Ultimately, the New Balance Fresh Foam Tempo is a great option for runners looking for a lighter everyday trainer that will deliver extra pop on their 5K or 10K runs.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium to narrow | Height: Medium to low |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to low |
| Heel Width | Medium to narrow |
| Arch Height | Medium to low |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 8.5 oz (size 9) | Women's: 6.8 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 24 mm (Heel), 18 mm (Forefoot) |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
New Balance designed the Fresh Foam Tempo with a focus on speed, so the cushioning is not especially plush. Thanks to the Fresh Foam X midsole, the Tempo provides softer landings and better ground feel than the Zante. Our testers found that the segmented outsole, combined with the Fresh Foam X midsole, offered just enough cushioning to remain comfortable throughout their runs.
Kaitlin: "I wouldn't consider this shoe very soft. The midsole feels light, and I can tell there is some cushioning underfoot, but my foot really connects with the ground on each step. The trade-off is that if this shoe were any softer, then it wouldn't be as wonderfully responsive."
Tracie: "While there's not a lot of cushioning underfoot, what is there has a nice little bit of softness to it—just enough to provide some comfort on impact."
Ride/Energy Returni
The Tempo is lightweight and has good flexibility in the forefoot. This contributes to a smooth ride and an enjoyable running experience. The Fresh Foam X midsole does not deliver the same responsiveness as the Zante, but the ride is still great for what the Tempo is designed for—a fast-paced training shoe that can handle a greater workload than previous renditions.
Kaitlin: "I think other factors like flexibility and weight contribute to the energy return because I feel like the midsole is only marginally springy."
Tracie: "This was the highlight of the shoe for me; I thought it felt very responsive. At slower paces, you may not get all you can out of this shoe, but put in a little effort, and the Tempo won't be holding you back!"
Underfoot Protectioni
The New Balance Fresh Foam Tempo offers great protection for a speedier trainer. This shoe can handle higher mileage runs, but like the Zante, it is best for shorter, faster efforts. Although its protection has improved, those who enjoy a highly cushioned running experience may want a more protective shoe. According to our testers, the Fresh Foam Tempo delivers sufficient cushioning to comfortably tackle 5K to 10K runs.
Kaitlin: "The protection is great for its intended purpose, which is uptempo miles or intervals, but I wouldn't recommend it for longer or slower days. This isn't the most comfortable shoe to trot it, but that's also not what it's intended for."
Tracie: "This is not a highly protective shoe, and not something I would recommend for much more than a 10K or maybe a half marathon. However, I thought it had the perfect amount of protection for a speedwork day and left my legs feeling fresher than they would in a super minimalist shoe."
Flexibilityi
Our testers were more than pleased with the flex of these lightweight trainers. The Tempo lands on the more elastic side of the scale and delivers some nice flex throughout the forefoot. This helps create a smooth transition that swiftly propels runners through their gait.
Kaitlyn: "This shoe definitely flexes with you to create a really smooth and continuous gait cycle."
Tracie: "The Tempo has a moderate amount of flexibility, mostly in the forefoot. I thought it felt smooth on foot, although I do land mid-to-forefoot, so I can't comment on how the transition from heel to toe would feel."
Upper Supporti
The Fresh Foam Tempo's new upper is definitely a highlight of the shoe. Our testers praised the upper for its lightweight breathability and superb lockdown. The upper is a nice upgrade from the Zante, as it is more structured and supportive. Because the Tempo lives somewhere between a racing shoe and a daily trainer, the upper is designed to balance comfort and performance.
Kaitlin: "The majority of support for this shoe came from the heel, with the forefoot being more open."
Tracie: "The forefoot of the Tempo is plenty roomy, and the mesh is very lightweight and breathable. It was especially great on warm afternoon runs. The midfoot has a bit more structure, and the heel cup is a bit more fixed. I did not have any sizing issues or spots of irritability."
Individual Thoughts
For such a nimble shoe, there was a generous amount of width in the toe-box. I assumed it would feel low volume, and after seeing the overlays on the toe-box, I was worried I would have fit issues, but it ended up being very accommodating.
The heel counter created more structure and support than I have felt in other uptempo models. Fresh Foam X feels light, malleable, and protective. The ride was well-balanced and uninhibited. I was impressed with this shoe and wanted to keep wearing it for higher mileage days, but long runs did not feel as great. The ride felt best for me at a faster cadence, but I would seriously consider making this my half-marathon racing shoe.
Overall, this Fresh Foam Tempo far exceeded my expectations. I do wish the laces had a little stretch or there was a little more elasticity over the bridge of my foot. I am not sure if it was due to the volume of shoe, but I did want to really lock down the laces for each run and had some issues with my feet going numb, which was alleviated when I stopped and re-tied my shoes slightly looser.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
I liked this shoe more than I thought I would! When I first put it on and walked around, it seemed pretty uninspiring, and to be frank, I thought it felt cheap. The upper seemed a bit flimsy and the midsole a little dead. But, when I started running in the shoe, I realized how wrong I was. The Tempo is a great option for workout days. I took it out for some speedwork, and it responded really well to picking up the pace! While it didn't feel bad at slower paces, I feel like it really excelled when I got going—the faster, the better. The midsole, which I initially thought felt dead walking around, sprung to life, and what I had thought was a flimsy upper suddenly transformed into a lightweight and breathable wrap. While I won't be running in this shoe every day, I will be using it more often when I want to do some fast efforts.
