Guest Review by Peter Stuart
Is the New Balance Vazee Pace a Fresh Foam Zante killer? How does the latest in low weight go-fast running shoes stack up? There are so many really good lightweight
cushioned shoes right now—it feels like between the minimal
craze (whatever happened to…) and the new lean to maximal we are in a golden age of light, moderately cushioned shoes that are just plain FUN to
run in.
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The New Balance Vazee Pace has a light, snappy, comfortable and
responsive ride—firm but not too punishing. The Vazee
pace is built on the same last as the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante, has a 6mm
drop (22mm heel/16mm forefoot) and weighs 8.0 oz . This shoe joins a pretty
crowded field of lightweight cushioned trainers in general (Nike Lunar Tempo,
Saucony Kinvara and Fastwitch, Newton Aha and Fate) and from New Balance
specifically—the 1400, 1500, Zante and 890 (which I believe it is
replacing). So how does it fit in?
- Minimal, light breathable upper fits great. While it’s on the same last as the Zante, the Vazee fits a little bit more loosely around the arch and midfoot. I have found the Zante to be a bit constricting in the arch and the Vazee has none of that. It’s a nice, light mesh upper and has great laces with a little bit of elastic in them. Just a great fit for me. True to size.
- Firm! Hoka Cliftons these are not! That said, I didn’t find them to be punishing, just responsive and firm. They are less jarring by far than the NB 1500’s and the Saucony Fastwitch. The toe spring and the firm Revlite cushioning make for a quick turnover. It’s firm like the Saucony Fastwitch is firm—-firm heel, firm forefoot. The Zante with its Fresh Foam cushioning and hexagons side wall geometries is much less firm in the forefoot, but feels somewhat similar in the heel. The Lunar Tempo is definitely softer all around.
