The Tempo is the new trainer from New Balance which takes the place of the Zante line which has been discontinued. The Tempo and the Zante Pursuit both have a weight of 8.5 oz and a price of $110. The Tempo has a completely different upper, midsole and outsole to the Zante Pursuit. Which of these shoes is right for you?
The midsole of the Tempo is made from New Balance’s newest foam, Fresh Foam X. It is lighter, softer and slightly more responsive than previous versions of Fresh Foam. The Zante Pursuit uses the older version of Fresh Foam which is similar in ride but slightly firmer than the Fresh Foam X of the Tempo.
The Zante Pursuit’s firmer ride makes it better suited to short, tempo runs whereas the Tempo is better suited to longer runs. The stack heights of the heel and the forefoot remain the same in the Tempo and the Zante Pursuit with a 6mm offset. The 6mm offset makes it easy to get up onto your forefoot during faster runs.
Stability is average in the two shoes but the firmer midsole of the Zante Pursuit results in a more stable ride with less lean bias. The midfoot of the Tempo is slightly more narrow than the midfoot of the Zante Pursuit as it hugs your arches without being overly pronounced.
The outsole of the Tempo has blown rubber in the forefoot and rearfoot with exposed EVA on the midfoot. The Zante Pursuit’s outsole is fully covered in durable crystal rubber. You can expect the outsole of the Tempo to last longer than the Tempo’s outsole.
Traction on dry surfaces is great in both the Tempo and the Zante Pursuit but on wet surfaces, the crystal rubber on the Zante Pursuit doesn’t grip as well as the blown rubber on the Tempo.
The Tempo has softer, padded landings and better ground feel due to the softer rubber used on its outsole as well as the exposed EVA midsole in the middle.
Ride transitions are smoother in the Zante Pursuit thanks to the full contact rubber outsole compared to the 3 different sections on the Tempo’s outsole.
The upper of the Tempo is a traditional engineered mesh with an inner sleeve and a padded heel counter. The Tempo also has a plastic external heel counter for extra heel structure and support. The foot lockdown in the Tempo is superb. It fits true to size and iit has a snug fit which is perfect for tempo runs. The Tempo comes in regular and wide versions.
The upper of the Zante Pursuit has a more casual look and feel. It is made from a soft knitted material which has a lot of stretch to it. It does not have a plastic external heel counter but there is no heel slippage in the Zante Pursuit. The fit is true to size but it has a relaxed, looser fit compared to the Tempo. The Zante Pursuit also comes in regular and wide versions.
If you’re looking for a lightweight trainer with a performance-oriented upper, the Tempo is the shoe for you. The Tempo has a snug, racing upper with a plastic heel cup to provide more heel structure and support. The Tempo is softer than the Zante Pursuit and is better for long runs.
If you prefer a lightweight trainer with a more comfortable, more relaxed upper, the Zante Pursuit is the shoe for you. The Zante Pursuit has a firmer, and more stable ride than the Tempo and is more suited to quicker runs. The Zante Pursuit has a more durable outsole with its crystal rubber but has less ground feel than the Tempo.
