New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo v4

After trying a few different shoes, I was looking for a shoe that balanced cushion with stability, as those were two factors I enjoyed in previous shoes I tried. I feel like these have a good amount of stability and a sturdy, supported feeling to them, as well as are comfy to wear, but aren't overly cushioned. I've worn them for 6+ years now and I can't imagine wanting to switch to a different shoe. They're incredibly reliable, consistent, and break in great.

I absolutely love this shoe. Its a great training shoe and it’s been the only shoe I've run in that has not injured me. I feel like I’m floating when I wear these.

My experiences with this shoe were overall very positive. I bought it primarily for a easy day/slow long run trainer, and it has been a good option in my shoe rotation. I find myself reaching for it on most days, and right off the bat I found it to have a very comfortable immediate feel upon putting it on. Size was true. I am pretty ready (as an overpronator) to transition to shoes that do not have a medial post/conventional support systems, to more "modern"support, with the "varus wedge," and so far, this has exceeded expectations with stability. I like the cushion, they have really maximized it for this model, in comparison to prior renditions. It is not overboard (i.e. compared to HOKA Arahi, etc), nor is it too little cushioning. Currently, I am around ~200 miles and I do not even feel that I am remotely halfway through the life of this shoe, and feel like it will top out around 600 miles. Overall, it has performed up to expectation for me, and as long as they don't make too many changes I will be continuing to run in this shoe for many years.

Positives:

-light

-versatile

-comfort

Negatives:

-break down quickly

I am a former collegiate athlete working for a well-regarded small running store (non-biased, we sell every major brand). Over the last few years of running higher mileage in a wide range of shoes. Most shoes I train in would garner a very conditional recommendation - one that is highly dependent on the needs of the user. Some shoes just straight up (in my humble opinion) stink. Oftentimes they fall flat because certain features don't work well with their intended market, or they radically missed the mark in some self-sabotaging way. There is also an occasional shoe that quickly becomes a favorite, usually because of either several features that work for a wide variety of runners, a specific features that are unparalleled elsewhere,etc.. A great example of a shoe like this would be the Ghost, for its reliable standard as a comfortable, cushioned, well structured trainer with enough reactivity to please a wide range of high drop, neutral shoe runners.

The Vongo is in that rare class of shoe. It is very unique - 4mm drop, highly cushioned, moderately stable, and surprisingly quick off the toe. It is not a very light shoe, but it speeds up nicely when you do, kind of like the Ghost. It is stable without a traditional medial post, and I don't feel *that* strange running in it as a neutral runner. I like the fact that it has atypically prominent forefoot cushioning as a low drop shoe, which I would highly recommend to faster midfoot strikers who prefer a more stable ride in a mileage shoe. It's low drop and sharp, rubber tread also make it a passable (though overly cushioned) cross trainer in a pinch, especially for generalists who run more than they lift. It has a narrow fitting but stretchy upper, a secure heel and tongue, and it runs a bit longer than most trainers. I would not suggest sizing down, however. It has a very noticeable offset towards the interior of the shoe, and it is much more noticeable walking in it than running in it.

Overall, the Vongo rocks. I have few criticisms - it's price point is on the higher side, which I feel is justified by the quality of the shoe. However, it is not the bargain that some shoes (Hoka Rincon!) are. The only runners I would not recommend this shoe to are those who have frequent calf/achilles problems, as the drop is a bit low and will stress the rear chain more than higher drop shoes, or those who are looking for a light, low-mileage trainer to zip around in.

Since moving, I've had to switch from combination trail and road running to mostly road (and sidewalk) runs. The NB Vongo has been excellent in providing a fair amount of cushion to prevent shin splints and too much wear and tear.

I still also run in Brooks Ghost, but when I started wearing the Vongo I discovered that they were pretty comparable. Anecdotally, without doing a spec comparison, the Vongo feels like its got more cushion. Ghosts are a bit more responsive and better if there's a fartlek or pick-up workout.