New Balance 1012 vs. Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 review

What is the difference between New Balance 1012 and Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4? Read this review to find out and compare prices to find the best deal on these two motion control running shoes.

In two previous articles I wrote about the New Balance WR1012 and the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 motion control running shoes for women.

The New Balance WR1012 is the flagship motion control running shoe from New Balance. Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 is one of the most flexible motion control running shoes in the lineup of running shoes for overpronators.

Let's compare these two motion control running shoes and take a look at where they are similar and how they are different.

Looking at the New Balance WR1012 and the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 side-by-side gives a good comparison of the two motion control running shoes.

At first glance, both running shoes look very similar where uppers, midsole, and outsole are concerned. Starting with the midsole, both the New Balance 1012 and the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 have reinforcement to control pronation and increase stability. Such reinforcement is typical of motion control running shoes.

The uppers of the New Balance WR1012 and the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 both consist of breathable mesh with synthetic overlays. While the New Balance WR1012 has a Lockdown Liner integrated into the lacing system, the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 should provide a more secure fit around the midfoot because of the many overlays that wrap that part of the foot.

The outsoles of the New Balance 1012 and the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 look strikingly similar, but there are a few key difference to note. First off, the entire forefoot of the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 consists of many square lugs which will tend to enhance the flexibility of the running shoe at toe-off.

So the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 should provide you with a smoother ride. However, that's not to say that the New Balance WR1012 is not a flexible running shoe, because it does have similar lugs in addition to flex grooves in the forefoot.

Another key difference in the outsoles lies in the structure of the rubber compartments in the heel. On the New Balance WR1012, there are two compartments, one on the outside and another one on the inside of the heel. The one on the inside of the heel is joined with the forefoot, while the other one is separated.

So where the New Balance WR1012 would excel is if you are a runner who tends to land on the outsides of your heels, because here is where most of the shock will be absorbed on the New Balance WR1012.

The heel on the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 is more segmented. Besides having flex grooves, which will again add to the flexibility of the shoe, there are two main rubber compartments at the back of the heel with two larger ones on the inside an outside of the heel. The one on the inside of the heel is joined with the forefoot just like on the New Balance WR1012.

Because of the greater segmentation, the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 is expected to not only provide optimum shock absorption in the heel, but also provide you with a smoother ride as you transition from heel strike to toe off.

The shapes of the outsoles on the New Balance WR1012 and the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 do not differ much, although the New Balance WR1012 does have more durable rubber than the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 so is expected to give you slightly more mileage.

The Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 weighs approximately 10.0 oz (283 grams), while the New Balance WR1012 weighs approximately 11.4 oz (323 grams), so is 1.4 oz (40 grams) heavier than the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 when you compare motion control running shoes by weight.

If you are looking for a slightly heavier motion control running shoe that provides good stability and pronation control, is somewhat flexible in the forefoot and gives you a secure fit without being too tight, then the New Balance WR1012 might be the running shoe for you.

If you're looking for a light and flexible motion control running shoe that also provides a smooth transition from heel strike to toe off and a secure fit around your midfoot, the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4 is worth looking into.

The suggested retail motion control running shoe price of the New Balance WR1012 is US $129.99, which is almost US $5 cheaper than the Nike Zoom Equalon+ 4, which costs around US $135.

Disclaimer: This running shoe review on www.motioncontrolrunningshoe.org is based on personal research and analysis, and is not claimed to be accurate and/or complete. While the information presented in this review is intended to help you better understand the differences between running shoes, we shall not be held liable for any purchasing decisions you make based on this information. Please use your own good judgment before making a purchase. The owner of this website receives a small compensation whenever you buy a product after clicking a product link on this website; that's how we keep this site online. Read our full disclaimer.