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0 The ANTA Zone 2 90 sends a disruptive signal across the global running market. It proves that elite supercritical foam no longer requires a S$200+ investment. This shoe targets the everyday athlete who demands race-day energy return in a versatile training package. At a retail price of S$159 (Lazada price), ANTA directly challenges the pricing authority of legacy giants.
Note: Lazada and Shopee has different pricing for Men’s version. I have no idea why. I got mine from Shopee when it was cheaper than Lazada.
The Tech Breakdown: Engineering the “90”
The heart of this shoe lies in the Nitro90 midsole. ANTA utilizes a supercritical nitrogen-infusion process to create a foam that balances extreme lightweight properties with high-velocity rebound.
| Specification | Technical Metric |
| Midsole Material | Full-length Nitro90 supercritical foam |
| Weight (US 11) | 206g (7.27 oz) |
| Heel Stack | 40mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 34mm |
| Drop | 6mm |
| Forefoot Width | 11.5cm |
| Midfoot Width (Narrowest) | 6.5cm |
| Heel Width | 8.5cm |
The Nitro90 foam feels more compressive than Adidas Lightstrike Pro. It offers a deep sink-in sensation followed by an explosive propellant phase. The geometry ensures a stable gait cycle despite the high stack. Which is truly magical once you understood how it did so.
When your foot compresses during your run (black arrow), the foam compresses outwards but it does go overboard. This is because of the red line which acts as a counterbalance also stabilising element for the foam.
The Market Context: The Rivalry
The Zone 2 90 enters a market segment currently occupied by the Adidas Adizero EVO SL and the ASICS Novablast 5. While legacy brands position these as premium super trainers, ANTA offers superior lockdown at a significantly lower price point. What is going on?
The midfoot lockdown and lacing system outperform the EVO SL. Overall, the Zone 2 90 offers a race-like fit for its upper compared to the EVO SL which delivers more relaxed fit. This can be attributed to the Zone 2 90 having a narrower, more aggressive platform. Its dimensions (11.5cm / 6.5cm / 8.5cm) sit tighter than the EVO SL (11.8cm / 7.0cm / 8.7cm).
The ASICS Novablast 5 serves as the primary legacy competitor for bouncy, non-plated geometry. While ASICS utilizes FF Blast Max to provide a trampoline-like ride, ANTA matches this technical performance while undercutting the price by nearly SGD40 to SGD70. Legacy brands often rely on brand heritage to justify higher margins. ANTA instead leads with chemical engineering and aggressive pricing.
The Opinion: Technical Legitimacy Over Logos
For quite long, runners are held by major brands with their price increase and access to premuim performance materials. Back then, the alternative brands have yet reached the stage of being able to comepte. Today, ANTA successfully dismantles the prestige tax with this release. The material quality, comfort, and performance metrics defy the low price point. Fresh Nitro90 foam provides an aggressive, bouncy ride that pushes the runner toward higher efforts.
The shoe excels at a marathon training pace of 5:39 min/km. It resists slower, controlled efforts. Runners will find it difficult to maintain a Zone 2 pace of 6:00 min/km or slower in this pair. The foam rebound actively encourages a faster turnover. This shoe targets runners looking for speed. It remains accessible for all trainers, provided they do not expect a lazy recovery ride.
The value proposition remains the core story. While the retail price is S$159, local market promotions frequently drop the cost to S$131. This price-to-performance ratio makes legacy brand pricing look increasingly arbitrary. ANTA provides an upper lockdown and midsole responsiveness that feels premium.
The Verdict & Local Availability
The ANTA Zone 2 90 is a premier training and racing option for those prioritizing performance over a logo. It delivers a race-ready feel for a fraction of the typical cost. Singaporean runners must exercise caution on wet surfaces. The outsole lacks traction insurance and can feel slippy on wet tiles or the small stoney paths during tropical downpours. On dry pavement, there is nothing to worry.
Our Verdict in 60 Seconds
- The Fit: True-to-size performance lock. The engineered mesh upper secures the midfoot while allowing enough volume in the toe box for swelling during longer efforts.
- The Ride: Aggressive and snappy. The Nitroedge foam provides high energy return that works in tandem with the carbon plate to facilitate quick transitions.
- The Value: At S$159, the Zone 2 90 offers a technical spec sheet that rivals legacy racers costing twice as much.
- Who it’s for: Runners seeking a versatile speed-day shoe or a budget-friendly marathon racer for paces between 4:00/km and 5:00/km.
- The One Caveat: The outsole grip is adequate on dry asphalt but lacks the “traction insurance” of premium compounds like Continental rubber on wet Singaporean tiles.
This is going to be another product which we are super excited to review and test. In our view, it truly aligns with our goals. Finding great products for great prices and bringing it to more people for awareness! If you are thinking about whether or not, go try it, don’t wait.
Singapore Availability:
- Lazada: ANTA Official Store
- Shopee: ANTA Official Store
- Brand Online & Offline: ANTA Online & Retail Stores (Suntec City, Jem, VivoCity)
Whats next?
We will test this more intensively, assessing on its durability and overall running experience. We are also going to publish new review articles for the specific type of runs we put the product to test. Till then, just keep running!
