The Verdict Up Front

The New Balance Freeze LX V4 is the best cleat New Balance has ever put on a lacrosse field. It belongs in serious conversation with anything Nike or Under Armour is selling at this price point. If you’ve been sleeping on NB because of brand bias, wake up.

Who This Is For

The New Balance Freeze LX V4 is built for the serious player — high school varsity through collegiate level — who prioritizes lateral quickness. It won’t fall apart mid-season. It works across all positions, but attack and midfield players who change direction constantly will get the most out of what this cleat does well. Budget-wise, you’re looking at the $120–$140 range depending on where you shop. That’s premium tier, not entry level. If you’re playing JV rec ball twice a week, there are cheaper options. If you’re putting in real minutes, this is your price range anyway.

What Works

Traction is genuinely excellent. The V4’s cleat plate uses a mixed-stud configuration — longer studs at the heel and forefoot, shorter ones through the midfoot. It locks in on natural grass without the sliding you get from cleats that haven’t been updated since 2019. On turf, it’s more than competent. The grip on wet grass is where this cleat separates itself; a lot of cleats in this price range go from fine to liability the second it rains. The New Balance Freeze LX V4 stays planted.

Lateral stability is the headline feature. New Balance reinforced the TPU plate and widened the base to handle the side-to-side cuts lacrosse demands. You feel it immediately. Hard cuts, defensive slides, change-of-direction at full speed — the ankle doesn’t roll, the cleat doesn’t flex out from under you. This is where the V4 earns its price tag.

The upper construction is cleaner than past NB models. The synthetic leather overlay is durable without being stiff, and the fit runs true to size. Break-in time is minimal. You can lace these up game day without the blisters that come with stiffer cleats.

What Doesn’t

The weight is real. The New Balance Freeze LX V4 is not a light cleat. If you obsess over every ounce, you’ll feel these by the fourth quarter of a tournament. New Balance prioritized protection and durability over shaving grams. That’s a legitimate trade-off — but it’s a trade-off.

The cleat plate can collect turf debris. The wider plate that gives you stability also creates more surface area between studs. On certain artificial turf surfaces, small rubber pellets pack in there during play. It doesn’t affect performance dramatically, but it’s annoying, and it means you’re cleaning your cleats more than you might with a narrower profile.

The colorway options are limited. NB is still catching up to Nike on lifestyle appeal. If you’re trying to match your cleat to a specific uniform palette, you might be disappointed with what’s available. Performance cleats shouldn’t live or die by colorways, but the market is what it is.

New Balance Freeze LX V4: Price vs. Value

At $120–$140, this cleat goes directly up against the Nike Huarache 9, which sits in the same range. Here’s the honest comparison: the Huarache 9 is a sharper-looking cleat with a lighter feel and Nike’s brand equity baked in. The V4 beats it on lateral stability, durability, and wet-field traction. The Huarache 9 wins on weight and aesthetics.

If you’re choosing between the two: attack players who want speed and style lean Huarache. Defenders and middies who are on the field every possession should look hard at the New Balance Freeze LX V4. Neither is a bad choice at this price. The V4 makes a different argument — one about function over flash — and it wins that argument convincingly.

Durability is worth calling out specifically. The cleat plate shows minimal wear after heavy use. At $130, a cleat that lasts two full seasons instead of one is a better value than a $110 cleat you’re replacing every spring.

Bottom Line

The New Balance Freeze LX V4 is a premium cleat that delivers premium performance in the areas that matter most for lacrosse. It’s heavier than the competition and doesn’t win style awards. However, it grips the field, protects your ankles, and holds up. Serious players who aren’t buying footwear for the Instagram photo should have the New Balance Freeze LX V4 on their short list. New Balance finally made a cleat worth the conversation.

Editorial note: Retail price range based on 2025 availability. Verify current pricing before publishing. No review unit was provided — assessment based on publicly available product specifications and community feedback.