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The RW Takeaway: One of our all-time favorite simple, soft, and bouncy shoes gets more cushioning and support with virtually no weight increase.
Preceded by: Kleiner Textilkoffer NEW BALANCE
Key Tech: Nitrogen-injected FuelCell midsole foam (TPU and EVA blend)
New Balance originally released the Rebel as more of a light and fast, tempo and speed day shoe. Its debut looked a little weird with a protrusion on the midsole much like a shark fin. The idea was to add stability, though it didn’t really help the über-soft and unpredictable bounce. But by the second version, New Balance pretty much nailed it. Time and time again, we hear runners say the Rebel v2 is a solid top-three pick for them. And, like me, many couldn’t help but use this “technically speed day” shoe for every run. So, NB took the hint and made the v3 even better for daily miles.
Pros
- Sustainable New balance London Flag Short Sleeve T-Shirt
- Very soft midsole with high energy return
Cons
- Still runs slightly short, but truer-to-size than v2
Key Specs
| Type | Neutral Road |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.3 oz (M), 6.0 oz (W) |
| Drop | 6 mm |
Of course, there’s good and bad with the daily trainer transition. The Rebel v3 has more of what its predecessor lacked: the outsole has more rubber coverage to withstand higher mileage, the knit upper feels more durable, and there’s 1.5mm more FuelCell foam underfoot. While those are essential improvements for taking the shoe on long runs, they ruled out the Rebel for those who like a firm ride for racing. Read: Some testers said the boost in durability and comfort came at the cost of a slightly mushier ride, though only a 0.1 ounce weight increase for a men’s size 9.
Still, the Rebel now has a clearer place in New Balance’s lineup. It’s drastically lighter than the SuperComp Trainer and 880 models—the brand’s plusher cruiser and workhorses. For race day, most runners will reach for the SuperComp Elite v3, which you’ll find in our brand new with original box New Balance GC5740PS. That leaves the Rebel v3 as a nimble, soft, bouncy, and still remarkably lightweight contender for daily miles—with the versatility to dip into any run or workout on your training calendar, as needed.
“While the FuelCell Rebel v2 was in my top three shoes of all time, the Rebel 3 just felt average. I called version 2 ‘dangerously fast.’ For me, version 3 is speedy—but not overly so,” said one tester, who most liked the firmer Saucony Kinvara for fast workouts. “V2 got the combo of cushy and responsive just right. V3 felt a little mushy for my personal preference. However, it still responded very well on both long runs and uptempo efforts.”
Tester Feedback
Kerry S. | Tester since 2014
Arch Height: High | Pronation: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
“At first, the shoe felt like it wasn’t spacious enough for my high arches. After just one run, my mind was completely changed. While these shoes appear to run a little small, they are so seamless that they truly feel like having socks on. I almost felt like they were custom made for me because the tongue and upper wrap my feet so well.
“Any time I woke up for my morning run with my legs feeling heavy, I wore the Rebel. Compared to two of my favorite shoes, it did not feel as bulky as the Hoka Carbon X New Balance Donna 327 in Blu Beige Nike Vaporfly. For two-mile runs up to 12-mile runs, these shoes provided plenty of soft cushioning and kept my legs feeling fresh. They feel fast, and I did run my fastest 5K in several years in them.
“The heel lockdown is super secure, even without lacing up to the top eyelets. Traction on wet roads was the only downside, as I found myself slipping on more than one occasion. However, so far the durability has been good—I do not see significant signs of wear after 120 miles.”
