National distance runner and New Balance athlete Vanessa Lee shares all about New Balance’s latest Rebel v4, with host John Yeong in the latest iteration of "Sole Mates"
"Sole Mates" is a series made by runners created for runners, and a SportPlus.sg initiative to help you find the right running footwear for you and your runs.
As part of this series, SportPlus.sg has teamed up with local running content creators, Key Opinion Leaders and athletes to have them share their thoughts on the latest running footwear.
In a special tie-up with New Balance, SportPlus.sg kicks off the 2024 "Sole Mates" season with a series of 'Run Your Way' shoe reviews in the lead up to this year's Nagoya Women's Marathon on Sunday, 10 March 2024.
Teaming up with New Balance athlete Vanessa Lee to find out if the New Balance Rebel v4 can be your perfect Sole Mate, SportPlus.sg dives into New Balance's latest daily trainer to understand how it fares against the Rebel V3 and other trainers across the same bracket.
National runner Vanessa impressively clinched the Great Eastern Women's Run and Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon half-marathon titles in 2023, and her success has inspired many aspiring athletes in Singapore and beyond as she continues to be an influential figure in the running community.
You can read up on our special Vanessa Lee feature here.
New Balance has once again raised the bar in the world of performance footwear with its latest daily trainer, the highly anticipated FuelCell Rebel v4. The New Balance FuelCell Rebel series has been a widely popular choice for runners since its first release in 2019. This versatile daily trainer has been known to inject speed into daily runs, intervals, and speed workouts ever since.
Engineered for pace and agility, these shoes combine cutting-edge technology with sleek design, offering runners an exhilarating experience with every stride. While the Rebel v4 stays true to its Rebel DNA, New Balance has made some changes to deliver even better performance and comfort for runners.
Crafted to be light and fast, it is built with FuelCell foam to deliver maximum propulsion and speed with minimal weight. The FuelCell Rebel v4 might just be your newest go-to shoe for any kind of run.
In this episode of "Sole Mates", Vanessa Lee shares with us three key features of the Rebel v4, coupled with her own personal experience using the shoe. Featuring a ‘Spice Blue with Limelight and Blue Oasis’ campaign colourway, does this shoe live up to its hype?
Responsive FuelCell Midsole
At the middle of the FuelCell Rebel v4 lies its revolutionary midsole technology. Powered by New Balance's iconic FuelCell foam, these shoes provide an unparalleled level of responsiveness and energy return. Whether you're sprinting on the track or tackling long distances on the road, the FuelCell midsole propels you forward with each step, helping you maintain your pace and push past your limits. The pair measures 30mm in the rearfoot and 24mm in the forefoot, leading to an overall drop of 6mm.
How does the Rebel v4 achieve this? The geometric FuelCell midsole is made with a new 20% PEBA and 80% EVA blend which provides a taller and wider bed of lightweight cushioning, while also maintaining that propulsive feel.
The Rebel v4 introduces an innovative blend of PEBA and FuelCell foam in its midsole, featuring a higher stack height and broader platform. This enhances both protection and stability, making it ideal for long-distance running.
The cushioning is soft enough to absorb impact, yet firm and supportive for maximum propulsion. Despite these enhancements, the midsole maintains its lively and responsive feel, ensuring it remains suitable for faster runs. Besides responsiveness, let’s find out how the shoe delivers in terms of stability.
FantomFit Technology
A breathable mesh upper utilises FantomFit technology for added bonded support. Upper features a no-sew construction for a sleek fit and feel. To go along with the more versatile, distance-friendly midsole, the Rebel v4 has a whole new fit thanks to the updated Fantom Fit upper, which our testers praised for its irritation-free comfort and lightweight on-foot feel. In Singapore’s humid weather, these features would be a plus-point if you prioritise comfort in your daily trainers.
The upper has been redesigned with a Fantom Fit construction, offering ultra-light bonded support. It balances lightweight comfort with secure fit. Additionally, the forefoot has been adjusted to provide more space, accommodating a wider range of foot shapes comfortably. Overall, the New Balance Rebel v4 combines futuristic aesthetics with performance-driven features, offering runners an appealing choice for their training needs.
Vanessa emphasised, “These shoes have a very, very good lockdown. I would say that you don’t even have to tie a runner’s lace for the extra lace hole at the back. When I first wore it, I felt that the normal lacing was more than sufficient to keep my foot locked down in the shoe.”
Updated Outsole Pattern
Taking a closer look at the outsole of the shoe, New Balance has changed the coverage and design of the outsole completely. A new rubber consisting of a mixture of compounds and a new outsole pattern design, how could these updates possibly translate to better performance during runs you may wonder?
Vanessa says, “The outsole is actually made out of 55% rubber, but I personally have not run the shoe in rainy conditions yet. I did try the shoe on the roads and on the track, I really had no issues with the grippiness of the shoe.”
“I really, really love the formula of the sole itself. Compared to the v3, they did take off about a bit of weight. Overall, it does make the shoe very versatile where you get the responsiveness, the lightweightness so you can take it on your easy runs. There is really a lot of cushion there, you can take it on your tempo runs, where you can get a bit faster, and even for intervals,” she adds, referring to her favourite part of the shoe.
My Personal Running Experience
“I did try an easy run and I also did an interval workout with this pair of shoes. I was actually really worried, I really liked the Rebel v3 as they are a versatile pair of shoes. When the v4 came out, I was worried that they would change too much about the shoe and I would not like it anymore. But honestly, I did not expect to love it as much as I did.”
Host John Yeong asked, “What is one feature that you think can be improved on for future iterations of the Rebel?”
“I would be nit-picking here but because my foot naturally has a narrow arch, I would prefer the middle portion of the shoe to be wider. Although the v4 has already been widened for more structure and stability, I’m having a little bit of issues when I overwork myself.”
“One thing to note, if you’re in between sizes, you should consider sizing up for the Rebel v4. Personally, the back of the shoe did nudge into the back of my foot a little bit. I would recommend wearing long socks for your runs.” advises Vanessa.
As part of New Balance’s ‘Run Your Way’ campaign, an initiative aimed at celebrating individuality, diversity, and personal expression within the running community, the campaign emphasises the idea that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to running and encourages runners to embrace their unique styles, preferences, and motivations.
The Rebel v4 expresses this idea accurately, serving as a versatile pair for different types of runners. It also stays true to its Rebel DNA, whilst making added improvements to various features of the shoe. With all things considered, here are Vanessa's overall thoughts on the shoe:
Sole Mates Overall Shoe Rating:
Comfort - 4.5/5
Stability - 4.5/5
Responsiveness - 5/5
Grippiness - 4/5
Value for Money - 5/5
Taking all this into consideration Vanessa Lee gave the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 an overall rating of 4.64 Soles, and it is a great option for runners looking for a lightweight and responsive shoe that can handle both long distances and faster-paced runs.
You can purchase the which will be going for S$219 and you can purchase them from Newbalance.com or at any of New Balance’s licensed retailers.