The result is a smooth transition from initial contact and loading response into the stance phases of gait. That said, this shoe can certainly move given the light weight and have a truly fun/bouncy ride, and the foam feels responsive as you pick up the pace.

It’s fast and isn’t overly cushioned, so if you like that ground feel while running, you’ll appreciate this shoe.For me, the only things I would change from v2 are slightly more length (I know some runners who went a half size up in v2) and a few millimeters more stack underfoot to reduce bottoming out and provide a bit more protection for long runs. This was made apparent in the reviews, info from New Balance, and simply be looking at the bottom of the shoe.

We’ve already touched in on the FuelCell foam, and its varying properties across New Balance’s full range of performance shoes.The thin mesh upper is almost see-through and lets heat and vapour escape easily all around the foot. I had no issue with tearing in my Rebel v2 until after 350 miles, but even then the tear was slight. I ran one, long slow run (18 miles), and while it worked, I would prefer a higher cushioned shoe for those runs. The laces in my review pair are incredibly short and don’t allow for heel lock lacing or even a double knot, but they stayed tight on all my runs.

It’s soft and plush working well on recovery days or for longer runs, but the midsole is bouncy and energetic enough to speed things up on tempo days too. It’s easy to forget you’re even wearing any This is especially true because the fit is also incredible. I did not find the Rebel v3 too short or low volume, but it is less roomy in terms of volume as compared to the Rebel v2. The Rebel’s all-foam midsole feels smooth and natural no matter how fast (or not so fast) you’re running. The FuelCell midsole and lightweight feel make the Rebel a great all-around running shoe that leans into speed work.

The result is a plush and natural feeling transition that ultimately meets up with the firmer full contact outsole portion in the forefoot. The shoe can certainly handle workouts and I've taken this shoe from everything from 4:30 mile pace through 8 minute miles. Fortunately, it’s not too bad with thin socks, and I can still get away with a relatively comfortable fit. Derek: In the image above of Rebel 2 (right) vs Rebel 3 9 (left), the main durability issue for Rebel 2 was the orange outsole, which was very soft and easily abraded blown rubber.

The FuelCell midsole in the first version of the shoe felt denser than the new model; this second version feels lightweight, soft and bouncy. An asymmetric split in the upper combined with offset lacing—reversed compared to what we’ve seen in the Nike Vaporfly Next%— works well. For runners who frequent dirt and crushed rock, the Revel v3 should work fine (of course pavement too! The internal frame of the shoe is narrow, however the upper gives a lot of freedom for a wider foot.I ran on dirt and gravel with the Rebel v3 and the thin outsole and soft midsole don’t offer much protection for larger rocks, but the shoes are so flexible and light that it didn’t bother me.