
The world of daily trainers has changed a lot in just four years. We're seeing a new generation of shoes that are lighter, faster, comfortable and more versatile than ever before. Choices of daily trainers are no longer limited to Pegasus, Ghost, Ride and Ultraboost.  One shoe that really stands out is the New Balance Rebel. Each edition redefined what we should expect from our everyday running shoes.New Balance shoes used to be hard to find in India, but that's changing. You can now find them in select stores and online, so there's no excuse not to try them out.

<ShoeCard shoeCode="009001004M"></ShoeCard>

I've been a big fan of the Rebel for a while now. Rebel v2 was the first shoe I tried from this new wave of daily trainers, and I was hooked. Now, with the Rebel v4, New Balance has raised the bar once again.  It is a daily trainer with uptempo focus.

So, what makes the Rebel v4 so special? Does it really do justice to all the hype around it?  Read it now.

## What makes up Rebel v4?

True to its name, the shoe looks like a Rebel. With its sharp midsole edges and pointed toe spring, the silhouette is unlike any of the previous versions — it's like a shoe from the future. While it borrows some design elements from the Adidas Adios lineup, it still manages to feel refreshingly new.  I like that it can be mistaken for SC Elite v4, while paying a cheaper price.

**Upper**

The upper is a lightweight mesh that provides excellent breathability and minimal padding to keep the weight low.  The upper mesh feels similar to the mesh found in Puma Liberate Nitro & Deviate Nitro Elite v1 & v2. The mesh is a big improvement on Rebel v2, and keeps its shape well.  Branded as “FantomFit '', the same upper is also used in New Balance's super-shoe SC Elite v4. The mesh is see-through thin in some areas, particularly in the toe box, enhancing ventilation during runs​​. That said, don’t expect any padding in the upper.

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**Midsole**

The midsole of the Rebel V4 uses a new version of New Balance's FuelCell foam. This foam is a blend of PEBA (polyether block amide) and EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), compared to the Nitrogen infused EVA, TPU blend used in previous editions. This new foam is what makes the shoe so special, more about it later in the review.

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The shoe stack has been increased to 30mm now (from 27mm). But this is still low compared to other up-tempo trainers. It has a 6mm drop, making it ideal for midfoot strikers. Midsole on the Durometer feels extremely soft at 15-20 HA.  One of the softest that I have seen for a daily trainer.  The shoe weighs at 218 grams for UK 9.5, which is also one of the lowest for daily trainers with this stack height.

**Heel**

Heel has decent padding for such a light shoe. The midsole’s bevel extends beyond the heel, and the wider midsole below the heel gives it good stability.   The 30 mm midsole is not too high when compared to many other trainers, which also helps the stability. 

**Outsole**

The outsole rubber is not uniformly spread across the entire outsole. Instead, it is placed in critical areas such as the heel and forefoot, where the most wear typically occurs. A decision probably made to keep the weight in check. The rubber has an interesting polygon pattern that helps with traction.  

## Why did you consider the shoe?

Well, there are a few reasons. First off, having used the Rebel v2, I was eager to see how the Rebel v4 stacked up. I'm always on the lookout for a versatile shoe that can handle both daily training and speedwork, as I just started my next marathon training block.  The Rebel seemed to fit the bill. Plus, the initial impressions that I'd read in online forums were overwhelmingly positive. And let me be honest, the fact that it's made with PEBA foam definitely piqued my interest. Oh, and did I mention I found them on sale on Myntra? That sealed the deal.

## Ride Experience

I've clocked over 80 kilometers in these shoes, and I can confidently say they're fun to run in. The shoe has decent bounce, even at slower speeds, and you can definitely feel the responsiveness of that FuelCell foam. It's not as soft as previous editions, so if you're looking for a super plush ride, this might not be your pick. But it helps that you don’t feel it is sinking below the foot. 


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The aggressive rocker is the first thing you'll notice. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it really helps with that smooth foot transition. It's a versatile shoe that's great for easy runs, long runs, and tempo runs. Every workout that I have thrown at it worked great. It's really a do-it-all kind of shoe. However, it is not ideal for short sprints, as the ground feel isn't as pronounced and it's harder to get that explosive push-off. Overall, it's just a really fun shoe. It's light, it's fast, and it makes running enjoyable.

**Comfort and Fit**

The shoe is extremely comfortable and feels incredibly light and fast on foot. However, the aggressive rocker design can cause your toes to curl up, especially if you have a high toe girth like I do. Unfortunately this was further exacerbated by the limited sizing options available on Myntra when I bought the shoe (more options available now). I usually wear a UK 10, but they only had half sizes, so I went with a 9.5. This led to my big toe getting smashed and losing a toenail. Ouch! On the plus side, the heel padding is very comfortable and provides a nice cushion for your foot.

**Stability **

Despite the PEBA foam, which is generally known for being soft and bouncy, which actually doesn’t help much with stability. Most shoes add plates (Carbon or nylon) to add stability.  The stability of the Rebel v4 has been surprisingly great even without a carbon plate. NewBalance nailed the Eva and PEBA compound just right.  Unlike the v2, where my foot felt like it was sinking into the midsole, the v4 provides a more stable platform. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including the wider base and the firmer feel of the foam. Overall, I've been really impressed with how stable the shoe feels, even during tempo runs and workouts.

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**Road Grip**

The road grip is very good on tarred roads.  Even on roads with loose sand, and wet patches, the grip has been decent. The wider base helps with sharp turns as well.

**Aesthetics & Ergonomics**

The shoe's design is truly unique and futuristic. With its bold angles, sharp lines, and pointed toe spring, it looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. I personally love the aesthetic, it is dynamic, feels fast, and it definitely turns heads when I'm out on a run. 

#### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="009001004M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Lightweight Design: Weighs only 218 grams for UK 9.5, ideal for daily training and uptempo runs",
    "Responsive FuelCell Foam: Blend of PEBA and EVA provides a responsive and bouncy ride",
    "Enhanced Breathability: Lightweight mesh upper offers excellent ventilation and keeps weight low",
    "Stable Platform: Wider base and firmer foam provide good stability without a carbon plate",
    "Versatile Performance: Suitable for easy runs, long runs, and tempo runs",
    "Good Traction: Strategically placed rubber with a polygon pattern enhances grip and durability",
    "Comfortable Heel Padding: Provides a smooth and stable ride with decent cushioning",
    "Futuristic Aesthetic: Modern, dynamic design with bold angles and sharp lines"
  ]}
/>
<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Aggressive Rocker Design: Might cause discomfort for runners with high toe girth",
    "Limited Padding in Upper: Minimal padding may not suit runners who prefer more cushioned uppers",
    "Not Ideal for Short Sprints: Less pronounced ground feel makes explosive push-offs harder to achieve"
  ]}
/>


<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
The New Balance Rebel V4 is a versatile and lightweight daily trainer, weighing only 218 grams for a UK 9.5, with a responsive PEBA and EVA blend midsole that offers a bouncy and stable ride. Its minimalist upper provides excellent breathability, while the strategically placed rubber outsole enhances traction and durability. It excels in versatility, making it suitable for easy runs, long runs, and tempo workouts.  Finally it is a fun shoe to run in, and I can say it is probably is right at the top for the best daily trainers list.​
</InfoCard>

New Balance Rebel v4


Original Nike Pegasus Turbo was the first daily trainer with Zoom X foam and is innovative and a trendsetter.  It was supposed to be a training companion for VaporFly 4%. Fun fact the original Pegasus Turbo is reportedly built at the request of Eliud Kipchoge to have a training shoe that closely mimics his race day shoe. The [YouTube promo video](https://youtu.be/e6kmjDjtzEA?si=7GvD0V-arND6oQu3) for Pegasus Turbo featuring Kipchoge is slick. 

I have had two pairs of Pegasus Turbo and loved that flying experience of using Zoom X foam. It is light, extremely agile and bouncy, one of the best speed trainers I've had. Unfortunately, Nike stopped the Turbo line after v2.  

When I heard of Pegasus Turbo Next Nature I was all excited.  However, to my surprise Turbo Next Nature has a totally different story, but equally innovative as the original. It is all about sustainable shoe development.  

Finally, I got to try the shoe.  This review answers some of these questions and more

+ How does it compare to the original Turbo?
+ How is it different from the classic Pegasus line?
+ What purpose does it serve as a running shoe?

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#### What makes up Pegasus Turbo Next Nature?

The shoe profile is similar to Pegasus 40 then to the original Turbo.  Here is a graphic that overlays the outlines of Pegasus Turbo Next Nature, Pegasus 40 and the original Pegasus Turbo.

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When compared to the original turbo, the toe spring is less pronounced so is the heel bevel, but is better than Pegasus 40. The girth at the toe-box is much higher than the original Turbo and Peg 40.

Pegasus Turbo Next Nature has some unique features.  It is the second of Nike shoes which are branded “Next Nature”, which is Nike’s line of sustainable shoes that have more than 50% of the weight made of recycled materials. 

##### Midsole

The midsole uses two different foams - Zoom X and possibly React.  This is similar to the original Pegasus Turbo, and more recent Nike Vomero.  However, the key difference is the Zoom X foam used here is recycled scrap generated during the manufacturing process of other Nike shoes. 

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Like Pegasus, the shoe has a 10mm drop heel-to-toe drop, making it a versatile shoe and can accommodate a variety of foot strike patterns.  Stack height is 32mm, which is 1mm lower than Pegasus 40.

Midsole on the Durometer shows quite soft at about 24 HA.  Shoe as a whole weighs in at about 282 grams for Men’s 10 UK, which is on the lower average of daily trainers, and 10-15 grams lighter than Pegasus 40.

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##### Upper

The upper is FlyKnit, which is Nike’s brand of knit upper. Interestingly Nike claims, the yarn used is 100% recycled, and was dyed using a new process that saves 70 litres of water for every kilogram of yarn.  The upper differs from Pegasus 40 which uses an engineered mesh. I have run in a few Nike’s FlyKnit shoes in the past (Nike Free RN, Zoom Fly FK),  but this upper is the thickest I have seen. 

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The upper has a vibrant and intricate pattern with multiple colors, including shades of blue, pink, black and white. The swirling lines and color contrasts throughout the Flyknit adds to the visual appeal but also adds a lively look to the shoe, and makes the shoe stand out. 

The upper has five inlets for the laces, and is also missing the extra inline for heel lock lacing.  I guess this decision is because FlyKnit fits very snug to the foot, hence eliminated.  

##### Heel

Heel has decent padding, and has a stiff counter.  However the pull tab is surprisingly missing which comes as standard on all the Nike’s Flyknit shoes.  The extended bevel at the heel and harder foam 

##### Outsole

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Outsole has plenty of recycled rubber, which means better grip and more durability.  The lug pattern is quite unique but does have the signature of the pegasus series, and has a very good aesthetic appeal. 

#### Why did I consider this shoe?

I have had two pairs of Pegasus Turbo and loved that flying experience of using Zoom X foam. When I saw the pictures of Turbo Next Nature, it looked cool. The swirling lines and color contrasts throughout the Flyknit added to the visual appeal, and made the shoe stand out. But it's not cheap, and the price was a deterrent. 

Thankfully, it went on sale after a year or so, and I was like, "Alright, why not?" I mean, it's a Turbo, and I always loved FlyKnit. It turned out to be a good daily trainer for base building for my upcoming marathon.

#### Ride In Pegasus Turbo Next Nature

I've put over 150 kilometers on this shoe so far, and it's proving to be a very good daily trainer. No break-in is needed. I have run a few long runs over 20K including a 30K.  I have also used it for a speed workout which involved 16 repeats of 400m at VO2Max.  

I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed with the bounce. Despite the softness of the midsole, it feels surprisingly firm. The thin insole is probably the culprit there. It feels different from the regular Pegasus in terms of ride, and the lack of Air Pockets makes it feel much flatter.

That being said, it doesn't get in the way of your running. For easy runs, it's incredibly comfortable and feels very natural. It's become my go-to shoe for those days. On speed runs, it lacks that pep and bounce I was hoping for, but it gets the job done. For long runs, it feels less "underfoot" than I'd like.

##### Fit & Comfort

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The upper though is of FlyKnit it is thick and not as breathable as the Pegasus.  But it offers a good fit. In fact, it's one of the best-fitting shoes I've ever worn. The toe box and forefoot are just right and mold to your foot. It reminded me of the Nike Free RN – I always loved those knit uppers. It feels very light and just fits like a glove. It’s flexible and moves with your foot. Fit wise it is much better than the Pegasus.

##### Stability

While it doesn’t have any stability features, it does feel quite stable for a shoe with a narrow base and Zoom X foam. It's as stable as the regular Pegasus. The midfoot feels stable enough. No issues there, considering the relatively lower stack height. 

The heel is perfect too. Lacing is good too. The lack of extra eyelets didn’t bother me much because the fit is perfect. That said, the laces were a bit too long and required some attention to keep them in check.

##### Road Grip 

I've found the grip to be excellent on regular roads. I couldn’t test it on slippery surfaces, but based on what I’ve seen it would probably perform well.

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##### Aesthetics

This shoe is a head-turner. One of the best-looking shoes I've ever seen. Especially the upper, vibrant and intricate patterns, the swirling lines and color contrasts throughout the Flyknit it stand out. I really liked that color asymmetry that I see on my pair. I can wear it all day long. It’s a conversation starter in the running group for sure.

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#### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="002016000M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "The FlyKnit upper provides a snug, comfortable fit that many runners will appreciate. It's described as flexible, light, and glove-like",
    "Despite the lack of dedicated stability features, the shoe feels surprisingly stable, thanks to the narrow base and Zoom X foam",
    "The 10mm heel-to-toe drop makes it suitable for various running styles and distances.",
    "The Outsole provides excellent traction on regular roads.",
    "The vibrant colorways and unique design make this shoe a head-turner and a conversation starter.",
    "The shoe utilizes recycled materials and is a part of Nike's 'Next Nature' initiative, making it an eco-friendly choice for runners."
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
"Despite the presence of Zoom X foam, the shoe lacks the expected bounce and feels firm due to the thin insole.",
"The FlyKnit upper, while comfortable, is not as breathable as the regular Pegasus.",
"The shoe was initially priced high for a daily trainer, though you may be able to purchase it at a discount."
  ]}
/>


<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
Overall, the Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature is a solid daily trainer with a focus on
sustainability and a very comfortable fit. However, its lack of bounce and relatively high 
price point might be drawbacks for some runners.
</InfoCard>

Reviews

New Balance Rebel v4

Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature