The rundown: The SuperComp Rebel is a carbon-plated shoe made for everyday training. Unlike race-day super shoes, the ride is less aggressive and more stable. We like wearing it for speedwork and long runs because it provides snappy turnover on a cushioned platform.
New Balance released back-to-back super shoes just in time for the fall racing season: the SuperComp Elite v6 and SuperComp Rebel. We recently covered the SuperComp Elite v6, a racing shoe that is sleeker and sportier than the Elite v4 and v5. It has an accommodating midfoot (a wink to that dad shoe comfort), and new, bouncy TPEE Infinion foam offset with an Energy Arc carbon plate that promotes propulsion. TPEE is high-performance thermoplastic polyester elastomer, a foam that’s more durable, more lightweight, and delivers more rebound than the formerly gold-standard PEBA.
New Balance SuperComp Rebel
New Balance SuperComp Rebel
Pros
- Broad platform makes running more stable
- Bouncy Infinion foam with propulsive plate and rocker profile
Cons
- Some found the fit narrow; shoe is available in a wider fit
| Type | Neutral Road: Everyday training, speedwork |
| Foam | TPEE |
| Weight | 7.8 oz (M), 6.2 oz (W) |
| Drop | 4 mm |
| Stack Height | 40 mm |
The new, first-of-its-kind SuperComp Rebel is a companion trainer to the SuperComp Elite v6. It’s intended to make your training runs feel easier and faster during the lead-up to race day. While the jury is out on why it’s good or bad to run in racing shoes every day, the SuperComp is that shoe for daily training, so you can keep those race-day kicks fresh.
We tested the shoe on all kinds of runs and spoke with New Balance-sponsored athlete Alex Yee, who explained how the SuperComp Rebel fits in his quiver of trainers—and how it can fit in yours, too.
When to Run in the SC Rebel
At the Runner’s World Shoe Summit last November, New Balance gave us a sneak peek at the SuperComp models. When reps introduced the SuperComp Rebel, they said its purpose was to help you feel faster on everyday runs.
We know the rush that comes from running in a snappy, ultralight super shoe, like the SuperComp Elite v6, for all your workouts. However, it’s wise to do only a couple of test runs in your super shoes and then save them for races so you can benefit from that “reserved for race day-only” mindset. For all those other runs leading up to race day, that’s where a shoe like the SuperComp Rebel comes in. It allows you to feel those training gains and save your race-day pair for the big finale.
Yee likes to use the SuperComp Rebel in between his races because it helps condition his legs for competing.
“I’ve always been looking for something from New Balance to be able to support kind of a fast, tempo day,” he said on a video call. For Yee, the SuperComp Rebel is “something which feels very similar to race day, but also not quite as aggressive, not quite as harsh on the body.”
“It’s a shoe I can take on the track, but it’s also a shoe that I can take onto the trails as well, and run tempo runs on the trails,” he said.
Why the SC Rebel Feels Faster
The SuperComp Rebel shares some features with the SuperComp Elite v6. The TPEE-based Infinion midsole, for example, is tuned to provide more energy return than the Infinion foam in the brand’s max-cushioned 1080v15.
The Energy Arc carbon plate is positioned below the midsole in the forefoot area with cutouts to reduce weight. A rocker profile encourages smooth transitions.
Yee noted the difference using Infinion foam over PEBA-based FuelCell (the foam used in previous SuperComp Elites) during testing. The toe-off was snappier because of Infinion foam’s higher energy return working with the propulsion of the carbon plate and rocker shape.
Why the SC Rebel Feels Familiar
While running in the shoe myself, I couldn’t help directly comparing the SuperComp Rebel to an earlier version of the SuperComp Elite: the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4. The fourth iteration of the SuperComp Elite appealed to runners for its deviation from other super shoe models. I made the connection while testing the shoe; it felt more stable because of its broader platform that didn’t cause me to roll my ankles.
Yee validated my observation, mentioning unprompted how the shoes also felt similar on our call.
“I think the [FuelCell SuperComp Elite] v4 was always the most approachable shoe in terms of openness to people racing in the marathon,” he said. “If you wanted to start entering into the super shoe market, and the carbon plate, I think that was the shoe that was perfect for it.” He noted how it has a slightly more stable feel.
As similar as the Elite v4 and SuperComp Rebel seemed, I liked how the SuperComp Rebel didn’t feel taxing on my foot, unlike the v4.
Testing the SC Rebel
Testing the shoe, I definitely wasn’t Alex Yee–fast (Yee ran 13:27.29 in the 5,000 meters at Monaco Diamond League this past July), but my workouts had some extra pep.
I took the SuperComp Rebel on a long run that was a mix of pavement and trail. I understood Yee’s comment on how efficient the shoe performs off-road. The outsole is quite tacky; I didn’t slip on the wet dirt that splattered the trail the day after a rainfall—though the white FantomFit upper needs some scrubbing.
If you’re looking for a super shoe with a broader base and more stability, the SuperComp Rebel is a good choice that comes at a slightly more affordable price point (the SuperComp Elite v6 is $275). Think of the shoe as your carbon plate free pass; it’s the super shoe you can use for everyday runs.
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Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
