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New Balance Cyber Jade Pack - First Impressions
From the outside an eye-catching aqua blue contrasted with bright white could often be mistaken for an admittedly attractive, but rather probable colourway drop. However, for more eagle-eyed running-shoe fans, the Cyber Jade pack finally marks the dawn of a new era for New Balance (NB) with a first complete look at their full range.
Over the past twelve months, we've been treated to a flurry of exciting new releases by NB who have not held back in their innovative marketing campaigns and bold colourways. First up was the release of a new-look daily trainer - the 1080 v13.
This was a precursor to the biggest launch in the brands' recent history with a huge upgrade to their racing offering - the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4. Following major upgrades at either end of the running-shoe spectrum, the Cyber Jade release ultimately ties a string of upgrades together with revisions to almost everything in between.
Price: £140.00
Weight: 212g (UK 9)
Stack Height: 30mm/ 24mm
Drop: 6mm
Purpose: Speedwork / Tempo / Everyday
On first inspection, as is the case with many running shoes in this day-and-age, you may well mistake the Rebel v4 with its older brother if you will, the top of the range NB SC Elite v4. In fact, you might also mistake it with the SC Pacer and SC Trainer as they all share virtually the same colorway, but that is a different discussion. The Rebel, according to NB, "will become your go-to shoe for any kind of run" due to its wide versatility and very reasonable price-point.
Given most components of the shoe have been altered compared to the v3, it would be easier to quickly run through the major changes on the all-new Rebel:
Midsole: Now a healthy blend of PEBA / EVA (all-EVA before) which gives the shoe a much more responsive 'race-esque' feel. PEBA is the foam used on the SC Elite which makes the Rebel a natural training companion to the chunkier, carbon-plated racer.
Unlike most 'one shoe does it all' shoes, the Rebel does NOT have a carbon plate. For me, I like the idea to not 'throw one in' for the sake of it; if you're looking for a plated-everyday trainer then there are plenty of options out there (see: Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, Puma Deviate Nitro 3, etc.), but the Rebel has a pure feeling that you don't often get in modern trainers.
Fit: Like most new releases from NB, the Rebels have also been given 'FantomFit' technology. In short, this is a revised technology from years ago which uses a heat-bonded film to create a seriously thin upper whilst retaining comfort and breathability.
Stack: An immediate change from most shoes on the market is the stack height. In total it is 3mm up on the Rebel v3, but still offers a ground-feeling sensation you don't see much. The low-stack means the Rebel is nimble enough to handle plenty of tight corners at high speed, some light trail / gravel paths and of course, long straight roads where the PEBA foam really comes into its own.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think the NB Rebel v4 is an excellent choice and would provide a sensible purchase for runners of all abilities. I've tested this shoe from easy runs, all the way to threshold reps at sub-5:00/mi and I can honestly say it handles both fairly comfortably.
Some days, you want a daily trainer to soak up all the impact and give you a little bit more 'pop' than usual - due to the inclusion of PEBA foam and the striking geometric similarities to the SC Elite, the Rebel offers this in abundance.
Likewise, training in carbon-plated shoes every week can not only be expensive, but can also minimise the adaptation of micro-muscles in the calves and feet, leading to possible imbalances and a reliance on shoes to run fast. Given the Rebel is void of a carbon-plate, I think it's a great shoe to lean on for tempo / threshold training which, come race-day, will allow you to massively feel the benefit of the carbon plate in your shoe of choice.
I think it's the first shoe I've used which I'd be comfortable doing any run in, including racing. Whilst not ideal for the latter, the shoe is lightweight, fast and extremely comfortable in all situations and at £140.00, cannot be beaten in value.
Up & Running
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