Is the SuperComp Rebel v1 New Balance’s best running shoe ever? We say yes.

Introduction to the New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1

MEAGHAN: There’s something genuinely exciting about a version one — and the SC Rebel had been building anticipation for a while. We’d heard rumors about a year out, then caught an early look at the shoe in New York last November, so getting it in hand finally felt like a payoff.

If you know the Rebel, the SuperComp (SC from here on out) designation signals a plate, but make no mistake, this is a different shoe from the ground up. The upper is a light, breathable mesh with some light collar padding and a gusseted tongue. It’s built on the last of the SC Elite v4 with 40mm of heel stack, 36mm in the forefoot, and a 4mm drop. The midsole uses a new formulation of Infinion foam (you might recall that name from the 10180 v15), a supercritical ATPU, and, notably, the exact foam found in the SC Elite v6. Rounding things out, a carbon-infused Pebax plate sits just above the rubber outsole in the forefoot for added rigidity and stability. My W7.5 came in at 6.4 oz (183g), which is firmly in race-day territory.

On paper, this thing checks a lot of boxes. But specs only tell part of the story, so let’s talk about how it actually feels on the road.

THOMAS: Can one shoe do it all? Act as a go-to daily trainer, uptempo shoe, rock through race day, and handle a recovery jog? That’s a lot to ask of a single pair, and history says no. The “do-everything” shoe usually ends up doing everything at a B-minus. But the SC Rebel v1 is out here asking us to reconsider, and maybe, just maybe, it’s got the range to actually pull it off.

RYAN: Thomas asked an important question when he pondered whether one shoe can really do it all. For many shoe reviewers, especially those who get as many shoes as he does, the answer is probably no, like he said. However, for those of us who spent a few years in the shadow of Robbe’s small feet, the answer is more like, “yeah, probably.” Would I want just one shoe? No, I’m greedy and obsessed with gear, but there are certain shoes that I think can serve as one-shoe rotations on both roads and trails.

I’m thinking of the classics — Endorphin Speed 3, anyone? No, it wasn’t the most aggressive Endorphin Speed, but it had a smooth geometry and just the right plate placement to open one of the first supertrainers to its widest audience yet. Heck, I still have my pair, and I still bust it out every now and then.

I’m also thinking of modern hits like the Superblast 2. Sure, I could list the Superblast 3, probably, but it’s not ubiquitous quite yet. Instead, I’ll list version two. I’ve run a marathon in that shoe. I’ve also run more than my share of recovery runs in it. It’s a shoe that just kind of checks all the boxes. Would I go for a marathon PR in it? Probably not, but you could take it for 26.2 miles and not have too many issues.

Now, those two shoes are about as different as could be, but they check several boxes. They’re fun, they’re reliable, and they last a long, long time. New Balance has had a few shoes like that, most recently the Fresh Foam Balos, but now it’s trying to add that reputation to a familiar line. Let’s see if it can make another excellent Rebel with a new, even greater set of expectations.

What we like about the New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1

MEAGHAN: Okay, the off-white and bone colorway? Instant favorite. But beyond the looks, the step-in feel is really nice, and it reminded me almost immediately of the SC Elite (not surprising as it’s built on the SC Elite v4 last). The upper is very light and breathable, with a gusseted tongue and FantomFit construction that gives you a snug, secure lockdown. The laces are flat, stretchy, and pretty basic, but they work well.

Underfoot is where things are really happening. The Infinion foam is bouncy and lively, making you want to run. I took this shoe out for easy runs and more than once and found myself clipping along much faster than I anticipated. Paired with the Pebax plate, you get nice propulsion, though it’s worth noting this plate is more flexible than a traditional carbon fiber setup. It’s more of a subtle spring and stability boost, which is a big part of why this shoe sits in the daily trainer bucket rather than the race shoe one. The platform also feels wider and more grounded than you might expect, which is nice for longer efforts.

I ran everything in the SC Rebel, from easy 5-milers to long runs with some pickups mixed in, and the shoe handled it all without complaint. This is that one-quiver shoe that can cover workouts, easy days, and long runs, no problem.

THOMAS: New Balance’s design team clearly had fun with this one. The SC Rebel V1 is built to be a colorway machine, with seemingly infinite combos ready to roll out. On foot, it’s true to size with a breathable upper, a lightly padded collar that doesn’t overdo it, and a heel counter that’s structured without feeling bulky. The gusseted tongue and ribbon laces make dialing in the fit almost too easy.

But let’s be real: the magic here is the supercritical ATPU Infinion midsole. This foam is about as close to perfect for my sensibilities as it gets, firm and soft at once, supportive on landing, with stored energy ready to fire you forward on that rockered geometry. There’s a plate in there too, but it’s not playing the usual stiffening role. The carbon-infused Pebax plate sits far from the foot, separated from the ground by just 1mm of PU rubber, and its job is to hold a slight medial-to-lateral curve while smoothing out the heel-to-toe transition. And while New Balance outsoles don’t usually get much love, this PU unit holds its own with anything else on the market.

I’ve had the SC Rebel v1 for about three months now, which is plenty of time to put it through the paces: easy miles, hard workouts, recovery jogs, all of it. And it delivered across the board. One week, I ran a tempo session in the SC Rebel, then a marathon-pace long run in an actual race-day shoe. Hitting aggressive paces felt easier in the SC Rebel. Thinking it was a fluke, I flipped the order the next week, but got the same result. Between the two, the SC Rebel was the better fast-day shoe for my mechanics. Then, when it was time to shut it down for a recovery run, the Rebel was smooth and forgiving on tired legs. Seventy-plus miles in, it still looks and feels fresh out of the box, no wear on the outsole, no damage to that exposed ATPU foam.

RYAN: I’ve had the SC Rebel v1 for a fraction of the time that my fellow reviewers have, but it’s all I need. This shoe is a certified hit. It’s light, it’s bouncy, it’s soft, and it’s maybe the best-looking shoe on my shelf at the moment. Sorry, Neo Vista 3 and Clifton Pro, your matching colorways can’t top this all-cream killer.

For me, I think the biggest surprise with the SC Rebel v1 comes from its Infinion foam. I ran a few test miles in the most recent New Balance 1080 — the first one to rock Infinion underfoot — and I can’t say I loved it. It felt a lot like the previous version, which I thought was a little dead and a little blocky. So, when I found out that both the SC Rebel and its race-day partner would use Infinion, you could say I was a little worried.

But, as Thomas pointed out, ATPU foam is hot stuff right now. This mix offers just enough of everything, and it’s held up beautifully during my miles so far. It’s been just as comfortable for keeping up with Believe Run Club at a sub-8:00 pace as it’s been for morning recovery runs along the Wildwood sea wall at closer to a 9:30 pace as I dodge beach walkers and kids on bikes alike.

I’ve also had zero issues with fit or lockdown despite being sent a US M8 instead of my usual M7.5. The laces hold fast, and the upper itself sits in all the right places. I’ll be putting a lot of miles on this shoe.

What we don’t like about the New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1

MEAGHAN: The one area where the SC Rebel left me wanting a little more was the upper. It’s comfortable (no hot spots, no complaints on that front), but it just didn’t feel quite as premium as everything happening beneath it. Hard to put my finger on exactly, but it’s one of those things you notice.

My other minor gripe? The price. I went in expecting something in the $150-$160 range — it’s a Rebel, after all. But at $190, I had to do a quick mental adjustment. I suppose when you factor in race-day ingredients, it’s justified. But still a little surprising.

THOMAS: I agree with Meg on both the sub-premium feel of the upper mesh and the $190 price tag. New Balance would have lightning in a bottle with a $165-$175 price tag. However, given the shoe’s versatility, I can justify shelling out $190.

RYAN: I’m actually not surprised at all that this shoe costs what it does. Heck, the Balos, which had a full layer of Fresh Foam X underfoot, cost $200, so I wouldn’t have even been surprised if the SC Rebel v1 had matched. Disappointed? Sure, but not surprised.

My bigger issue, however, is what happens to the tongue when you cinch down the laces. For whatever reason, it seems to bunch up on itself, creating a crease. I didn’t have any issues with the crease, but I could see the resulting gap causing some issues with rubbing for some ankles. It’s mostly just odd to me since no other Rebel has had this same quirk.

Final thoughts on the New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1

MEAGHAN: The New Balance SC Rebel has quickly become one of my favorite shoes from the brand. If you were a fan of the SC Trainer or SC Elite, this one’s going to hit — it feels like New Balance took the best parts of both shoes and merged them into an uptempo trainer. It’s versatile, it’s fun to run in, and it looks great. Yes, $190 feels like a stretch, but if you’re looking for one shoe to handle just about all your runs? This is it.

THOMAS: This is one of the best trainers on the market right now — top five, easily. Best New Balance running shoe of all time? No question.

For reference, here’s where the field stands this year: Asics Superblast 3 ($200), Adidas Hyperboost Edge ($200), On Running Cloudmonster Hyper 3 ($280), Topo Specter 3 ($170), and the New Balance SC Rebel v1 ($190). Stack it up against that company, and the Rebel’s price tag suddenly looks a lot less outrageous.

RYAN: This shoe is excellent — really, truly brilliant. I think it’s New Balance’s answer to the Superblast in a way that shoes like the Balos never were. It capitalizes on the Rebel name while adding meaningful innovation to the line. All of that is excellent. Even the price is appropriate for the shoes it means to compete against.

Personally, though, I think Adidas might still come out on top. Of the shoes Thomas listed, I’ve put by far the most miles into the Hyperboost Edge, and I think that one really is lively enough to act as a one-shoe quiver. It’s soft enough for recovery days, yet the pelletized Hyperboost Pro really does have the giddyup needed for race day. No, it’s not legal in the eyes of World Athletics, but you and I both know they’re not looking at our middle-of-the-pack feet.

You can pick up the New Balance SuperComp Rebel v1 for $190 on September 17 from New Balance by using the buttons below.