Best For

Welcome to a daily trainer with some pep under step! The New Balance Rebel v3 is an exceptional shoe on the softness scale for neutral road running shoes. Runners around the world buy the Rebel v3 for the bounce and forgiveness under step…. AND it is lightweight, more on that feature in the midsole section below. Tempos and fartlek runs are the bread and butter for the Rebel line.

Upper

The evolution of the New Balance Rebel v3 is nothing short of impressive. From the first iteration, which was great, to this 2022 edition, New Balance really has struck gold with this newer road running shoe. The upper scores on the Rebel are 8s across the board, definitely the best Rebel upper to date. The key feature that New Balance enhanced with the Rebel v3 is the collar and the heel counter. As I always say in the Shoedio, the “gentle achilles tendon hug” is what you will experience in the heel flare (elf heel), it’s exceptional. New Balance running shoe engineers placed the perfect amount of padding in that heel counter. 

For the summer months, your feet will have a nice breathable experience. The engineered mesh is spot on for breathability. And the vamp, which is the medial and lateral side of the toebox, where the upper attaches to the midsole, this has been reinforced from the second iteration of the New Balance Rebel line up. Yes, in 2021, the “Rebel-Rip” was a newly developed phraseology within running circles around the world. Many, maybe not all, but many New Balance Rebel v2 vamps tore or ripped on the lateral, and sometimes the medial side of the shoe. Bottom line, New Balance fixed this issue, and the upper has certainly improved from the v2. Last quick point, it is a semi-gusset for the tongue attaching to the inner wall, perfect work New Balance.

Midsole

Buttery soft, there’s no better way to explain the feel under step for the Rebel v3. You can stick your thumbs into that midsole like butter on a hot summer day. It’s soft, and it’s nice for bounce and babying the legs a little bit. The FuelCell foam has increased in volume (girth) and width compared to the v2. Some runners felt a little unstable in the v2, hence the growth in midsole size from Rebel v2 to Rebel v3. Overall, the feel understep for the New Balance Rebel v3 is peppy and lightweight, and without a plate inside the midsole it still gives you back some nice energy return. I would use this neutral road running shoe for tempo runs, fartleks, and upbeat daily training days, mostly in the 6-10 mile range; some runners have reported 5K and 10K racing success in the New Balance Rebel v3, I buy it! 

Outsole

New Balance labels this outsole the “NDurance.” They chose to increase the amount of blown rubber in order to help the durability of the shoe. This engineering move was wise to help increase the overall lifespan, despite it adding a little more weight from the v2. For the forefoot strikers out there, you will love the tacky feel you receive through the toe landing and toeoff, the outsole rubber is just perfect for gripping the pavement on your local running loops.

Would I Buy This Shoe Again?

I would absolutely buy this neutral road running shoe again, and especially since it is on sale now! For the runners out there who want to be in charge of the shoe, and not have the shoe be in charge of you, the New Balance Rebel v3 is primed and ready. If you prefer a little more guidance, but still want a fun and energetic ride understep, consider the Hoka Mach 5, another great neutral road running shoe from this past year.