New Balance Cyber Jade Pack - First Impressions:

Runner Reviews | Cal Mills - Neutral - Speed/Race Day

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. 

Above: The New Balance Rebel v4

New Balance Rebel v4:

• 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.

New Balance SuperComp Trainer v3:

• Price: £230.00
• Weight: 262g (UK 9)
• Stack Height: 40 mm / 34 mm
• Drop: 6 mm
• Purpose: Max Cushion Plated Training Shoe

The SC Trainer is now on its third iteration and has been the shoe subjected to most change in the NB lineup over recent years; once a heavy, high-stacked rocker and then a complete u-turn changed this into a more lightweight, nimble shoe with emphasis on springing off from the toe… Now we get a mixture of the two, but as the famous phrase suggests, third time might just well be the charm. 

Midsole: The SC Trainer gets a big chunk of FuelCell cushioning, NB’s proprietary foam which is used on the racing-specific SC Elite. In addition, somewhere in the middle of this thick layer of foam is a full-length carbon-plate designed to propel you forward in a responsive manner. In an attempt to clear things up for the reader, the SC Elite and the SC Trainer have a different geometric make-up in the midsole which ensures a completely different ride - the SC Trainer is meant to feel plush and broader compared to the rigid, more aggressive SC Elite.

Fit: Again, the SC Trainer, SC Elite and the Rebel v4 use the FantomFit technology. However, on the SC Trainer, extra padding has been added around the heel counter and the tongue to increase comfort over the longer distances. I may fear wearing the SC Elite for a marathon-specific long run given its history of giving achilles blisters, but the Trainers are much more comfortable for everyday use.

Stack: It was actually the v1 of this shoe which created the ‘illegal’ stack-height conversation in running shoes, but now they sit firmly in the legal height category which makes them a pretty strong contender for a race-day option.

Final Thoughts

The Cyber Jade pack as a whole. Yes, the SC Trainer is softer and more comfortable. And yes, the Rebel is more nimble and lightweight. But ultimately, both are descendants of the SC Elite v4 using the same midsole blend, same carbon-plate (for SC Trainer only) and exact same FantomFit technology on the upper. 

The SC Trainer, however, is very fun and running at an easy pace on a long run probably doesn’t feel as effortless. For this reason, I would recommend the SC Trainer v3 to those who are in the market for a plated-super trainer like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 and the Puma Deviate Nitro 3, for example, but want a softer, plusher ride than what those shoes offer.

Furthermore, the SC Trainer is a fantastic introduction to carbon-plated trainers for those who may not be ready for the lightweight, ultra-responsive ride they offer. The SC Trainer is slightly heavier and more supportive than virtually all racing shoes which makes it a great option for someone thinking about a carbon-plate but not quite sure which one is for them. For a casual runner, the Trainer is also a brilliant race-day option which will likely last 200-300 miles more than other race-day trainers.