New Balance Rebel v4 vs Asics Novablast 4

The New Balance Rebel v4 and Asics Novablast 4 are two freshly released everyday running shoes priced at $140. Over the past few weeks, I've taken both to 100 miles, running 23 mile long runs, 20 mile double days and everyday runs. Here are my thoughts on how they compare and who they're best for.
0:00 - Overview
2:13 - Midsole
7:32 - Upper & Fit
13:16 - Outsole & Durability
16:12 - The Ride
21:18 - Who They're Best For
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[@EricPepperMedia]

I want them both!

[@alexgener4309]

I have a chronic hip pain which, sadly, rears its ugly head usually about 45mins into a run. I realized I can go for a couple of hours on the Novablast 4. So your opinion on how protective the NB4 is on long runs is on point.

[@luisrazormax2861]

Im considering these two, but just bought puma deviate nitro 2. I hope for future iteration for both of these shoes for another purchases

[@kuriosites]

These two could definitely coexist in a rotation. I noticed the arch in the Rebel V3. If you try a Skechers shoe later, switching the insole also helps decrease the Skechers lump.

[@supwell]

that's a good tip with the skechers - i'm planning to test some soon

[@tuckertech]

Team late night!

[@Mel-md6cb]

Unfortunately that trampoline pad is what killed me with the Novablast 3. Wasn’t sure if it needed breaking in or not, but that forward pod created toe joint pain. Loved the shoe/foam otherwise. Switched to a Rebel v3 and couldn’t be happier. Trying to decide between these two again.

[@Shipwreckruns]

I have a narrow foot and both of these have me wondering if I should go a size down

[@GarlicOnions]

The size of the NB rebel seems smaller on other brands. I bought asics nimbus 26, adidas boston 12 and rebel v4 at size 42 but NB rebel v4 looks and fit smaller despite having same size

[@QronoZ713]

Ghost 16 coming for the crown?! Wow, didn't see that coming...

[@nicksantos7586]

10:24 so that’s how you tie your shoes! haha been trying to figure it out the past few vids

[@supwell]

Haha yeee I also posted a tutorial in the KZbin shorts section that shows it in depth - and a section in the novablast first run review (check out the description of that one)

[@Maochan81]

Only problem with Novablast 4 is that it's running pretty hot. I will definitely have to put them to rest in summer. Wish they made a summer version with mesh upper.

[@coolmon26]

First, your a beast with those miles( run a few for me). 2nd, I watch a lot of shoe reviews and I do like yours best, I’m an army guy and it’s alway better to have to much info then to little. Lastly, I always hear things like, “ shoes is missing that pop, fast shoe, long mile shoe. But for those normal ppl( not you) that don’t run at an 8pace, or even a 9 pace, does not having a pop matter. And very few times you’ll say” it takes about 30miles to break in”. Haha I have given up on shoes at 10miles in and later hear how great the shoe was. So little brother give more info so my wife can stop saying “ why you taking it back now”😮

[@supwell]

I don't mind when shoes don't have that pop most of the time because I run a lot of my miles at a relaxed pace - so if you're not concerned with pace, a shoe like the Novablast that is super comfortable but doesn't have a ton of that pop/fast feeling is a great choice. And btw some shoes have taken me 50 miles to break in 🤯

[@fecardona]

Yup, that’s GOAT level of weekly mileage, w/o being an elite as Yowana explains. Just a LOT of weekly miles…wish we all could.

[@pranayama-running-Jendrik]

Maybe it‘s late night in your time zone. I just woke up and it‘s 4:47 am here in Germany 🙏😍 Time for some yoga and cold showering before work 🙌 O would describe the feeling after I’ve done some yoga like I‘m energetically aligned again and cold showering is way easier than 😁🫶🏻 And I‘m working on some flexible too which means I‘m improving my running as well 😍🙌

[@JonPasq]

The Elizabeth Warren comment 😂 Great review, and thanks for sharing!

[@sakethromps1170]

Yup the midfoot arch on rebel is an issue... but i have been wearing it for almost 2 weeks for short runs and it seems to be going away

[@lhotkowski]

Yeah same. I start to get a slight blister on both feet on my arch closer to the ball of my feet. A little moleskin fix but I was wondering if there were any other options.

[@sheldonjanuary4058]

With the different feel of the FFBlast+ foam in the Novablast, do you expect the foam to last longer than it did in your Gel-Nimbus 25?

[@supwell]

Yeah I think since this is firmer it will last longer. At 100 miles there are barely any signs of wear

[@infernaltim]

Seeing as how you seem to really love the Novablast 4, I'd really be interested in your take on those vs the NB 1080V13. I went with the 1080V13 due to hearing the exact complaints with the Novablast slippery outsole that you expressed, but there's still that nagging FOMO from not trying the Novablast myself. 😂

[@supwell]

I like both of them but they give super different rides - 1080 is pillow soft while the novablast is firmer. Both are great for cranking out relaxed miles but I love the 1080 for true recovery days. Novablast I could use more as an everyday running shoe and put some pace pick up in it - with the 1080 I don't even like doing strides. I prefer the novablast for 2+ hour long runs though because the firm foam tends to feel more protective and give a bit more pop at the end of those efforts

[@infernaltim]

@@supwell Solid explanation, thank you!!

[@grey_fox7]

​@supwell why does the firmer foam feel more protective? That almost seems counterintuitive?

[@supwell]

great question - in this case it's not the firmness that makes it feel more protective but the amount of foam you're getting - the novablast is much taller and the foam also wraps around the sides, so there's great impact absorption as well as stability. the rebel's foam is thinner so you can feel the ground more, which isn't the most protective for longer runs. also the softness of the rebel foam makes it compress more, so there's not as much impact absorption as the firmer novablast foam, which feels like it stands up to more weight/force better @@grey_fox7

[@ezsand0077]

As a heel striker, I went from ghost 15 (12mm)to Saucony ride 17 (8mm)drop. Looking for something in between as daily trainer. What do you recommend? I average 3-6 miles a day.

[@southboy18]

Saucony triumph is 10mm and a good daily

[@derringera]

I'll second the Saucony Triumph. The Triumph 20 is nearly 2 models old but it's the same foam as the Ride 17. I can find Triumph 20s for below $70. One of the better deals out there.

[@damiang27]

I have the cloudmonster and Mach 5, which one do you reccomend from rebel and novablast? I am still fairly new to running but do run a lot on the treadmill because of Orange Theory. Would love to hear your suggestion

[@supwell]

If you're looking to use one of these for orange theory I would take the rebel. It's lighter and I prefer it for walking and gym use. I also prefer the rebel for shorter and faster runs up and novablast for 1 hour+ runs

[@BoLTaGeScOpeR]

As a beginner which one do you recommend?? I have run for a month , already did a 10 k so I want to know which one I should pick for my daily a shoe

[@supwell]

of these two i would suggest the novablast! it's more comfortable and cushioned. another good option is the hoka mach 6. it has more cushion than the rebel v4 but is still light and bouncy

[@klipk7296]

4:33 - Agree. Feels like insane misdirection to the point where they might as well just not brand their own foams anymore. There's nothing meaningful I can gather from the names that brands give their foams. Really wish they would just speak to us in plain english like "the foam of xyz shoe has an emphasis on softness with bounce while also being mindful of structure and support", or "this foam is firm with a mild amount of give so that you can run fast with a bit of protection"

[@user-rp6vf9kb6i]

I'm looking for a shoe to wear for the Boston Marathon in 3+ weeks. I've run 3 marathon's in Ghost 14s and am currently training in NB 880's I am a solid 4 hour marathoner, 62 yrs old at 112 pounds. Do you think the Rebel v4 would be a good shoe for Boston? If not, advise please! Janet

[@supwell]

I wouldn't suggest the rebel v4 for a full marathon - it's a little less cushioned than the 880 and not the most supportive after 2+ hours. From the new balance line my top recommendation is the SC Trainer v2 - it's more cushioned than the 880 and super comfortable. It has a carbon fiber plate which helps make running feel a bit easier. I have a few reviews and comparisons with it on the channel. Here's a recent video I did with it - you can click the time stamp in the description to skip to the section where I cover it kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnqlp42OoLBqhpY

[@user-rp6vf9kb6i]

@@supwell thank you so much for your quick reply and advice!

[@illt3ck]

Is there a shoe with great comfort but also good durability for a heel striker that doesn't have the wet weather flaw?

[@supwell]

Saucony Triumph is a great choice. Super durable foam, plus it's fun and bouncy. I have 350 miles on my pair and it's still going strong

[@brooklynpratt]

hello - I am new to running shoes as I have been a life long basketball player - what is the concern with the branding of the foam on the issue, sorry I didn't quite understand. Is it that shoe companies are naming their different lines of shoes with the same name when the foam composition is different? Thank you!

[@supwell]

yeah exactly - asics calls the foam in this shoe here "ff blast+" but it is a firm feeling ride. and then they use the same name "ff blast+" for the foam in a shoe called the gel-nimbus, which is one of the softest rides out there. new balance does a similar thing with their "fresh foam" (which is actually in some bball shoes - i think the ones jamal murray wears) - in some shoes fresh foam is firm and in others it's soft. i don't like that it's confusing - if they're using the same name i'm expecting the same tech/ride experience and welcome to the running world btw! novablast 4 is a great choice for a converted bball player. i used to hoop back in the day btw but probably pretty rusty now 😂

[@brooklynpratt]

@@supwell hey thank you for responding. Really appreciate it. As for the running I'm actually not - after all the years of bball I am afraid my knees can't take it anymore, especially with the extra pounds that come with aging (I'm 49). But I do prefer these types of shoes for walking and general activities that keep me "in shape". So far I've had the Hoka Bondi 6 and Nike Invincible Run 2 in that order. I'm interested in the Rebel 4 and potentially the Asics Kayano 31. Maaaaaybe the Novablast 4 or Superblast although can't find the latter. Seems like they will be disco'd.

[@supwell]

@@brooklynpratt if that's the case, check out the brooks ghost max! it's my absolute favorite for walking around and spending time on feet. just took it on my trip to the mountains over the weekend and had it on for 3 days straight - super comfortable and cushioned without feeling like too much shoe. the new balance 1080 is also comfortable and a great pick if you like super soft - might be a little soft depending on your preferences though. but i'd take ghost max or 1080 over the novablast 4 and superblast for walking - the asics are good for running but a little awkward for walking/casual

[@Dkfmgpsss]

hi i have a quick Q so you prefer boston12 more than revel4 right? i got novablast4 and wanna have another shoe among boston12 , mach6(5), endolphin speed3, nb revel4 which one you recomand ??????? thanks firtst

[@supwell]

Boston 12 is more cushioned and better for long runs than the rebel v4. So it depends on what you're looking for! Mach 6 is also a good option that's between the 2 - cushioned enough for longer runs but lightweight for fast running

[@Dkfmgpsss]

@@supwell thanks to your reply i just started run about 2months ago and now i run every morning about 6-10km(now i can run for 10k about less than 55mins) and i pretty enjoy with a novablast4 but i think i need anther shoe. in this case which one you recommand among revel4, 1080, mach6, boston12!! by the way i found you on youtube week ago and now i almost every single mov what you uploaded !!! you are the best!! thanks !!!

[@sibopan385]

Compare with Boston 12 pleaseee

[@supwell]

Which one?

[@TravisLatam]

Would the rebels be a good choice, on a budget, to train for and race a half marathon in, you think?

[@supwell]

You'll likely prefer something with a little more cushion for long runs and also if you plan to use it as your everyday shoe - if your budget is $140 I'd take a look at the hoka Mach 6. I recently did a comparison video on the channel - can drop once I'm back in the computer but the hoka is more cushioned, a little bouncier and I enjoy it more for runs over an hour. Rebel is lighter but not as protective

[@davidpearson6011]

Could I race a 10k in the Rebel V4

[@604CS]

Which do you recommend between the rebel v4 and 1080 v13. Thanks

[@supwell]

Rebel v4 is lightweight and fast while the 1080v13 is cushioned and comfort-oriented. If you want something for shorter runs under an hour and are looking to go fast, I'd get the rebel. For longer runs and more comfort/protection, I'd get the 1080v13

[@BeelJeitz]

Hows the feel of the rebel V3 compared to the rebel v4? Is it a big difference?

[@supwell]

yeah the foam in the rebel v3 feels bouncier and the shoe feels lighter weight and lower profile in general. the rebel v4 is a little more cushioned and more of an everyday running shoe vs a speed training shoe. so depends what you're looking for - if you want that super bouncy foam feeling, mach 6 is a good choice too

[@ResmeN]

What about gel nimbus 26 vs novablast 4? Which would you recommend out of those 2?

[@supwell]

Nimbus is soft and more for comfort and relaxed miles. Novablast has some more pep to it and is a little firmer - also more stable. I'd take the nimbus for walking and slower miles and the novablast for everyday runs and long runs

[@ResmeN]

@@supwell going to my local athletes foot tomorrow to get the Brooks Ghost Max &/or Gel Nimbus 26 for walking/daily shoes. Bought a Clifton 9 but not feeling so will exchange for above 2 or 1080v13 but that felt very spongy so unsure. After that have earmarked the Rebel V4. Tried it a few days ago & loved the feel. Wanna get back into running to go alongside my cycling. Thanks for your advice & great videos.

[@jamesbenjamins]

One more Vs you may be able to comment on.......🥁🥁🥁 Rebel V4 or Supernova Rise?

[@supwell]

For sure! Rebel v4 is lighter weight, less cushioned and better for fast running. Supernova rise has more cushion underfoot, a lot more padding on the upper and is designed more for comfortable everyday runs. If you want a comfortable shoe for everyday runs I'd go with the supernova rise and if you want something lightweight for short and fast runs I'd go for the rebel v4

[@jamesbenjamins]

Fab to know, just looking at it, thought they might be a bit closer. Sounds like V4 has a range, daily and up, but Supernover rise is at its limit. Well, will give them both a try at the London Marathon Expo. I must be honest, if NB had made London Marathon branded Rebel.... They would have my money hehehhheh Thanks, fab work rate!

[@sanadaHIRO]

i found the novablast 4 is firmer than the Novablast 3

[@toi3213]

Which spectrum boston 12 will be?

[@supwell]

Boston 12 is more cushioned and protective like the novablast but fast like the rebel v4. If you want something for speed workouts that can handle long runs, the Boston 12 is a good choice. It's like a combination of these two shoes

[@MBaDog-hn6ot]

What's best for walking in this options?

[@supwell]

Out of those I personallly prefer the rebel v4 - feels softer and more natural to walk in. But my top walking/casual shoe is the brooks ghost max - perfect blend of cushion, comfort and support

[@davidpearson6011]

Could you race a 10k int he Rebel V4

[@supwell]

Definitely - would be great for that if you want something lightweight

[@markoljustina]

How much money do you have? Give us Sky Paris? i need new race shoe; i was interested in EP4, but not anymore because it seems that they are wide; Sky Paris are my pick no1 now… try AF3, nothing special

[@supwell]

the new asics racers are coming soon! btw i didn't have any width issues with the endorphin pro 4. they fit pretty similarly to the pro 3 - if you haven't tried them on foot i'd see if you can get them on in store because they may work for you

[@markoljustina]

@@supwell Happy to hear about Asics; Good feedback about EP4, tnx; i try every shoe (of course)which i interested if is it possible You are no.1 now, overthrew FOD runner, who overthrew Tim and Sagassu before 😂

[@thegoods9317]

Bro, don’t bend your shoes with your hands. You’ll bust a metatarsal doing that!

[@supwell]

😂😂😂

[@RobertBruno]

Let us know if Pocahontas responds to your foam naming petition 😂

[@paulprawdz]

New NB rebels were such a letdown. The foam is just meh.