The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 and New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13 are two standout daily training shoes that are certainly built differently. But does that mean they can’t be used for the same types of runs?
Testers Mike, Tom and Nick have all spent plenty of running time with both of New Balance’s daily running shoes and share their experiences across a range of runs to give you a better idea on whether you should go 1080 v13 or Rebel v4.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
00:30 – Price and key stats
01:33 – How do they fit?
04:35 – The Run Test
12:55 – Which should you buy?
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Hey this is Mike the ran testers and in
this video we're going to be talking about How the New Balance 1080 v13 compares
to the New Balance Rebel v4 . On paper, These are two daily trainer shoes that
shouldn't actually have a lot in common, But is there a little bit more to it
so myself Nick and Tom have all been Running in both of these shoes and what we're
going to do is share our experiences with both And let you know whether you should go the New
Balance 1080 v13 or the New Balance Rebel V4. So before jumping into those running experiences
here's the key things you need to know about the Rebel V4 and the 1080 v13. let's start with
price and the rebel V4 is the cheaper of the Two shoes in both the UK and the US. The
rebel V4 also weighs in lighter coming in At 208 grams compared to 255 grams in a
UK men's size 8. In terms of fit options, The 1080 v13 offers standard wide and extra wide
fits while it's just the one fit for the rebel V4. While the drops are the same the stack heights
are not, with the 1080 v13 packing in a bigger Stack of New Balances Fresh Foam X foam while the
Rebel v4 uses the FuelCell foam featured in the SC Elite V4. Unlike the elite v4 there's no plate
in the rebel V4 nor is there one in the 1080 v13. The rubber outsole designs are different too with
the 1080 v13 offering considerably more coverage To suggest it's going to be the one that's
likely to hold up great greater against regular Runouts so the fit for me in these two shoes
in the new B reel V4 um I found it to be quite Comfortable but I did get a bit of rubbing on
the end of my toes so I'm a size eight in the UK in normal shoe size uh this is a size eight
I would have gone up half a size in this shoe Because it's a little bit tight at the uh in
the forefoot um for me the new balance 1080 v13 I would definitely stay to my size in this I'm
size eight in UK this is size eight it's a very Comfortable shoes plenty of padding in it plenty
of room in the forefoot um and it's easy to get a Nice comfortable lock down fit in this shoe so
I'd say to my size in the 1080 comes to fit of The two shoes I've actually got different sizes
of these two shoes I've got my normal uk9 which Is a US 9.5 in the 1080 with the rebel I went
half a size up cuz I have found the line has fit Very close at the top of my foot before so I got
a UK 99.5 which is a us10 actually got quite a lot Of room in the rebel around the toe box that's
mostly to the side it's got very wide toe boox Found the shoe uh actually the length is kind of
okay but I probably actually could have stuck to My normal size actually seems a similar length
to the New Balance 1080 I think the 1080 has a Slightly more normal fit all around I think it's
definitely a true to size shoe for me whereas the Rebel still might be a little bit short so you
could go half a size up in it but do watch out For that wide toebox I've got quite a narrow
foot so I would rather stick in my normal size And have a little bit less room at the front to
not be too wide around the sides of my feet at The same time it has been fine going half size
up in the river I've running it a lot and it's
Been very happy and I was perfectly happy around
in my normal running Sho size in the 1080 so in Terms of I've actually had these two shoes in
different sizes now I've had the 1080 v13 and A UK size eight8 that is my typical running shoe
size that's typically what I would go for in new Balance's shoes with the New Balance reel V4 I've
had this in an eight and a half so half a size up From my usual size now in terms of my experience
I would say that this definitely fits more true To size it's a little bit more snug in general
compared to this shoe but I wouldn't think about Going half a size up half a size down this has
worked to me kind of hugs very nicely I was very Happy in terms of space up front and the toes the
hold and the midf fooot no kind of Hill rubbing or Any issues from that point of view so I think if
you're looking at the shoe going through the side Is going to absolutely work I do think while this
isn't my typical shoe size going half size up in The rebel V4 has kind of paid off for me I think
ultimately I think if I'd gone for a a little bit Like with the SC Elite probably it might have
hugged a little bit more there's a lot of space In this kind of toe box but on the side of the
shoes but ultimately I think going half size Has paid it off for me it's a lighter feeling
upper there's less padding in General on the Tongue and the hill compared to the um 1080 v13
but unlike the SE no kind of issues in terms of Lockdown I haven't had to play around the lacing
I've not had any kind of issues in terms of rub so For me I would say go true to size based on my
experience in the 1080 v13 The Reel V4 I think There is an argument to say go half a size up
because for me I think going half a size up having This shoe in half a size up has actually ended up
working out best for me in terms of the overall Fits you look at the New Balance range these are
positioned a little differently within it you got The 1080 which is positioned as a very comfortable
premium cushion shoe designed mainly I suppose For easy runs long runs that kind of thing but
also to be used as a daily trainer for lots of People who prefer that more cushioned ride or if
you're a newer Runner this is probably the shoe You'd pick up in the New Balance range as the
most comfortable protective option the rebel is Pitched more as a far shoe it's fair to say but
actually this is the kind of shoe I really like Using as a daily TR because it is still very well
cushioned it's got a lower stack than the 1080 but It's still a high stack and it's higher than it
looks on paper to me as well and feels higher than It is on paper you can do a lot of running in the
shoe and it's a a lot wider and more supportive Than previous versions of the Rebel while still
being really lightweight so those are all things I Really like in a daily trainer and I had a really
great run test with the rebel I found it very Good for all kinds of runs going up to a 15 M long
run finishing at decent pace done a track workout In the shoe I've mooched around it at very slow
Paces you know on tired legs and it's just felt Fantastic for everything got a nice midsole that's
really well balanced like it's got a little bit Of firmness and responsiveness there when you are
going to up the pace but it is comfortable enough
For relaxed runs and just in general feels very
good to me like the PB Eva blend you have here Not exactly sure what the makeup of the midsole
is but it works for me and I like the wide base Of the shoe as well it does take away a little
bit of the nimbleness of the shoe when it comes To faster workouts but it gives you a lot more
support and comfort I find for longer runs while It's still being a very light shoe that I can use
for fast workouts 1080 I didn't like quite as much It's just less my kind of shoe I'd say because
it's really soft it's really cushioned you know There a really really soft shoe all around and
I found I was just pushing through the Pham a Little bit and it wasn't really getting a nice
smooth transition onto the forefoot with it it Just felt comfortable and good for kind of relaxed
runs but not that good for anything else I also Didn't really like running long in the shoe I did
one long run it it just felt I wasn't working with The shoe as much as working against it at times
just cuz it is very soft is that's a great feeling For lots of people though if you like a very soft
shoe you're going to find it in the 1080 and it's Very cushy but yeah it's just not my kind of thing
like it's really comfortable but I still find the Rebel really comfortable and I think he's got a
lot more about it in terms of Versatility there's A little short run in both shoes at the same time
you did very much feel the difference in the mid CS like it is a lot soft to the 1080 Rebel has
that firmness it pushes you onto your 4 foot more Effectively and it gives you a little bit more pop
as a slightly faster Focus shoe and you definitely Get that on the run the ni has a much more relaxed
and easy feel underfoot with that softness at the Heel and just doesn't roll you through as fast
and it's not really expected to it is much more Of a cushion shoe but I think it just lacks a
little bit Verity not only the rebel has but also Actually previous versions of the 1080 had which
I think were a bit more geared up for a variety Of training the newest version for me feels much
more like an easy Sho only and doesn't really have That resiliency I like for long runs even at very
easy Paces so in terms of my running experience I Spent more time in the new B atv3 simply because
I've had it a lot longer now the new B Rebel V4 Landed when I was still doing kind of in deep into
my marathon training so I had being able to kind Of test how these handle a kind of range of speeds
distances in terms of those runs as well too what I would say is first and foremost is that I'll
start with the new boun Rebel V4 and obviously You are getting something that really tries to
give you experience of what you get in the minus That kind of um plate that you're getting here
but you know it's just a plateless kind of daily Trend issue getting that fuel cell mids cell there
you're getting a lighter shoe compared to the 1080 V13 so you're getting that kind of peber and Eva
based um foam you're getting kind of high rebound Bounce also getting a firmer Edge there as well to
make it a shoe that's capable of running quicker And there's a rocker in there that definitely
wants you to get quickly from Hill to toe and That's what I found in it now I do think you can
run easy in the shoe but I do find that with the
1080 v13 you can run a lot easier it's built those
kind of easier slower more comfortable runs that's What you're getting from that fresh foam kind
of X midsole it's softer more plush Eva based Um foam but I have found that I have been able to
run a little bit more tempor now I can't say that I would want to do speed work in this shoe but I
have found the combination of this lighter kind Of shoe compared to other kind of cushion daily
training shoes but also the kind of rocker that You're getting in the shoe I have found being
able to run a little bit quicker in this shoe Now I kind of don't run as quick as Tom and Nick
I'm probably at kind of you know when I'm running Easy I'm running kind of sub kind of you know um 9
Minute miles kind of 850 kind of around that pace But when I'm running a little bit more Up Tempo I
would say it's kind of 730 minute mile Pace if I'm Running quicker than that of 10K Pace it's kind of
down to six kind of minute um Mars which is well I feel this is more comfortable whereas I feel
like when I've kind of eased off in this shoe I Found it's working against you a little bit and it
does make me want to run a little bit quicker than Probably I'd want to in my easier sessions where
I have found in the 108p 13 if I've stuck around That 730 minute mile Pace as I said not my allout
kind of speed but my more Up Tempo Pace it's been Absolutely fine and I found it comfortable doing
that I've done plenty of kind of training runs Or longer training runs in my Marathon kind
of training where it's been absolutely fine I felt like has been a shoe that I've been able
to do that so I don't think you know while there Shouldn't technically be a lot of ilarities in
terms of experience I found that I have found this Shoe can work at easy and kind of moderate kind of
of slightly quicker Paces based on my experience Now from an outso durability point of view this
is the shoe that is designed to kind of log a lot More mileage as a lot more rubber here as you
can say I think it kind of uses new B's kind Of endurance rubber out so there you know it's
very similar to what we got on the previous 1080 Shoe in terms of formation in terms of look but
there's more rubber here from a gripping point of View I haven't found major issues in general But
ultimately I think from a durability point of view You know you're going to get more from this shoe
compared to this shoe but I haven't seen any any Kind of terrible signs of where just yet on the
rebel V4 but this shoe tells me that you know this Is going to be the shoe that I'm going to want
to run kind of longer runs kind of really Bank a Lot of miles in this is going to be the shoe that
I'm going to want to do it in this is going to be A more focused speed shoe that absolutely can do
that but I think in terms of what you're going to See in terms of outso performance you know from
a durability point of view this is going to give You a little bit more okay so these two shoes are
not necessarily shoes that you you'd compare or Possibly use for the same things but they are
actually pretty similar in a lot of ways and I Think it really comes down to the softness of that
mid cell phone if you're running at a easy Pace In both of these shoes you get a fairly similar
ride um both have quite soft midsoles both feel
Very comfortable to run in at easy Paces um and
yeah they're quite comparable in in that way the Difference really comes down to when you pick up
the pace in these shoes so the 1080 v13 that mid Sole is very soft um it's very comfortable when
you land on it it's very nice for easy runs it's Very nice for um comfortable longer runs if you're
just maintaining a nice slow pace problem is that That Mido doesn't really give you a lot back so if
you start to pick up the pce in this shoe doesn't Really offer anything in the way of En energy
return um and it can be a little bit dulling um if You are trying to be a bit FAS in it um because it
will just sort of deaden a lot of the impact that You get which is great for easy runs because it's
very comfortable and protects your legs and makes Them feel nice and fresh but it doesn't really
help when you're you're picking up the pace so It's not very versatile shoe it's definitely a
shoe that skews massively towards those easier Runs it's a daily shoe but it's it's not very
responsive daily shoe so I definitely say the 1080 V13 really sits firmly in that comfortable easy
run whereas the New Balance Rebel comes in with A much more versatile ride so that mid sole even
though it's soft and comfortable and fine for Easy runs if you pick up the pace in it it's got
quite a bit of energy return in it and you can Really do faster efforts in this shoe quite well
I've done interval sessions in this shoe uh I've Done uh slightly longer runs so I've got about
20K in this shoe and it's always felt absolutely Great for maintaining a pace um and picking up the
speed quite a bit um it's not the most versatile Shoe in the world I don't think it is versatile
things like the so inding speed four or three Um but it's getting close to that and it obviously
doesn't have a plate in it so you get a different Ride than you do with some of those plated shoes
so I think it really comes down to these shoes The versatility of them uh if you're just buying
a daily shoe for easy runs that's they're very Comparable if you're buying it because you
want something to go much faster in they're Not comparable it really comes down to um the new
Balan Rebel V4 is much more versatile For Those Runs comes to picking between these two shoes the
rebel is a clear for me I think this is a really Fantastic all round daily trainer you could look
at it as a pure speed shoe if you like to have A non-plated speed shoe in Your Arsenal but I
think it's just a very versatile all round shoe I don't think I need more cushioning on this
even for easy runs and long runs but if you Do want more cushioning the 1080 provides it it's
definitely the more cushion shoe the softer shoe Of the two might be better for heavier Runners
newer Runners who get a bit more benefit from That softness in the midsole but I just found it
was just a bit too soft to me and I don't really Need all that cushioning Under Foot myself you
could look at pairing these in a rotation like You could have a new balance rotation where the
rebel was your speed day shoe and the 1080 was Your easy day shoe but like I said for me the
rebel would cover up all the bases and more I'd Be happy picking up the rebel just by itself to
cover all the runs I do in both of these shoes
At the other end of the scale is if you prefer a
much more cushion daily trainer your softer shoe Your runs are very relaxed very easy at all times
and maybe you stick to Shorter distances I think The 1080 will be a very comfortable option for
you to have and it's and it certainly has more Cushioning and a softer feel than the rebel if
that's what you're looking for so my whether you Should go with the new B 1080 v13 or the new
BS rare bull V4 now I'll start by saying that Enjoyed running in both of these shoes I think
there are two fantastic kind of daily trainer Shoes built slightly differently but they are ones
that have continued to be used in my rotation now If you are looking for a fast focused shoe that
you can do speed work you can race it in the new Bouns Rebel V4 is what you want because you're
getting those traits from the kind of SC Elite Range in a kind of Cheaper kind of shoe But
ultimately does still feel like a very nice Shoe to run fast and quicker in now the new boun
uh 108 v13 I think for me it definitely is about That kind of plush comfort that kind of comfort
over longer mileage and I think that's what you Get here but I do think and from my personal
experience you can run a little bit more at Tempo in this you're not going to do speed work in
it but I do think for some Runners and it really Depends of what you define as your kind of more
uptempo speed but for me I have found because of The lighter kind of design compared to other
cushion shoes the kind of rocker that you're Getting in here it can handle some Up Tempo work
so if you were looking for a shoe that could do That but definitely has a La more on that kind of
easy comfortable kind of long run style kind of Running then this is the shoe that can do it if
I had to pick one of these shoes right now it's Very difficult I think maybe just because of what
I've got in terms of the versatility I probably Would just go for the New Balance 1080 B13 but
I think if I was looking for that faster daily Trainer shoe no you know no doubt i' be going
for the re V4 it's cheaper it can run a little Bit easier in it but I do think the focus is to
get you running quicker in the shoe and to give You the kind of experience of running in the SC
Elite shoe but in a kind of shoe without a plate And maybe could protect your legs a little bit
more but lets you kind of run and give you that Feeling experience of running and it's kind of new
b top tier shoe so that's how I would look at it I think I would just about personally go for the
new bv13 because I have managed to get a little Bit more versatility fit in the kind of Paces that
I'm running in the two shoes I've absolutely loved Running in so my verdict on these two shoes pretty
simple um I think if you are looking for a daily Trainer and the majority of your runs or all of
your runs are pretty comfortable easy runs you're Not looking to run faster you're not looking
to do interval sessions or anything like that I Think the 1080 v13 is a much more comfortable uh
nicer shoe for those sorts of runs just CU it's Got this really soft comfortable mid cell phone
but for most people if you're looking for a shoe That can do a lot more you want to do all of your
runs maybe you want a shoe you just want one shoe
To do everything in you could even race in maybe
the New Balance Rael V4 is definitely the one to Go for it's it's much more versatile you can
do all of your runs in it um so you're getting Much more bang for your book with this shoe um
I would say that if you are just using it for Easy runs the New Balance Rebel V4 is okay it's
it's absolutely fine but I just think the 1080 Is a little bit more comfortable for those easy
runs so it really comes down to the sort of runs Or the majority of the runs that you're going to
be doing if you want to do fast stff new debounce Rebel V4 if you're mainly doing slow stuff I think
the 108 v13 is just a bit more comfortable other Options that you might look for when um buying a
shoe for your daily sessions are things like the Socking Endorphin speed 4 which is a shoe that is
an excellent allrounder you can do easy runs in it But it skews more towards the faster efforts the
plate is a tiny bit more uh aggressive it's not The most aggressive plate out on the market but
you will notice it in comparison to these shoes Um so if you're looking for an allrounder that
you can go a lot faster in the soring speed 4 Is probably a better option than both of these
shoes Okay so there you have it there out take How the new B 1080 v13 compares to the new B reel
V4 now if you got any questions about this video Let us know in the comments if there are other
comparison videos you want to see with either Of these two shoes and let us know about that as
well too as always like And subscribe hit that Little bell to find out about our latest videos
and yeah we'll see for the next round Test's video
