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SC Rebel 1
Carbon Plated
Carbon-plated Infinion-foam super trainer that doubles as a long-distance racer.
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Our verdict
The SC Rebel is New Balance's carbon-plated super trainer: a running shoe built to handle your long runs and faster sessions during the week, then line up with you on race day. It pairs Infinion foam with a carbon plate on a 40mm heel and 36mm forefoot with a 4mm drop, and at a listed 218g it is light for a shoe with this much underfoot. Put the numbers next to the SC Elite 4, New Balance's marathon racer, and they read almost identically: same stack, same drop, and the Rebel is listed lighter. At £180 against £280, that is the story. In our view it suits runners who want one plated shoe for tempo work, marathon-pace long runs and the race itself, rather than an expensive racer saved for a handful of days a year. It is not an easy-day shoe or a stability shoe, and the low drop asks a lot of your calves.
Key features
- Carbon plateStiffens the ride and helps roll you through toe-off, so holding a steady marathon pace feels less like hard work
- Infinion foamIs the main cushioning layer, and there is plenty of it, so you get protection for long runs as well as pop for faster efforts
- 40mm heel, 36mm forefoot stackKeeps a deep layer of foam under your forefoot, exactly where you land and push off when you pick up the pace
- 4mm dropKeeps you low and level, which suits midfoot and forefoot strikers but loads your calves and Achilles more than a typical 8mm trainer
- Listed weight of 218gMeans you are not dragging a heavy trainer through the back half of a long run or a race
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Marathon and half marathon runners who want one plated shoe for both training and race day
- Runners doing regular tempo, threshold and goal-pace long runs who want a light, propulsive trainer
- Midfoot and forefoot strikers who like a low drop with plenty of forefoot cushioning
Good to know
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The SC Rebel is a new model, so treat this as a starting point rather than the final word. New Balance's performance shoes generally run true to size, and that is where we'd start. Most runners want roughly a thumb's width of room in front of the longest toe, a little more if you plan to race a marathon in it, because feet swell over distance. Pay close attention to the midfoot and heel. A plated shoe with a 4mm drop only works if your foot sits locked onto the platform; any slop at the heel or lift through the midfoot shows up as rubbing and wasted effort at pace. If you already run in the FuelCell Rebel 5, it is a sensible reference for New Balance sizing, but try the SC Rebel on rather than assume the fit carries over. If you have wide feet, check whether your retailer stocks a wide option before you buy. Don't size up to find width: a longer shoe loosens the lockdown a race-day fit depends on.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
Going by the build, this is a shoe that wants pace. A carbon plate under 36mm of forefoot foam and a 4mm drop tend to feel a little flat and stiff at a jog, then make much more sense once you are at tempo or marathon effort and rolling onto your forefoot. Hold race pace and it comes alive. That makes it a strong fit for long runs with blocks at goal pace, progression runs and threshold work, and the listed 218g means it shouldn't feel like a burden late in a session. Where it fits less well is the easy mileage in between. Slow running on a stiff plated shoe is hard work for your lower legs, so keep a softer daily trainer for those days.
Cushioning
There is a lot of foam here: 40mm at the heel and 36mm at the forefoot, the same numbers New Balance lists for its SC Elite 4 racer. Infinion foam makes up that stack, and with a carbon plate running through it you should expect cushioning that feels springy and directed rather than soft and sinking. For midfoot and forefoot strikers, the tall forefoot is the headline: you get protection right where the load goes at faster paces, which matters in the last 10km of a marathon. Heel strikers should note the heel sits only 4mm higher than the forefoot, so there is less of a heel wedge to land on than in most trainers.
Stability
The SC Rebel is a neutral shoe with no dedicated stability features. The carbon plate adds stiffness through the midfoot, which helps the shoe hold its shape, but a tall 36mm forefoot and a 4mm drop still ask your ankles and lower legs to do the steadying, especially on corners and as you tire. Neutral runners with solid mechanics should be fine at pace. If you overpronate noticeably, a dedicated stability shoe is the safer choice. If you like the super trainer idea but want a gentler setup, the is plateless with an 8mm drop. Build up gradually either way: the low drop is the part most likely to bite if you jump straight into long runs.
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