New Balance Rebel V4 vs Saucony Endorphin Speed 4: Which One Deserves Your Miles?

Introduction

The lightweight daily trainer segment is crowded, but two shoes keep coming up in conversations with runners: the New Balance Rebel V4 and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4. Both promise a fast, versatile ride, and both sit near the middle of the price range, which makes choosing between them genuinely tricky.

We put the Rebel V4 through a full 100-mile week covering everything from sub-6-minute pace workouts to a 23-mile long run, muddy trails, rainy stroller runs, and everyday errands. We also ran direct comparisons against the Endorphin Speed 4. Here is how they stack up.

New Balance Rebel V4

The Rebel V4 is New Balance’s lightweight daily trainer with a speed-shoe streak. It uses a Fuel Cell midsole, now a PEBA and EVA blend rather than the TPU blend of the V3, and the stack grows to 30 mm at the heel and 24 mm at the forefoot while keeping a 6 mm drop. In a typical size it comes in around 223 g (7.9 oz), notably lighter than the Endorphin Speed 4.

How the Rebel V4 Rides

Out of the box the foam feels a touch firm. The shoe took roughly 30 miles to break in, after which the midsole softened into a much more forgiving feel. It is not as plush as New Balance’s Fresh Foam shoes like the 1080, but it offers a livelier, more natural ride than most max-stack trainers.

The ride is genuinely do-it-all. We ran workouts under 6-minute pace, an 8-minute average 23-mile long run, easy 8-to-12-mile trail and greenway runs, and a rainy stroller session. The shoe stayed comfortable and consistent through all of it, and the 6 mm drop makes it friendly for most runners’ mechanics. There is a mild rocker that nudges you to roll through your stride a little quicker, and the 20 percent PEBA content adds just enough bounce for strides and pace changes.

The main limits: past the 90-minute mark, the stack starts to feel like it could offer more protection. For very long runs, New Balance’s own SC Trainer V2 or 1080 make more sense. It is also stable and wide-based but not highly supportive, so runners needing substantial ankle support should look at the Kayano or Saucony Guide 17 instead.

Upper, Fit, and Comfort

The toe box is roomy, which pays off on long weeks when feet swell, and there were no heel-slip issues. The standard version should work well for wide feet. The upper is lightweight and got a nice lockdown without much adjusting.

The weak point is the insole. Like the V3, it gets spongy when wet, holds water, and retains odor. The shoe also lets in water through the front, so it is not a great wet-weather companion, even though the outsole grips well.

Grip and Outsole Durability

This is one of the biggest improvements over the V3, which had a flat, unremarkable outsole. The V4 uses a textured nubbed pattern and an improved rubber compound that bit confidently on wet pavement, rocky cross-country trails, and even steep downhill stroller runs. Only the deepest slick black mud caused a slip, which is fair for any road shoe.

Durability looks strong. The thick rubber application suggests well over 300 miles of life, likely 350 to 400, which is impressive at a $140 price. That makes the Rebel V4 one of the better value buys in its segment.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4

The Endorphin Speed 4 sits in a similar speed-shoe and daily-trainer hybrid space, and it was put through its own 100-mile week test. Saucony gave this generation a more robust midsole, more protection, and more outsole rubber than previous versions.

It comes in about a full ounce heavier than the Rebel V4 in comparable sizing, and it costs more at around $165. In head-to-head running, the Rebel V4 actually delivered the more enjoyable, fun ride despite the Endorphin Speed’s plate, though the Endorphin Speed offers more protection for faster endurance-style workouts.

Which Shoe Should You Buy?

If you want one lightweight shoe that can do almost everything, up to roughly 90 minutes, and you value a natural, fun ride with excellent grip and durability at $140, the Rebel V4 is the pick. It suits efficient runners who do not need heavy cushioning and beginners who want a shoe that performs well above its price.

If you want a plated shoe with more midsole protection for marathon-style endurance workouts, the Endorphin Speed 4 is the better fit, and it pairs nicely with a max-cushion shoe for easy recovery days.

Conclusion

The Rebel V4 earns its crown as a low-key workhorse that punches well above its weight: light, versatile, grippy, and durable for the price. The Endorphin Speed 4 remains a strong choice for plated protection and faster endurance work. Pick based on whether your week leans toward natural lightness or structured speed.