Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 3 vs New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Rebel:
Which to Choose

On paper these shoes are near-twins — identical pace, cushioning, responsiveness, and stability ratings, both neutral, both with a tall, lively platform that feels slightly tippy at a jog and only settles once you press the pace. The real differences are geometry and weight. The Rebel is the lighter and lower shoe: 207g in a men's US 9 against the Mizuno's 244g, with a low 4mm drop that sits you near-level and nudges you onto the midfoot or forefoot. The Flash 3 runs a steeper 7mm drop and leans harder on geometry for propulsion — its aggressive rockered heel bevel almost tips you into the next stride at tempo, a more sculpted, forward-pitched ride than the Rebel's flatter stance. Underfoot, Mizuno layers Enerzy XP (TPEE) over an Enerzy NXT EVA base with a glass-fiber-reinforced nylon Wave plate running the length of the shoe, while New Balance uses supercritical Infinion (A-TPU) — the same compound as its SC Elite racer — with only a partial carbon-infused plate under the forefoot for a gentler toe-off kick. That plate difference shows up in the ride: the Mizuno's full Wave plate and rocker give a snappier, more aggressive, more directed transition, whereas the Rebel feels more like a soft, bouncy foam ride with a propulsive nudge rather than a hard snap. Their distance range differs too — both shine at 10K and the half (the half is the Mizuno's sweet spot, 10K the Rebel's), but the lighter, lower Rebel also stays composed at 5K, where the Flash 3 isn't really aimed.