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If you’re looking for a soft, lightweight, and versatile everyday trainer, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 is a good one to consider.
New Balance has been the footwear and apparel sponsor of the New York City Marathon since 2017, which means every year it launches shoes and gear with a bit of a New York state of mind. This year’s lineup includes a NYC version of the FuelCell Rebel v5 ($160) everyday trainer and the carbon-plated FuelCell SC Elite v5 ($279) racing super shoe, each of which is available online at a premium price.
The FuelCell Rebel v5 is a soft, plate-less training shoe that came out in the late spring, but it’s a shoe worth highlighting as the year starts to wind down—both because of the NYC edition and because it’s one of the most-improved shoes of the year.
New Balance did a great job of improving the upper, enhancing the fit, and updating the midsole of the Rebel v5. While the Rebel’s roots are tied to fast running, the current version of this shoe is a bit of a rebel without a cause. It’s not that it can’t run fast, but more because it has evolved into a shoe that’s better known for its versatility, soft moderately cushioned midsole, and lifestyle aesthetic vibes.
With the New York City Marathon right around the corner on November 2, here’s a look at the Rebel v5 after I’ve logged 100 miles in two different pairs since June.
What’s New: The FuelCell Rebel v5 is made of similar base components as the previous edition, but it’s how they come together that makes this shoe better than last year’s version. There’s an additional 5mm of blended PEBA/EVA foam in the midsole that provides a more cushioned ride, a new ultra-light, engineered mesh upper with a slightly slimmer fit that does a better job of locking down your feet to the chassis, and more rubber on the outsole for better durability and traction.
It all combines for a shoe that fits and feels better and has a smoother and more cushioned ride. And yes, it weighs a smidge more than last year’s edition, but it’s still exceptionally light compared to other training shoes, and the change is barely noticeable.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 fits true to size with a medium interior volume and more roominess in the forefoot that gives plenty of room for toes to wiggle and splay. (It comes in two widths for women and men, and there’s plenty of space for an aftermarket footbed.) Once laced up, the step-in feel is soft and sparse, with a good locked-down sensation from the thin, gusseted tongue, modestly padded heel collar, and the thin, reinforced upper.
The ride feels soft, smooth, and comfortable, but also not as energetic or as stable as many shoes on the shoe wall of your local running store. That’s not a bad thing, unless, of course, those are the characteristics you’re primarily seeking. Even with the added 5mm of midsole foam, the FuelCell Rebel v5 still feels lower to the ground than most shoes and allows you to feel in control of your stride. (The added foam keeps this shoe from the verge of bottoming out, which some bigger runners complained about with last year’s version.) That said, this shoe doesn’t produce a bouncy or snappy vibe, but more of a smooth rolling sensation from heel strike to toe-off.
Price: $160 for the NYC edition ($145 for the standard colorways)
Approximate Weights: 6.3 oz. (women’s size 8); 7.9 oz. (men’s size 9),
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; 35mm (heel); 29mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: The FuelCell Rebel v5 is a good, reasonably priced daily trainer without a lot of bells and whistles, but with the capability to do a lot of things well. If you’re a novice or more casual runner who’s less focused on running fast workouts or races, this could be a great shoe for a lot of your weekly running. You can do long runs in it, run easy 5-milers, pick up the pace for tempo runs, and rip post-workout strides to your heart’s desire. It could even be the only shoe in your quiver, and something you’d consider for running a 5K, 10K, or half marathon, if you’re not focused on all-out speed.
Why You’ll Love It: If you’re looking for a soft, lightweight everyday trainer that’s not a maximally cushioned behemoth, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 is a good one to consider. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done. I’ve run a few long-ish runs in this shoe and have run variations of fartleks and tempo efforts, and while I definitely feel that it lacks a hyper-vibrant underfoot sensation, my only disappointment is that it’s not energetic enough for faster workouts like mile or 1K repeats.
However, it offers good versatility, consistency, and durability, and that’s where it excels. And let’s face it: Having a reliable shoe you’re comfortable in and confident wearing just about every day can provide a subtle but valuable boost to your weekly training regimen, especially for those days when you’re time crunched, don’t feel like running, or don’t have any idea of what kind of running you’ll be doing when you head out the door.
Why You Might Not Like It: Compared to the dozens of other shoes I’ve run in since the spring, this shoe’s midsole seems to provide only a modest amount of energy return. It’s not that it can’t be revved up to faster paces, but it’s more that the shoe isn’t going to do the work for you. It doesn’t feel inherently agile, and the soft, pliable characteristics of the foam don’t produce the pop you might be used to from plated training shoes or even non-plated shoes with a more responsive midsole. Also, the exposed foam on the outsole looks worn after 50 miles, even though it doesn’t seem to impact the ride at all.
Pro: Because of its wide footprint, the FuelCell Rebel v5 offers a bit of inherent stability, even with the slightly higher stack height and soft foam. (However, runners who tend to overpronate will probably want a shoe with more structure.)
Con: To me, it’s a bit annoying that there is a $15 markup for the FuelCell Rebel v5 with the NYC design motif. It’s essentially the exact same shoe as the standard colorway options with a very small bit of New York City Marathon design detail. I suppose, at least in theory, the cost of production is more expensive because there are fewer made. Plus, if you’re running the marathon or hope to someday, this might be the closest thing you’ll find to an inspirational and functional souvenir. (And that’s why this shoe will likely be a hot seller at the New York City Marathon expo October 30–November 1 at the Javits Convention Center.)
Senior editor Brian Metzler has wear-tested more than 2,000 running shoes and is the author of “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” (2019) and “Trail Running Illustrated” (2021). He has raced just about every distance from 100 meters to 100 miles, but he’s most eager to share stories about his experiences pack burro racing in Colorado.
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