New Balance Women's FuelCell Rebel V2 Speed Running Shoe

Product Information

Peter: Late to the party and hearing the chatter I begged for a pair. I’ve put about 50 miles on them in the past 4 days--so that tells you something. I loved the TC, but it’s heavy to race in, the RC is pretty great for marathon paces, but I wouldn’t take it out for every day runs--so I was very curious to see how the Rebel fits into the consistently excellent New Balance lineup.

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Shoes Make Running Fun These New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Shoes Make Running Fun

The ultra-wide forefoot with the midsole ‘flange’ had a small transition plate, and the bootie upper was cluttered with details and trims.The soft Fuelcell foam makes even relaxed runs a comfortable affair, and there’s no pressure to go fast.

New Balance FuelCell Collection - New Balance New Balance FuelCell Collection - New Balance

This is a shoe meant for tempo runs, so the forefoot has a snug fit that prevents the foot from sliding. Hoka Mach 4 - Hoka's big drop of 2021 so far, the Mach 4 has been a versatile trainer for many, shining particularly in uptempo work. This shoe can do it all! It’s soft and plush working well on recovery days or for longer runs, but the midsole is bouncy and energetic enough to speed things up on tempo days too.

This is due to the lateral “wing” which flares out at the midfoot and forefoot and pushes your foot inward. This “wing” is not as prominent as on the Rebel V1 but it still results in medial side lean bias.

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Multi 10 - Road Trail Run New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Multi 10 - Road Trail Run

Since then, in line with evolving preferences of the public, FuelCell shoes have become progressively softer in feel, moving from the FC Impulse in 2018 (still pretty firm) to the FC Rebel and Propel in 2019 (much softer and almost bouncy), and finally to the FC TC and RC Elite which are positively trampoline-like. All these shoes use the generic FuelCell moniker but I strongly suspect the base compounds in the foam are no longer TPU-based. It’s not mushy or energy-sapping like so many soft shoes, and its lightweight construction and super-breathable upper fit right in on race days. Most lightweight trainers have a firm ride which makes them only suitable for short, fast runs but the Pegasus Turbo could be used for longer runs as well as short, tempo ones. Derek: My first impression was “Dammnnnn..!!! They put a Zoom Fly SP upper on an unplated Vaporfly 4%” Just walking around, you know this thing is going to fly off the shelves. It’s not just that it is bouncy, it’s that it is bouncy in a forward propulsive manner . The fit is simple and effective, and true to size for me. The colorway I received looks great, and you immediately recognize that with the materials used for this upper, there is plenty of potential for other great colorways in the pipeline. When it comes to well cushioned trainers, there’s always a risk that soft midsole feels unresponsive and dead underfoot. My shoe shed is filled with maximalist shoes that are more reminiscent of sponges rather than trampolines.Probably the best part of the Rebel v3 is the FuelCell nitrogen-infused TPU midsole, which is superlative if you love soft-and-buttery foams. It feels rather spongy and responsive and offers a smooth, natural ride. Ryan: More flexible than Simone Biles on the balance beam -- this shoe bends the way you tell it to, both laterally and torsionally. It makes for a very free (no, not knee-busting Nike Free) heel strike, pronation, and toe off. Which is great for easy running, or for folks who don’t covet stability. Its springiness is undeniably fun, and is ideal for anything short of tempo pace. There’s enough of the low density Fuel Cell foam here that bottoming out shouldn’t be a concern. Cheng: 200 grams to the dot was what my scale read for the weight of a single shoe (US8). When held in the hands, this manifests as an uncanny feeling of being far lighter than expected. Without taking a single step, it's apparent that the second iteration of the Rebel is completely different from the first.