New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Review
By Matt Klein, Andrea Myers, and Nathan Brown
New Balance Fuelcell Rebel v5Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 7.6 oz, 225 g (men's size 9.5), 6.3 oz, 180 g (women's size 7)
Stack Height: 35 mm heel / 29 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Performance/Lightweight Trainer
Pros: Wider Fit, Softer/Bouncier Ride, Wider Midfoot, Smooth Heel Transition, Great Pace Versatility
Cons: Tongue Pressure, Less Stable than Last Version, Upper Not Stable When Turning
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The New Balance Rebel v5 is a lightweight trainer for those who want a thin upper and bouncier ride in a faster package. The Phantom Fit upper is light but secure, providing little extra room in the front for those who need it. The midsole is a new PEBA/EVA blend of FuelCell foam, providing an even more bouncy and soft ride than its predecessor. A taller stack height adds to the underfoot cushioning, providing a little more protection and a little more weight. The Rebel v5 is still a great option for those wanting a cushioned but lighter non-plated shoe with the versatility to handle daily training all the way to racing.
SIMILAR SHOES: Adidas Adizero Evo SL, Mizuno Neo Zen
PAST MODEL: New Balance Rebel v4
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The New Balance Rebel v5 fits me true to size in my normal men's US size 10. The upper is light PhantomFit, a thin, see-through material that provides secure hold in the forefoot. This transitions into a more padded upper material in the midfoot and heel. The width is normal with a tiny bit extra room with a normal volume in the forefoot. I did not have any issue with the toe box tapering and felt I had enough room in the forefoot without things feeling sloppy. It is not as wide as the previous version, so those that found they had too much room in version 4 should do better in version 5. This transitions into a normal to slightly snug midfoot. I did not have to lace lock or tighten the laces in version 5 to get a secure fit. The tongue is thin, gusseted and secure. However, the instep (height) of the midfoot is low and I felt it pinch a little on the medial side of my midfoot (navicular). This continues into a normal width to slightly snug heel. There is a moderate amount of heel collar padding around the top of the heel.
There is a stiff counter in the rearfoot that has a large amount of padding in front of it. As someone with a sensitive heel, this counter did not bother me but those with higher sensitivities may need to approach with caution. While I appreciated the mesh gusseting of the tongue, I found it scratchy against bare skin. While the rest of the upper is fine for sockless running, I would suggest most people use socks with this shoe.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Nathan: I have had issues with sizing for the New Balance Rebels 1, 2, and 3 (was unable to test version 4). I found them to be narrow and cramped in the forefoot and even needed to size up due to this. However, the newest version fits true to size. There is ample room throughout while still remaining secure in the heel without slippage. The upper is a synthetic-feeling material, but is comfortable throughout the moderately flexible heel counter and tongue. I had no issues with creating a secure fit, lacing is straightforward and simple, and the tongue is just the right thickness for me. If you're looking for a "max comfort upper," this probably is not your pick, but it is comfortable and breathable enough for daily training, and the upper contributes to the lightweight nature of the shoe (more on that later).
Typical Size: Men's US Size 9
Shoes that have fit Nathan well: Topo Phantom 4, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, ASICS Novablast 5, 361 Eleos, Nike Vomero 18
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Mach 6, Puma Deviate 3, New Balance Rebel v3
Shoes that have fit large: Saucony Triumph 22, Brooks Launch 9 (length)
Andrea: The New Balance Rebel v5 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5, as most New Balance shoes fit for me. I have a full thumb's width from the front of the shoe to the end of my big toe and the toe box has adequate width and volume that I did not experience any discomfort at my 1st or 5th MTPs. The entire platform is on the wider side, with the midfoot upper fitting the loosest and resulting in foot translation when making sharp turns. The rearfoot feels relatively normal width and features a small, flexible heel counter and a mild amount of internal padding. The tongue is both gusseted and held in place by a lace loop, which keep the tongue securely in place. While the tongue is on the thin side, I did not experience any pressure on the dorsum of my foot from the laces. It is easy to lock the laces down for foot security when running in a straight line, but there is a noticeable lack of foot security when turning, which I attribute to the wider midfoot. The engineered mesh upper is comfortable and breathable and I did not experience any hot spots or pressure points. I am generally pleased with the fit of the Rebel v5, but feel that it could be improved by decreasing the upper width and volume in the midfoot.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Yes
How Flexible is the Shoe: Moderate
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Maybe
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The New Balance Rebel v5 is a cushioned and surprisingly flexible lightweight trainer. The stack height has seen a 5mm increase from the prior version and the new PEBA/EVA blended midsole (FuelCell) provide a soft and compliant ride underfoot from heel-to-toe. There is still bounce (resilience) to the foam and there seems to be a good balance between softness and responsiveness. There is a 6mm heel drop listed, although it feels slightly lower for me as a heel striker due to the amount of midsole compression. This is offset by a smooth heel transition from slightly lateral heel bevel. This moves into a slightly stiff midfoot from the wider midfoot and a smooth forefoot. The forefoot has moderate flexibility for a taller shoe. Those with toe mobility issues will not do well in this shoe while those who want some flex will do great. The lighter weight, easy transition and bouncy midsole make for a shoe that can handle both easy and faster runs.
I have done a long run, a road fartlek (intervals), a tempo run and easy runs. I have found that this shoe does best at easy to moderately fast paces. While tempo paces felt good, the Rebel v5 struggled to hit 5k-type paces. Everything above that, especially half marathon to uptempo efforts and even easier efforts felt great. However, for what I am used to now, this shoe was not quite enough for me over longer runs, but more so due to stability issues. There was plenty of cushioning but it began to feel mushy to me over long miles as I fatigued. Those without stability issues may do fine. Surface-wise, the Rebel v5 is best on road. The exposed midsole on the bottom is not a great option on trails but the outsole traction is fine on non-aggressive softer surfaces. On track, the traction is great but the softer midsole and softer surface combination can make it feel a little mushy underfoot.
From a durability standpoint, the Rebel v5 has done much better than the prior version. I have 31 miles on my pair and am only beginning to see wear on the exposed midsole. The outsole pieces have remained intact and I have not torn them off (yet). However, given the position of the posterior outsole pieces and exposed midsole, I still expect this shoe to have average durability for a lightweight trainer.
Nathan: Of all the Rebels I have tested, v5 is certainly my favorite, with the word versatility standing out. I have used this shoe for easy recovery runs, daily mileage, long runs, and tempo efforts. It performed great in all situations thanks to the ample cushioning, lightweight nature, solid geometry, and responsive (yet still controlled). The new midsole is a PEBA/EVA blend that is soft and cushioned when at easy paces and adds some responsiveness when picking up the pace. On long runs (90 minutes for me right now), it felt well-cushioned throughout, and I appreciated the flexible yet cushioned forefoot that was protective throughout those entire runs.
Right now, this is a shoe I'm reaching for most for my easy and daily miles, but given how lightweight it is, it is easy to throw in a workout in them as well. Again, versatility is the word for this shoe. The geometry is also spot on for me. There is a solid heel bevel that offsets some of the sole flaring and provides a very smooth heel transition. The moderately flexible forefoot allows for a natural feel for toe off as well, making this smooth from back to front. The responsive foam makes up for the lack of rigidity when picking up the pace, and I was able to go below my 5K pace without an issue. I really appreciated the ride of this shoe, and the rubber outsole did well for durability and traction.
Andrea: The New Balance Rebel v5 is a lightweight trainer that is without question my favorite version of the Rebel line. The PEBA/EVA blended midsole provides a nice balance between compliance and resilience, specifically by not being too soft at initial contact and providing a mild bounce at push off. The Rebel v5 feels like a higher stack version of the early models of the Saucony Kinvara, with more underfoot protection but a similar midsole feel. I have tested the Rebel v5 on runs ranging from slower recovery runs, to regular easy pace runs with strides, and a 10 mile run at 15"/mile slower than marathon pace.
For me, the shoe performed best at easy paces and did surprisingly well with strides. For my uptempo 10 miler, I felt like the foam compliance at initial contact and the flexible forefoot made the shoe lag a bit for that pace. I wouldn't use the shoe for that type of run again, but I will definitely use it for future easy runs, as it feels highly protective, light on foot, and with an unintrusive ride at slower paces. The shoe feels like its stated 6mm drop and I appreciate the larger heel bevel and wider base, which make midfoot landings feel natural. The flexible forefoot was really not noticeable for me until I did the faster 10 miler in it. Even for 100m strides at 800m-mile pace, the shoe responded well to the higher forces I was putting into it and I would feel comfortable using the shoe for runs that included strides in the future.
The shoe features a high amount of outsole rubber for such a lightweight shoe and I had no traction issues, even on rainy days. I have 26 miles on my pair and there is some visible wear on the area of exposed midsole in the lateral midfoot, but no wear on the rubber outsole. I would expect average durability out of the Rebel v5 due to its PEBA/EVA blend and the likelihood of accelerate wear in the midfoot region.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Rebel v5 is a neutral shoe with mild guidance elements. These include a wider shape, especially in the midfoot and sidewalls. This does offset the softer midsole but not enough to make it stable neutral. The wider heel, midfoot and forefoot includes sole flare that helps center the ride throughout the length of the shoe. There are also sidewalls that extend from the medial heel to the forefoot and lateral heel to midfoot. The thicker outsole material in the forefoot also adds slight torsional rigidity. These are enough to provide an extremely mild level of guidance when combined with the softer sole, which makes for a neutral but not unstable ride.
Nathan: The Rebel v5 is a neutral shoe. Yes, there is a wider ground contact in the heel and midfoot, but the foam is softer, offsetting any "natural stability" that may be provided. The geometry and wider contact do help keep this shoe from being "unstable". There is a rocker profile, but the flexibility of the forefoot negates the impact of the rocker, meaning that those who like to use the natural rockers of their foot (and are stable in doing so) will enjoy the level of stability in this shoe. Overall, this shoe doesn't to much to help or hinder your foot, making it truly neutral.
Andrea: The New Balance Rebel v5 is a neutral shoe with mild guidance features, which are somewhat negated by the flexible forefoot and less stable upper fit. The shoe features a wide base that extends the length of the shoe, creating a stable platform regardless of where a runner lands. There is an early forefoot rocker, but the guidance effects of the rocker are muted by the flexibility of the forefoot. The shoe also features fairly balanced sole flaring medially and laterally that also runs the length of the shoe. Overall, the ride of the shoe feels fairly neutral, but centered, thanks to these mild guidance features.
Thoughts as a DPT: How Geometry and Outsole Changes Make Rebel v5 the Best One Yet (For Andrea)
By Andrea Myers
I have tested versions 3-5 of the New Balance Rebel, and version 5 is my favorite one yet. I enjoyed running in version 3, but found that the flexible forefoot and location of the forefoot rocker did not line up well with my 1st MTP joint, which caused pain in my medial arch, particularly at faster paces. Specifically, the apex of the forefoot rocker landed behind my 1st MTP joint because I have relatively short toes for my foot length. Version 4 was an improvement for me because the forefoot felt stiffer than v3 and I liked the updated fit of the upper, but I continued to feel like the location of the forefoot rocker allowed the shoe to flex behind my 1st MTP joint, again causing medial arch pain. The outsole design of version 4 also lacked rubber coverage in the lateral midfoot (where I land), which, in combination with the large heel bevel and early forefoot rocker, made the midsole feel like it compressed excessively at initial contact. This created a lagging sensation and made the shoe feel like it rocked backwards just after initial contact, making faster paces feel harder than they should and contributing to medial arch pain.
When v5 showed up at my door a couple of weeks ago, I was very happy to see the change in the outsole design and the wider overall platform, which made me hopeful that this Rebel would not cause foot pain. The outsole rubber covers a larger portion of the midfoot and extends further towards the heel on the lateral side, which corresponds to where I land. The base is also more consistent in width across the rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot. In comparison, the midfoot of Rebel v4 narrowed from the rearfoot to the midfoot and the narrowest part of the shoe was at my preferred lateral midfoot landing point. These changes have resulted in less compliance at initial contact, a smoother transition from initial contact to pushoff, and no medial arch pain for me on any of my test runs. While this has been my experience with the Rebel line as a midfoot striker, your individual experience may be different depending on your landing pattern, foot structure, and other running biomechanical factors.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Rebel v5 is a conundrum for me. The increased cushioning makes the underfoot feel more comfortable and it has maintained its nimble feel. It looks almost like a mini More v5, but despite the visual and stack height changes has maintained its function. So my minimal tendencies are being challenged but this is a different shoe from version 4. It is moving in line with industry trends, so I cannot fault New Balance for moving in this direction. A shoe this cushioned, light and still with some flexibility is unique and provides something not common on the market. My only suggestion is to work on the tongue and upper. I found the upper a bit aggressive compared to the midsole. The lower instep was a bit irritating and a little softer upper would improve the comfort especially over longer distances. Outside of that, the Rebel v5 is a solid update that is even better for maintaining its $140 price tag.
Nathan: I am very happy with the Rebel v5. The upper is lightweight and matches the function of the shoe, contributing to a lower weight and performance trainer feel. However, I think this shoe matches daily paces best, and it's possible that creating a slightly softer upper may help match that function. The SC Trainer has the rigidity for a performance trainer, so I like that this shoe offers a more flexible option. But (likely an unpopular opinion), it may be possible to slightly lean into the daily trainer edge of this shoe with an upper that is a bit softer. That said, this is a very soft recommendation.
Andrea: I am quite pleased with the updates to the Rebel v5. It is my favorite version of the shoe to date and I look forward to adding it to my easy day shoe rotation. To improve the fit and stability of the upper, I would recommend that New Balance improve the midfoot design to reduce foot translation when turning. At 6.3oz for a women's size 7, this is a lightweight shoe that I would consider using for faster pace runs if the forefoot was less flexible. If New Balance wanted to make the Rebel v5 a do it all performance trainer, I would recommend that they stiffen the forefoot up a bit to make it more comfortable and responsive at faster paces.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The New Balance Rebel v5 is for the runner that wants a light, versatile, highly cushioned shoe that can double as an easy run, workout and even race day shoe for some. The fit will work best for those with normal width feet who want a lighter upper. The ride will work best for those that want a more flexible, wider, softer and bouncier platform that runs light. The Rebel v5 has the versatility to handle easy to moderate paced workouts and may be a racing option for those who do not do well with pure super foams or plates. The price tag of $140 makes this shoe even better, easily competing with other options in this category like the Hoka Mach 6, Adidas Evo SL and even the Mizuno Neo Zen. It is the softest and tallest of the Rebel series so far, yet continues to "rebel" by keeping the weight down and maintaining the nimble ride this shoe is known for.
Nathan: First, I think that this shoe is perfect for someone looking for "value." It costs $140 and can do pretty much everything you'd need in a shoe. In a shoe landscape where there are so many performance trainers that have a stiff forefoot through some sort of plate, the Rebel v5 offers a lightweight trainer that is responsive, versatile, and maintains forefoot flexibility. For those wanting the feel of a bouncy, soft, and responsive foam but don't want the plate, this is a top-tier option, especially since it's coming in right at $140.
Andrea: The New Balance Rebel v5 is a lightweight trainer with a comfortable fit, a protective and mildly responsive PEBA/EVA blend midsole, and moderately aggressive rocker geometry that is offset by the shoe's forefoot flexibility. I have tested versions 3-5 of the Rebel, and this one fits the best and is the most comfortable for me to run in, despite the less secure midfoot fit when turning. For me, it will be a nice lightweight easy run shoe going forward, but its light weight will make it a performance trainer for those who don't mind the flexible forefoot. It is priced very reasonably at $140, particularly for a PEBA blend shoe, so if the midsole and outsole have even average durability, it will be a great value.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (Secure, light upper. Mild tongue irritation of midfoot due to lower instep)
Performance: A- (Soft bouncy versatile ride that can handle easy to moderate race/workout efforts)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Softer ride offset by wider shape and sidewalls)
Value: A ($140 for what this shoe offers is awesome. Balanced, versatile, not the most aggressive but still able to provide a unique option makes this a solid value)
Personal: B+ (The mild guidance elements make this shoe more manageable for me but a bit too soft for my liking. Still a great shoe)
Overall Design: A-
Nathan
Fit: A (No issues or hot spots, secure for me, roomy forefoot)
Performance: A- (Did all things well, flexibility may make longer tempo efforts more challenging)
Stability: [Neutral] B+ (Wider construction offsets softer foam)
Value: A (In the realm of most value in a shoe right now)
Personal: A (This shoe will be in my rotation going forward for easy runs and moderate tempos when wanting flexibility)
Overall Design: A-
Andrea
Fit: A- (fits true to size in length, has sufficient toe box width, but midfoot fit is a bit sloppy, which results in foot translation when turning)
Performance: A- (Great underfoot protection for easy runs, nice balance between compliance and resilience, and light weight make this an excellent trainer/performance trainer. Main negative for me is the forefoot is too flexible to make it comfortable for uptempo longer runs, but it is perfectly comfortable for easy runs and strides.)
Stability: [neutral] B+ (A balanced, neutral shoe that provides some centering of the foot through stance phase, but does not feel aggressive. Main negative in terms of stability is unwanted foot translation when turning due to wide midfoot upper)
Value: A ($140 is an incredible price for this shoe)
Personal: A- (Best fitting and performing Rebel I've tested. A new addition to my easy run rotation.)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORNew Balance FuelCell Rebel v5Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
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