New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Performance Review

Last year, New Balance completely revamped the Rebel. And for us, the Rebel v4 was the best Rebel yet. The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 maintains most of what made the Rebel v4 such a great shoe while tweaking and (ideally) improving upon the formula. Did New Balance get it right? Let’s find out.

What is the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5?

According to New Balance, the FuelCell Rebel v5 is “built to look and feel fast” and is an “…upbeat trainer [that] can easily transition from long, steady runs to something swifter and more spontaneous.”

Well, the geometric design does look fast and nimble so I can’t disagree with the New Balance marketers there. And the second part is pretty spot-on, too. It is upbeat. It does transition between runs easily. It can be swift. Kudos to New Balance for accurately describing the Rebel v5.

Cushion

Drew: The midsole makeup doesn’t change from the Rebel v4. New Balance again uses one of the softer formulations of FuelCell that’s 20% PEBA and 80% EVA. It’s at a sweet spot of daily-trainer-level supercritical foam and Pebax race-day foam. The result is a bouncy, versatile midsole that can handle easy days, tempo days, and long runs.

But New Balance added about 5mm of foam to the heel and forefoot. This brings the Rebel line to parity with most of its competition and will help prevent the foam from bottoming out (a common internet complaint about the v4). While, even with the added stack, I think the Rebel v5 is still going to see lower-than-average midsole durability, it will be better than in previous years and offer more impact protection.

The only other midsole complaint I have is that, depending on how you run, the heel can feel a little softer than the forefoot. This leads to the 6mm drop feeling even lower in some instances (usually at the end of longer, harder efforts when form is breaking down). This sort of thing doesn’t affect a lot of runners, but I mention it so those who do find this happening with their shoes know the Rebel v5 is risky in that regard.

Annie: The Rebel v4 is among my all-time favorite shoes, so I was equal parts excited and nervous to see what New Balance would do with the Rebel v5.

I completely understand the benefits of a thicker midsole for runners who have more powerful strides than I do, and I can also understand why New Balance brought the stack height to the level of the Rebel’s direct competitors. But one of the things I loved so much about the v4 was how much protection it managed to pack into such a lightweight, flexible, and snappy package (at least for my five-foot-tall self).

To be clear, the Rebel v5 continues to be lightweight and is decidedly neutral on-foot (surprisingly, it might even be more flexible in spots…). But the extra midsole millimeters do sacrifice some of the groundfeel and snappiness I so loved in the Rebel v4.

All that said, the cushioning feels fantastic and retains most of its versatility. It offers a familiar blend of bounce and softness (more softness, I think, than in the Rebel v4) that makes for a lively but sustainably comfortable ride. The geometry feels very smooth though not quite as cat-like and dexterous.

I enjoyed the Rebel v5 on daily runs, at around marathon and half-marathon pace, and down to tempo effort when I was feeling fresh. The Rebel v5 isn’t what I would personally reach for for outright speed work/intervals at 10K pace or faster, but it could do that job for those who want or need a single shoe to cover pretty much all of their training. The Rebel v4 skewed a hair faster for me; whereas the Rebel v5 more ably covers my most relaxed running.

Support

Drew: The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 shaves off some of the wide base from the Rebel v4 in order to put more FuelCell below the foot. I think this is a good trade-off. Though the Rebel v5 isn’t as stable as the v4, that amount of stability wasn’t really necessary for such a nimble shoe. The difference is hardly noticeable, and there’s still more than enough support for the Rebel v5’s intended use cases.

Annie: I’m with Drew. The platform is wide enough to offer an adequate amount of stability for a shoe intended to have a neutral ride. It never felt squirrelly underfoot by any means. Just don’t expect the Rebel v5 to have traditional elements of added support.

Traction

Drew: The long-lasting geometric pattern from the Rebel v4 is gone, replaced with a largely triangular, herringbone-esque pattern for the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5. This new pattern is also long-lasting and showed little wear during the test period. The new outsole also grips well, and I didn’t have any issues with wet/dry transitions.

Annie: The traction performed well for me in dry conditions and on wet, soggy runs. I didn’t experience any real slip – just one ever-so-mild instance on the slickest of wet metal. I felt very sure-footed across a variety of road-type surfaces, including concrete, blacktop, crosswalk insets, and even on wet stone/slate.

As Drew noted, the outsole design is totally different from that of last year’s model (which performed bizarrely well for me even in treacherous wintry conditions and despite some cosmetic fraying of the exposed midfoot). So I was thrilled to see this overhaul didn’t result in a decrease in performance. The Rebel v5’s outsole remains grippy and is perhaps even more hard-wearing.

Upper

Drew: FantomFit returns with its largely seamless build for the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5. But this time the tongue gets slightly taller (solving another internet complaint from the Rebel v4) and gets some low-profile padding up top. The tongue is again gusseted and nicely hugs the midfoot.

The heel collar gets a bit more padding up top to protect the Achilles area and offers a grabbable spot that helps with getting the shoe on-foot. It’s a small added comfort that’s appreciated.

The upper is comfortable, breathable, and nails the details without any bulk.

Annie: I was a big fan of New Balance’s FantomFit uppers on last year’s Rebel v4 and the SC Elite v4, and that’s the case here as well. The general flexibility, the comfort but lack of excess, and the effective lockdown all hit the spot. I had no need for a runner’s knot, and it was very much a set-it-and-forget-it kind of upper experience with plenty of breathability for summer running.

As Drew mentioned, the most notable changes are the more finished tongue design and the less thin construction around the heel collar. As a result, the Rebel v5 is easier to put on without collapsing the heel of the shoe beneath your foot or having to situate the tongue more deliberately. The downside is that once on, the upper doesn’t disappear on-foot in quite the same way as with the Rebel v4. The upper remains plenty lightweight, however, and it’s very much a matter of need/preference as to whether the trade-off might be worth it to you.

Is the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 wide foot friendly?

Drew: No, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 in its standard width is a little too narrow for wide-footers to feel truly comfortable taking it for longer runs. Never fear though because New Balance is releasing a Wide (2E) in men’s sizing and a Wide (D) in women’s sizing. I’d recommend wide-footers opt for those for more reliable comfort.

Annie: While the Rebel v5 still has one of the more accommodating standard-width fits out there and will feel good to those with subtly wide feet, it’s not as wide-foot friendly as last year’s version.

Like Drew described in the Support section, New Balance has reduced the amount of flare at the mid/forefoot (especially laterally), and the fit within the upper has, for better or worse, followed suit. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not narrow. But, as someone whose feet start to widen from the ball of the foot forward, I could feel the difference. And that difference naturally becomes magnified over longer distances.

Narrow-footers will likely rejoice at the trimmed-down fit. But if you benefitted from the exceedingly accommodating midfoot and/or forefoot of the Rebel v4, the wide version will better guarantee you’re able to take advantage of all the Rebel v5 has to offer – regardless of how long you’re out on the roads.

Thankfully, New Balance is typically much better than most brands about offering several colorways in its wide widths. So assuming that trend continues (🤞🏽) those who wish to honor both their foot health and their aesthetic preferences – you know, like most humans – should hopefully have more choices available than usual.

New Balance also tends to offer a larger range of smaller men’s sizes as well as a size or two larger than is common in women’s sizes. This essentially means that having smaller but wider feet or larger but narrower feet won’t necessarily limit your color options to the same extent as is typical.

This may seem an insignificant thing to many. And suffice to say, the color of our shoes is the absolute least of our worries in today’s world. I also understand there are undoubtedly budget and manufacturing constraints, particularly for smaller companies; and none of this should be prioritized over what is environmentally responsible. Yet, across the board, this is ultimately a more inclusive practice that benefits all gender identities and expressions (and, perhaps most obviously, more foot types). [Editor’s Note: Louder, for the people in the back.]

But, um, back to the performance review…

Is the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 worth $140?

Drew: Yes, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 provides good value at the $140 price point. Its versatile functionality makes it a $140 shoe that can do it all, similar to its predecessor as well as the like-priced Asics Novablast 5.

Annie: I love it when shoes make answering this question a breeze, and – just as with the Rebel v4 – it’s easy to say the Rebel v5 is worth the $140 price. And the fact that it will continue to be offered in additional widths allows me to recommend it even more readily.

How to use the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5

The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 can be used for just about any running scenario. It’s a chameleon that can go fast, easy, or long, and it seamlessly transitions into casual wear.

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Summary

Drew: The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 is, like the Rebel v4 before it, one of the most versatile running shoe options on the market. It has few downsides and provides a lovely ride across speedy, easy, and long runs. You’ll see it appear on many of our best running shoes lists.

Annie: The changes that come with the Rebel v5 (namely more stack height, an uptick in weight, and a less roomy fit) are of the sort that could threaten much of what I loved about the Rebel v4. And while my personal preferences mean the Rebel v4 is still technically my top choice between the two, the Rebel v5 is in its own right a lightweight, versatile daily trainer that will remain a favorite of mine.

Though sporting a touch more softness and bounce and a touch less snappy groundfeel than its predecessor, the Rebel v5’s reliably fun and comfortable ride deftly follows your level of freshness, allowing you to confidently lace it up whether or not you know exactly what your run might entail when you head out the door.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Annie Keris (age 39, 5’0” 117lbs): Typically follows a “two days on, one day off” running routine. “On” days include daily miles, speed work, and long runs. An “off” day usually involves yoga and mobility/recovery work. Enjoys occasional racing but perhaps enjoys the training process even more. Gravitates most toward the half marathon distance, but ventures into the 10k and 5k as well. The marathon is thus far uncharted territory…

Disclosure

While New Balance did provide a pair of the Rebel v5 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.