New Balance Women's FuelCell Rebel V2 Speed Running Shoe

Product Information

It’s lightweight, soft, responsive, grips well, and priced reasonably for its level of tech. Hey, there’s even an optional width and a size US 16 available. Stability: B- (For a shoe this soft, you'd expect a C or lower on stability, but the flaring and ribbing bring it to moderate stability for a neutral shoe)

We tested the Rebel V2 during the cold winter mornings of Toronto, Canada – and that included many sub-zero degree (Celcius) runs. For me, the Rebel v2 functions best as a daily trainer for middle distances at easy/steady paces between 4.30 and 5.30 per kilometre. It has a super soft, smooth ride with good energy return that makes it fun to run in.Unlike standard EVA foam or even rubber-blend materials like the Nike React, the New Balance Fuelcell foam did not stiffen in the cold and retained its cushioned bounciness. New Balance men’s running shoes are renowned for their sleek designs, lightweight materials and supreme cushioning. For something better suited to long-distance running, opt for the 880, which features a breathable mesh FantomFit upper with a no-sew overlay engineered for ultra-light support. Stability: B- (Really soft platform with only mild stability elements, the shoe is relatively soft and flexible throughout and may give some trouble, but good for a lightweight performance shoe this soft) The super critical, nitrogen infused FuelCell provides really good energy return and makes it feel like a super foam. It’s not as bouncy as ZoomX but more bouncy than Hyper Burst, DNA Flash and Pwrrun PB.

As for the flap material, the raw edges are soft and completely distraction-free – as is the rest of the upper. PROS AND CONS If not for the looming specter of premature upper failure, the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V2 is a delightful running shoe. The Rebel v3 now has a long rubber strip which extends from the heel all the way to the midfoot on the medial side. This is the best update of the Rebel v3 and it improves outsole durability drastically.There is another patch of rubber placed on the midfoot of the medial side and on the heel. After 90 kilometres, the rubber has held up well but the exposed foam areas are a concern. Dr. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon. He typically runs 60 to 70 miles per week and trains from about 7:30 recovery runs to fast shorter efforts at 4:30 pace. He normally prefers neutral shoes with a firmer ride, but is completely open to other types of shoes. He is a footwear enthusiast at heart and will always appreciate a high quality shoe when it comes around. For updates on training or testing, IG handle: @docsofrundavid David: "I absolutely love the Rebel's FuelCell midsole. It feels comfortably soft at slower speeds and super lively at faster paces. I thought the Rebel v2s were really fun to run in, and I always wanted to push the pace when they were on foot."

The wear pattern on the Rebel v2 is really interesting. Normally I see the most wear on the outer lateral side of the heel but with the Rebel v2, most of the wear is on the medial side. The tongue is flat, wide and not gusseted. There is some downward tongue slide during runs but no lateral tongue slide. It has small holes punched into it to increase air flow and cool your foot down. New Balance has worked its magic, balancing the softness and responsiveness of the Rebel's FuelCell midsole almost perfectly. These highly versatile lightweight trainers can push the pace and offer an impressive energy return for a non-plated shoe.However, if you’re recovering from Plantar Fasciitis or are generally injury-prone, we don’t recommend buying the Rebel V2. Personal: B+ (Really nice to run in, but with it being so soft I typically only can do 1, maybe 2, runs per week without soreness in my ankle stabilizers) The cushy properties of the foam are easily accessible at any speed without any mushiness. The lightweight foam is lively as it gets. A 10 min/mile (6 min/km) pace feels just as doable as a spirited 7 min/mile (4:30 min/km) speed. Over longer distances, the 204 gram/7.2-ounce weight makes for easy wear. The Rebel is easily capable of going half-marathon distances and beyond. I took the Rebel v2 on a 40 kilometre run on two occasions and its performance was excellent. It provided plenty of long-distance comfort and my legs felt great by the end of the runs. You could easily run a full marathon in the Rebel v2.