New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Review: More Foam, Less Fast?

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

When New Balance dropped the first FuelCell Rebel back in 2019, it lived up to its name: a lightweight, energetic outlier in a world rushing toward max-cushion everything. Fast-forward to the fifth iteration, and the Rebel has bulked up with more foam, a higher stack height and a slightly higher weight.

Can the latest Rebel, available July 1, live up to its fast-and-light legacy — or has it joined the ranks of the very shoes it once defied? Read on to learn what our reviewers think.

The Rebel v5 gets an additional 5 millimeters of stack height underfoot (the distance in height between your feet and the ground). The Rebel doesn’t have a plate in the midsole; it relies on a PEBA-blended foam — an ultra-light, high-performance material — to deliver an energetic, bouncy ride.

“I was worried I’ve been growing jaded by reviewing so many shoes, because it’s been a while since I’ve been wowed by a shoe…but the New Balance Rebel has blown me away!” Mandy says. “Not only is the upper light and airy, but the cushioning feels light and airy as well. It made my runs feel effortless. The Rebel v5 proves you don’t need a plated midsole to have a great, fast run.”

However, with the additional cushion underfoot comes additional weight. And that did not make my runs feel light, airy and effortless. I’ve worn the v4 for a couple of short, fast speed work outs, so I decided to test the v5 for some mile repeats at threshold pace. The shoe just doesn’t have the same nimble, barely-there feel. I usually appreciate extra cushioning underfoot, but I think I prefer the lighter, lower-stack version 4.

“The additional FuelCell foam underfoot causes the Rebel v5 to lose some of its “pop” and begins to teeter into the “too soft” category for me,” says Max. “I used the v4 for tempo runs, but not long runs. The v5 might be the opposite use case for me — it’s now soft enough underfoot for long runs, but maybe too goo-ey soft for speed work.”

Kate agrees, saying, “The foam is light and peppy, but the shoe is also flexible, which isn’t what I like for fast running. I have flat feet and flexible arches, so I prefer a more stiff, structured feel — especially when I’m ready to pick up the pace. But people who like a fairly soft, flexible shoe will enjoy a nice plateless option that can handle a variety of runs.”

I’m one of those people Kate referenced who like a soft, flexible shoe. While I didn’t enjoy running in the Rebel v5 during easy runs when my legs and feet are fatigued (I need more softness!), they got the job done during my mile repeats and I was able to hit my paces without thinking twice about my feet.

While the Rebel v5 did gain a little bit of weight, the upper still delivers a light, breathable feel akin to previous versions. New Balance uses their FANTOMFIT technology, an engineered mesh upper created by fusing two pieces of thin material together, delivering support in a thin, airy package.

“Although southern summer has not hit North Caroline in full force yet, I plan on wearing these all season long because they are so breathable,” Mandy says. “They wrap around my feet in all the right ways, giving a nice secure feel.”

Even Max, who frequently laments about warm uppers, complimented the shoe’s breathability. “The super thin material is in the upper percentile in terms of breathability. Plus, it creates a spacious feel in the toebox that I enjoy, especially on warm days,” he says.

The heel collar gets an update in the v5, something I was grateful for because I frequently experienced blistering on the backs of my heels in the 4. The heel tab in the 5 is softer, made with a more flexible material, and offers more padding. I didn’t experience any blisters or hot spots.

The Rebel v5 fit true-to-size for all four of us, despite having different foot shapes. Mandy, Kate and I have medium-width feet, while Max’s are narrow. If you have wide feet (D for women, 2E for men), don’t fret–the Rebel v5 is available in wide sizing.

Not sure about the width of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

Now packing more cushioning (and a bit more weight), does the Rebel v5 still deserve its fast-and-light reputation?

While the Rebel v5 isn’t quite as light as its predecessor, it makes up for it with more PEBA-blended midsole foam to add a boost of energy and responsiveness. While Kate and Max found the Rebel v5 to be a bit too soft for speedwork, Mandy and I disagree.

I think the Rebel v5 has a nice soft-to-snappy ratio that feels natural when running fast. It’s obviously not as bouncy as a carbon-plated option, but it’s a great bang for your buck at $140.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the Rebel v5 stacks up. Here’s what we found:

The New Balance Rebel v5, HOKA Mach 6 and ASICS Novablast 5 all use thick, springy midsole foams to deliver cushy and responsive rides. New Balance uses their PEBA-blended FuelCell foam, ASICS uses their FF BLAST MAX foam and HOKA uses a supercritical-EVA foam (fun fact, HOKA doesn’t name their midsoles the way other brands do).

All three shoes deliver a springy experience that doesn’t need a carbon or nylon plate, or the price point that comes with it. The Rebel is still the lightest amongst its competitors, despite the added weight in the v5.

With its sleek, lightweight design and soft-yet-springy cushioning, the Rebel v5 is a versatile option for runners seeking one shoe that can do it all.

“The New Balance Rebel v5 is a perfect option for anyone seeking a plateless uptempo daily trainer” says Kate. “If you like a soft, flexible shoe that’s lightweight with a comfortable fit, the Rebel is your new Swiss Army Knife of a daily trainer.”