New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5: análisis y review

We found that the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 is a perfect match for:

• Runners who gave the Rebel v4 a try but couldn’t get past the short tongue or irritating heel. Well, we found that both issues are now fully resolved.
• Anyone after a feather-light, joy-filled shoe that works for everything from daily runs to fast tempo runs.
• Forefoot and midfoot strikers who dislike maximalist shoes and prefer a grounded, ultra-flexible ride that keeps them connected to the road.

If you're chasing maximum bounce, we believe the Rebel v5 isn’t the best choice. In our lab, shoes like the Adidas Adizero EVO SL or Adios 9 delivered better energy return—making them better suited for tempo runs and longer sessions.

Additionally, we think the Rebel v5 struggles in wet conditions or dirt roads due to its slippery outsole. Based on our tests, the ASICS Noosa Tri 16 makes a stronger pick, as it shares the same lightweight DNA but adds better traction.

The Rebel v5 may not reach the towering height of a maximalist shoe like the HOKA Clifton 10, but its shock absorption is truly impressive in the heel with a standout 145 SA. New Balance reworked the foam to create a softer ride, effectively enhancing its comfort underfoot.

The forefoot has also improved over the previous version, now measuring 105 SA. While that figure is closer to average, runners who appreciate the usual Rebel’s ground-connected feel will likely welcome the update.

While not alarming enough to raise red flags or become a dealbreaker, it’s still disappointing to see a slight dip in energy return in the Rebel v5’s heel: 59.8% compared to the 63.1% recorded in version 4.

On the bright side, the forefoot improves, confirming that the shoe is really responsive for midfoot and forefoot strikers. We measured a solid 67.3% here, which feels especially impressive considering the shoe’s price point.

The Rebel continues its steady rise in stack height, something that comes as no surprise for us. It’s no longer the low-to-the-ground shoe we saw in version 2, now reaching 33.0 mm in the heel.

But the FuelCell foam remains ultra-soft and compresses quickly under pressure. This creates a well-balanced blend of cushioning and subtle ground feel, a combination that few shoes on the market manage to pull off.

One of the things we noticed during our Rebel v4 lab review was the unexpectedly low forefoot stack at 21.5 mm, which left most forefoot strikers too close to the ground for a multi-purpose daily trainer.

That was due to its unusual midsole shape with a thick midfoot zone, but that design is gone. The Rebel v5 now has a 26.7 mm forefoot, better matched with the heel and offering a more long-run-ready setup.

Most daily trainers stick to an 8 or 10 mm drop, but New Balance often leans toward more moderate setups. The Rebel follows that trend with a stated 6 mm drop and a measured 6.3 mm, remarkably close to spec.

This design suits midfoot strikers especially well, yet it still works comfortably for a wide range of runners.

New Balance continues to go all-in on softness with the Rebel v5, keeping the PEBA+EVA FuelCell foam that we measured at just 11.5 HA. This compound gives the shoe a pillow-plush feel that makes every step comfortable, especially on longer efforts. It’s a good option for those who value soft landings without the typical weight penalty of maximalist trainers.

However, it won’t be the best fit for everyone—those who prefer a low-compression, quick-responding midsole may find FuelCell a bit too sink-in.

The Rebel v4 featured an aggressive rocker that didn’t suit many runners, mainly due to its sharply curved heel. It’s clear New Balance took that feedback seriously because version 5 feels much more dialed in, with a flatter heel and a forefoot curve that begins early but rolls out gradually.

While the previous version was a top pick for midfoot strikers, this update feels more democratic, though we still think it’s a bit less appealing for heel strikers.

After doing both slow and fast runs in the Rebel v5, we discovered it’s still one of the most comfort-focused shoes for tempo efforts. In our view, New Balance really dialed in a runner-friendly fit.

Back in the lab, we measured the width at 96.1 mm, confirming a nice fit that holds the foot securely without feeling tight, striking a near-ideal balance between race-ready lockdown and easygoing comfort.

Our second measurement matters even more than the first, as it reveals how the shoe fits in the toebox. At 75.0 mm, there’s generous space up front, definitely enough to keep your toes relaxed.

Toebox height checks out as well, offering 27.9 mm of vertical space—more than enough to avoid any pressure on the toes.

And for runners needing a bit of extra wiggle room, the Rebel v5 will be available in wide sizes in select markets.

With a score of 0.42 in our grip test, the Rebel v5 matched what we felt during our runs. It performs well on dry roads, but the large sections of exposed foam likely reduce traction, making it less reliable in wet conditions.

It’s also a slight step down from the 0.50 we recorded in version 4 using the same SATRA TM144 protocol.

The forefoot rubber is shaped into small triangular lugs, offering flexibility between grooves. The heel rubber uses a zigzag design for added surface contact, while the foam cutout near the medial heel lightens the structure.

Overall, rubber coverage is focused only on high-wear areas, leaving the midfoot entirely exposed and prioritizing weight savings and flexibility above everything else.

Anyone familiar with the Rebel series knows it’s always been a super-flexible shoe. Thankfully, New Balance kept that identity intact, as our 30-degree bend test measured just 11.7N.

Therefore, we can confirm that the v5 remains impressively comfortable and natural underfoot.

Another standout trait of past Rebel models has always been their lightweight build. Version 5 keeps that legacy alive, coming in at just 7.8 oz or 220g. That's a slight increase from before, but one that makes sense and it's reasonable given the added stack height and comfort.

The Rebel upper has always sparked debate. Version 2 tore easily on the sides and triggered a wave of complaints, while versions 3 and 4 didn’t fit everyone well, mainly due to odd design choices like the heel collar.

Now with version 5, the Rebel finally finds a sweet spot, though we found that breathability could be an issue for some. We gave it a 3/5 for ventilation, which works for most of the year but may feel warm on hot summer days. The difference compared to the more breathable Pacer v2 is quite noticeable in our video.

We also tested the upper over a light to spot airflow zones, and it’s clear New Balance focused ventilation on the toebox while reinforcing the rest of the shoe for added structure and support.

The engineered mesh is lightweight and feels high quality, though its thin build might raise some questions about long-term durability. We'll check that in a minute.

Still, for this price range, it's rare to see an upper this precisely built.

The heel is now extremely padded (unlike version 4) and it feels like New Balance really wanted to make amends. Padding elsewhere is minimal to avoid weight gain, staying true to the Rebel’s light-and-fast design.

The Rebel v5 is a neutral shoe with a few subtle stability elements. It features a wide midfoot, flared sole, and raised midsole sidewalls that help center the ride without feeling bulky or stiff. These features slightly balance the soft foam, but the ride stays smooth and natural.

Torsional rigidity is low at 2/5, playing a key role in the natural ride we’ve described before. This flexibility is also made possible by the limited rubber coverage on the outsole, since more rubber typically leads to a stiffer build.

The biggest issue with version 4 (it triggered a wave of returns) was the awkward heel counter that pinched the Achilles, similar to what some runners experienced with the Hoka Mach X 2. That’s now resolved, and New Balance also added a bit more structure to this area, earning a 3/5 score more in line with daily trainers.

The Rebel v5 appears wider than it actually is, mainly because it skips the usual midfoot taper found in most daily trainers. However, our caliper reading tells the real story: at 114.9 mm in the forefoot, it falls right in line with the average running shoe.

The heel feels similar to the forefoot—visually wide, but our measurement came in at an average 91.4 mm, which keeps the shoe feeling stable without losing agility.

It’s clear that many brands, including New Balance, are now favoring a blocky, rectangle-like shape in the midfoot to boost support.

We had real concerns about durability after inspecting the upper under the microscope, and our lab test confirmed them. The mesh broke down quickly when exposed to the Dremel, earning the lowest possible score of 1/5.

In contrast, the heel padding held up well despite its ultra-plush feel, scoring a strong 4/5 in our durability test. That's definitely a positive result.

We adjusted our latest Dremel test to account for the rubber’s more abrasion-resistant nature compared to the upper. To match the tougher material, we increased the rotation speed to 10K RPM and extended the duration of the test.

What we found was a 0.8 mm indentation in the outsole, proof that this rubber compound can take a decent beating.

New Balance used 3.2 mm of rubber in version 4 but reduced it to 2.6 mm in version 5, likely to balance out the added weight from the increased stack height. Still, we believe this amount is enough for regular daily use.

That said, because of the outsole layout and foam exposure, we’d recommend keeping this shoe strictly on roads.

The insole is ultra-thin at just 2.6 mm, allowing more direct contact with the underfoot foam. We believe that's an efficient choice for keeping the shoe lightweight and responsive.

One benefit of blending 20% PEBA with 80% EVA as this FuelCell foam does is that PEBA helps offset EVA’s weak performance in cold conditions. Thanks to this mix, we found the foam only got 17% firmer after 20 minutes in the freezer, which is a clear improvement over the average.

The insole is removable, which let us clearly see its perforated design aimed at shaving off a bit of weight and adding a touch of ventilation.

We were glad to find reflective elements on the top and back of the Rebel v5. They enhance visibility during night runs, lighting up clearly when hit by headlights.

One of the most talked-about design issues in the Rebel v4 was its short tongue, which caused irritation and ruined the fit for many runners.

That’s now resolved, as the new version has a better length and fits as expected. We also found a tongue thickness of 2.9 mm, offering light cushioning in the instep without feeling bulky or overbuilt.

We found the tongue design to be semi-gusseted, with partial stitching along the sides that keeps it anchored in place. This layout helps prevent the tongue from shifting mid-run.

The Rebel v5 avoids a price increase and sticks to the same cost as previous versions, which we see as a big win. For us, it clearly stands out as one of the top options in terms of fun and versatility per dollar.

The Rebel v5 doesn’t include a heel tab, but that’s consistent with how New Balance has been designing most of its road shoes in recent years.