New Balance FuelCell Prism v2 review

New Balance FuelCell Prism v2 review 

New Balance FuelCell Prism v2 is designed to be a lightweight everyday trainer that provides moderate stability support.

How does the FuelCell Prism v2 perform?

• Spacious: On the run, my toes can splay and flex as needed.
• Stable: The solid rubber outsole, the medial post for stability, and the heel locking laces give confidence underfoot.
• Slow: These are not necessarily built for speed, but for stability. Pickup paces are a little challenging and the shoe feels a little clunky.

Who should buy it

This everyday training is suitable for runners who:

• need a lightweight shoe that offers mild stability
• enjoy running shoes with a low heel-to-toe drop

Who should NOT buy it

Look away if you:

• have severe overpronation (in this case, consider the New Balance 1500 v6)
• are looking for a nimble, quick trainer (the New Balance 1500 series is worth checking out)
• need a neutral shoe (the Fresh Foam 1080 v11 is praised for being lightweight, comfortable, and grippy)

My first FuelCell Prism

In my build-up for the Boston Marathon, I ran 103 miles in New Balance’s newest iteration of the Prisms. While I do not necessarily need stability support for running, I enjoy running in lightweight stability shoes from time to time, especially for recovery paces. 

I am still rotating a pair of New Balance’s FIRST iteration of the Prism shoes, and they have 290 miles on them. In this review, I will make some comparisons between the first and second versions of the Prisms, as they are notably different shoes.

New Balance Prism v2 fits a little large

I wear US size 12 and I weigh in at about 175lb. The shoe holds its shape and provides adequate space as expected, though the toe box and length are a little too spacious.

The inside of the heel was adequately padded and I experienced no issues with rubbing or blistering on my heels. 

Provides exceptional support and bounce

The FuelCell foam is superbly lightweight and responsive. Additionally, Prism v2 provides a medial post on the interior of the foot for added stability.

The Prism v2, like most of the FuelCell line of shoes, provides a 6mm drop from heel to toe.

Durable, grippy outsole

The rubber outsole is quite robust. This adds a bit of weight but provides exceptional grip on ALL surfaces.

Looks barely worn after 103 miles

With 103 miles on them, the Prism v2 looks barely worn. 

I have had GREAT success when it comes to New Balance FuelCell shoes’ durability. I have 290 on my Prism v1 and they are still in rotation. I believe, with the added outsole rubber on the v2, along with the durability of FuelCell foam, these shoes could last 1,000 miles.

Keeps the foot locked in

The laces work perfectly to provide lightweight security to keep your feet locked in. The tongue stays in place and the additional eyelet allows a runner’s tie (heel-lock).

The first version of FuelCell Prism impressed me greatly. They are very lightweight (23g lighter than v2) and responsive. 

At first glance, the versions look extremely similar. The difference comes when you see “where the rubber meets the road.” 

In the second iteration, you can observe a notable increase in the amount of rubber in the outsole. Whereas version 1 utilized mostly EVA foam for the outsole, version 2 replaced much of the foam with rubber. This change makes version 2 feel heavier and clunkier than version 1, which feels extremely lightweight and agile.