The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 is a lightweight, easygoing daily trainer that blends comfort and smooth transitions with a clean design and roomy fit.
It feels best at moderate paces, especially if you’re a rearfoot striker, and has just enough cushioning to make longer efforts feel comfortable, though its soft midsole and unstructured build might leave you wanting more snap and lockdown for harder sessions.
Key specifications
- Price: $145 at REI.com / Sportsshoes.com (For UK Readers)
- Weight: 7.9oz / 224g (US men's size 9)
- Drop: 6mm (Stack: 38mm heel / 32mm forefoot)
- Upper: Engineered mesh with FantomFit overlays, very breathable, gusseted tongue, padded collars and heel counter
- Midsole: FuelCell foam (PEBA/EVA blend) – softer than Rebel v4
- Outsole: Strategically placed rubber with some exposed foam in the midfoot
- Extra attributes: Wide-foot friendly, clean aesthetic, good reflectivity
Alastair Dixon
Sizing and fit
Fit is true to size for me when following US sizing, with noticeably generous volume in the toe box and forefoot areas.
The toe box is especially roomy which is great news for wider or higher-volume feet but I found the forefoot lockdown a touch sloppy at tempo paces.
Heel lockdown, on the other hand, is excellent and secure with no rubbing or slippage.
I also appreciate all the padding in the collars, tongue and heel counter.
Performance review
The Rebel v5 is a very comfortable, soft daily trainer that feels most at home on steady runs, recovery days, or relaxed tempo efforts where smooth transitions and a natural feel matter more than pure speed.
The ride reminds me a little of how the Asics Novablast 5 feels on the run; another great daily trainer with a focus on pushing the pace while maintaining comfort underfoot (especially at the heel).
Rebel v5 (left), Novablast 5 (right)
The FuelCell midsole in the Rebel v5 is a PEBA/EVA blend and feels noticeably softer than v4.
It delivers great energy return and comfort underfoot, and the 7.9oz weight definitely helps with an increased cadence/turnover and keeping things light and nimble.
On easier runs, I found myself naturally increasing my cadence without even thinking about it, which is a good thing by the way, here's why.
Alastair Dixon
That said, the softness comes at a cost, if you're looking for a cushioned tempo shoe at least...
There’s just not enough snap or structure here for faster threshold work or intervals.
There's no plate or rocker to help roll you through toe-off, which is fine in some cases (not all tempo shoes need a Nylon or Pebax plate to be fast), and the lack of forefoot cushioning limits its versatility when the pace picks up.
I also felt the 6mm drop more than expected as a forefoot striker, it feels more like an 8mm drop to me on the run. Heel-loaded transitions felt smoother, so I think heel strikers will get more out of this shoe.
Forefoot lockdown could be improved too.
That roomy toe box, while a plus for comfort and wider feet, just doesn't lock the front of the foot down enough during sharp turns or faster efforts. It’s fine for daily miles but not something I’d choose on speed training sessions.
On the bright side, heel lockdown is excellent. The padded collars and gusseted tongue make it feel secure and plush at the rear, which adds comfort on longer runs.
The upper mesh is also very breathable, keeping your feet cool as you run.
It’s just the front half of the fit that needs some tuning for me, but like I said, those with more voluminous feet will love it.
Durability is another concern, and this will be especially noticeable for heavier runners or those who land hard on the lateral heel.
The exposed foam on my pair is already showing significant wear after just a few runs, and I’d be surprised if I get more than 300km out of them before traction becomes compromised.
Grip is totally fine in dry conditions and holds up decently in light rain.
Alastair Dixon
My verdict
The FuelCell Rebel v5 is a soft, stylish, and lightweight daily trainer that is easy to run in, especially for heel strikers who want a smooth, cushioned ride at moderate paces.
Visually, it's really clean, fits wide feet well, and feels great for everyday runs or even using as a lifestyle trainer.
If you fall into that sweet spot of being a rearfoot striker, run moderate weekly mileage, and want a daily trainer that feels lightweight, effortless, smooth for daily training, relaxed tempo sessions, and doesn't break the bank, you’ll most likely fall in love with the Rebel v5.
