New Balance Women's FuelCell Rebel V2 Speed Running Shoe

Product Information

The only weakness of the Rebel v2 is that its outsole areas which aren’t covered with rubber get chewed up by the ground so I don’t expect durability to be good.

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Multi 10 - Road Trail Run New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Multi 10 - Road Trail Run

While it's true that there is less exposed foam in the v3, the rubber in the outsole is 12.5% thinner than v2. Derek: I wear US9.5 in Rebel, and US9.5 for TC for long runs and easy runs, and US9.0 for TC for speed work. Fit-wise, the TC feels longer than Rebel at the same size and if you want a more performance fit, I would go half size down in the Rebel vs the TC. TC is one of the very few shoes I own more than 1 pair of, and paid for. That should tell you something. The TC is a special and incredibly versatile trainer. The Rebel is similar to the TC in that both have pretty soft and bouncy heels (read: unstable for some), with the key difference being the TC has a stiffer forefoot partly due to its plate and partly due to stiffer outsole rubber. The Rebel is more natural-feeling and flexible through the toes at slower paces. Overall both are incredibly versatile shoes. Rebel wins big by on weight savings, TC wins on “assistive Carbon plate”. I’d say it’s a tie, but the retail price difference is pretty big here. If you can’t find the TC (because it’s often sold out), the Rebel would be an excellent alternative, though I suspect it will sell pretty fast too!We’ll probably recommend another rotational strategy when the updated (and hopefully more durable) Rebel 3 is released. But for now, we can think of the Fresh Foam 1080 V11 as a reliable muncher of long miles and such. Its upper is soft, and the midsole delivers a cushy ride. While I enjoyed the run I feared the Rebel v3 would have the same problem as the Rebel v2; that it would “bottom out” on longer runs where the foam stops providing as much bounce and cushioning once you pass around 12km. 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. Given the unpredictable durability outcome, we think that the New Balance Fuelcell 2 will last anywhere between 100 to 500 miles, with 250 miles being the median. THE UPPER DESIGN AND FIT Despite not having a lot of rubber on the outsole, the Rebel v3 gripped well for me on wet pavements and even during one run on a slightly muddy trail. I haven’t seen any undue signs of wear on the outsole, but with the soft midsole foam and limited outsole coverage, I wouldn’t expect the Rebel v3 to be the longest-lasting shoe. Is The New Balance Rebel v3 Worth It?

FuelCell Rebel v3 Review | Coach - coachmaguk New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3 Review | Coach - coachmaguk

In terms of stability, however, it leaves you wanting. Although the relatively wide platform compensates somewhat, it is still not for those runners who prefer a stable and well supported shoe. For comparison, it’s no worse than its plated cousin, the previously mentioned FuelCell TC, and perhaps a hint more stable than a competitor like the Asics Novablast. Derek/Jacob/Sally/Ryan/Renee/Bryan/Adam/Sam/Cheng/Michael: excellent cushioning/weight ratio; very light under 7.33 oz men’s, 6 oz women’s Jacob: Last year (2019) the Rebel was one of the first shoes released employing New Balance’s FuelCell midsole. FuelCell is a perfect example of a modern foam: soft, bouncy, and energetic.Overall, there isn’t a massive difference between the 2 versions so if you want to buy v2 at a heavily discounted price, you have my blessing.