New Balance Women's FuelCell Rebel V2 Speed Running Shoe

Product Information

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. Our speed running shoes are just as innovative, and are powered by REVlite cushioning and lightweight solid rubber outsoles. New Balance Running Shoes: The History

The Liberate Nitro is also lighter and delivers similar performance benefits, thanks to the soft and responsive Nitro foam. The lightweight upper has a deconstructed, racer-like fit for high-speed training. There is a small amount of padding around the collar and the heel but overall it’s a really minimal, light upper. Stability: B- (Really soft platform with only mild stability elements, the shoe is relatively soft and flexible throughout and may give some trouble, but good for a lightweight performance shoe this soft)

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Conclusion

However, if you’re recovering from Plantar Fasciitis or are generally injury-prone, we don’t recommend buying the Rebel V2. As for the flap material, the raw edges are soft and completely distraction-free – as is the rest of the upper. PROS AND CONS The Rebel is a running shoe designed for runners who love soft-riding shoes. The juicy slab of FuelCell midsole foam compresses so much and so easily, even if you’re a light runner below 60 kilograms. The midsole sidewalls are raised at the midfoot to provide some stability but I still think that heel strikers will find the Rebel v2 slightly unstable. The risk paid off handsomely and the first version of the Rebel was a hit: it was light, snappy and more bouncy than its lightweight Fresh Foam cousins. Runners also loved its radical design with a unique lateral “wing”.

The entire forefoot is covered with soft, flexible rubber. The forefoot rubber extends down into the midfoot on the lateral side. The wear pattern on the Rebel v2 is really interesting. Normally I see the most wear on the outer lateral side of the heel but with the Rebel v2, most of the wear is on the medial side. The Rebel v2 doesn’t feel like a tempo trainer anymore because of how soft and flexible it is. All the shoes mentioned above are better shoes for speedwork. 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.So where do we see the Fuelcell Rebel V2 fit into a shoe rotation? Can this be the one shoe to do it all? It certainly has the potential, so its fragile build quality is disappointing. Personal: A (Really lightweight, protective, bouncy, and responsive. This is a shoe I really like doing strides in, road workouts, long runs, etc.) David: "I absolutely love the Rebel's FuelCell midsole. It feels comfortably soft at slower speeds and super lively at faster paces. I thought the Rebel v2s were really fun to run in, and I always wanted to push the pace when they were on foot." Saucony Freedom 4 - PWRRUN PB gives the shoe a hugely responsive ride that's capable of heavy workouts and even races for those seeking a non-plated option The heel-to-toe offset is 6 mm, New Balance’s favorite ‘drop’ for tempo trainers. It’s funny how certain offset numbers are associated with the brands. Saucony goes for 4 mm (Kinvara) and 8 mm (Ride, Guide, et.al), Hoka uses a 5 mm offset, and Altra is 0 mm, of course.

It has a 6 mm drop which makes it more of a midfoot/forefoot striker trainer than a heel striker trainer because it encourages you to strike further forward- this makes it a great shoe for short tempo or workout runs if you prefer a plateless trainer for speedwork. I find the flexible forefoot of the Rebel v3 a little too relaxed; I crave something stiffer with a plate for speedwork. If not for the looming specter of premature upper failure, the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V2 is a delightful running shoe. David: "With more FuelCell cushioning in the midsole than the original model, the Rebel v2 feels plush and comfortable regardless of pace. With its soft landings, I was able to go through my daily runs with less muscle soreness."The Rebel v3 has a similar mesh to version 2 but it’s not as translucent. It has a rough texture and doesn’t stretch so it feels more like a racing shoe upper than a training one. Breathability is excellent and overall comfort is very good. Stability: B- (For a shoe this soft, you'd expect a C or lower on stability, but the flaring and ribbing bring it to moderate stability for a neutral shoe) The Rebel v2 follows the trend of lightweight, tempo trainers becoming softer and more suited to slower, longer runs. The Beacon V3, SL20.2 and EvoRide 2 have all undergone the same treatment. Just like the Rebel v2, going true to size will be a really snug fit so I suggest going up a half size. This is one of the rare shoes I’ve tested which I needed to size up. Going up a half size will provide a spacious forefoot and toe box for long training runs. Matt: "The upper on the Rebel v2 is great. It is a thin mesh that holds my foot snuggly and comfortably. Underfoot, this shoe is not as stable as other models, but the soft and structured upper gave me the confidence to use the Rebel v2 no matter which runs I was going on."