New Balance Women's FuelCell Rebel V2 Speed Running Shoe

Product Information

Our favorite plate-cushioned racer continues to the Saucony Endorphin Speed V2 because of the value it offers at the price. IS THE NEW BALANCE FUELCELL REBEL V2 DURABLE? 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." However, if you’re recovering from Plantar Fasciitis or are generally injury-prone, we don’t recommend buying the Rebel V2.

The outsole isn’t much to look at. The rubber slabs are thin and soft, thus allowing them to bend whenever the midsole does. 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.If not for the looming specter of premature upper failure, the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V2 is a delightful running shoe. With 30 mm of soft FuelCell foam underfoot, the Rebel v2 offers runners ample protection from the impact of the roads. As a lightweight trainer, this shoe is not necessarily the best long-distance companion, but our testers are confident that runners will comfortably enjoy distances around the half-marathon mark. The new NDURANCE outsole also gives the Rebel v2 improved traction that should instill a lot of confidence while out on the roads. Dr. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon. He typically runs 60 to 70 miles per week and trains from about 7:30 recovery runs to fast shorter efforts at 4:30 pace. He normally prefers neutral shoes with a firmer ride, but is completely open to other types of shoes. He is a footwear enthusiast at heart and will always appreciate a high quality shoe when it comes around. For updates on training or testing, IG handle: @docsofrundavid

Personal: A (Really lightweight, protective, bouncy, and responsive. This is a shoe I really like doing strides in, road workouts, long runs, etc.) 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 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. This is a shoe meant for tempo runs, so the forefoot has a snug fit that prevents the foot from sliding. On the forefoot, the rubber panel is different and it makes the ride firmer. There are no longer triangular cutouts in the rubber so the squishy foam can’t push through the holes when the forefoot is loaded. The super critical, nitrogen infused FuelCell provides really good energy return and makes it feel like a super foam. It’s not as bouncy as ZoomX but more bouncy than Hyper Burst, DNA Flash and Pwrrun PB. Overall, the shoe does perform really well with much versatility. It just is a little unstable through uneven terrain, but if you are good with that and don't need much stability the shoe provides a very fun and bouncy ride.

We tested the Rebel V2 during the cold winter mornings of Toronto, Canada – and that included many sub-zero degree (Celcius) runs. 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) 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 midfoot and rearfoot are narrow compared to the forefoot. The outsole rubber placement also makes the shoe more suited to forefoot striking. DPT/Footwear Science: A (Foam is new, and taking something so soft and making it functional is neat to see with the mechannics of the shoe)There is another patch of rubber placed on the midfoot of the medial side and on the heel. After 90 kilometres, the rubber has held up well but the exposed foam areas are a concern.