New Balance Women's FuelCell Rebel V2 Speed Running Shoe

Product Information

Jamie : FuelCell truly lives up to the hype in this shoe. After over 200 miles, it still feels as soft as when I took it out of the box. Running on roads, crushed limestone, and even some trails, this shoe can handle it all. It’s soft enough for those easy runs, springy for some uptempo runs, and overall just super light. I tend to have some issues when shoes are too soft, so the added responsiveness from the FuelCell is just perfect. For a non-plated shoe, the Rebel v2 has become one of my new favorites in my running shoe rotation. While they may not be the ideal shoe for someone looking for a more supportive ride (or stability shoe) or for seriously long runs of over 4 hours, the Rebel will satisfy most athletes looking for a lightweight daily trainer that can provide a perfect combination of cushioning and responsiveness come race day. Excellent for many, the Rebel keeps the best features of its predecessors and can be relied upon to as an all-rounder.

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Shoes Make Running Fun These New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 Shoes Make Running Fun

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. For me, the Rebel v2 functions best as a daily trainer for middle distances at easy/steady paces between 4.30 and 5.30 per kilometre. It has a super soft, smooth ride with good energy return that makes it fun to run in. The Rebel is a great trainer at a favourable price point. Unless you’re partial to a firmer, more stable ride, odds are you’re going to like this shoe. 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. Cheng: I frequently stress on the importance of insole tuning in producing a quality ride. Getting this right is quite difficult and New Balance has been known to make mistakes (e.g. 1500v5). However, the Rebel V2 does a decent job of implementing a Durapontex insole that has already been proven in the RC Elites.The lightweight Nike Pegasus Turbo was one of the first shoes to feature the ZoomX foam without a plate. It was similar to the Rebel V2 in spirit – the soft and bouncy midsole was versatile enough for daily runs and tempo days. This is due to the lateral “wing” which flares out at the midfoot and forefoot and pushes your foot inward. This “wing” is not as prominent as on the Rebel V1 but it still results in medial side lean bias. No one, no matter who they are, ever wants to go running every time they've planned to. If there's any excuse available, it will be used to justify skipping a day from time to time. I've often considered skipping a run, but I could never pin it on New Balance's Fuel Cell Rebel v2 shoes. In fact, more than once they were the sole reason I decided to stay on schedule and head out on a run. 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 you make a shoe that should work for everybody, you can't go crazy with the design. That's why New Balance went with a pretty standard upper in terms of fit for a tempo shoe. And how do we know that? Let's compare with some similar shoes: Shoe

Fuelcell Performance Running Shoes - New Balance

Of course, if you need stability shoes specifically there are plenty to choose from as well. Rebel v2 fits like a dreamBefore diving fully into the feel and performance of the FuelCell Rebel v2, the look is also worth mentioning: Its design captures the playfulness of the shoe without being too bold or silly. I'm a fan of the color yellow, so the yellow review shoes that showed up probably would have been my personal choice.

FuelCell Rebel v3 Review | Running Shoes Guru New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3 Review | Running Shoes Guru

Out of the box, the FuelCell Rebel v2's felt worn in and ready to go. They didn't feel used, they just felt comfortable. The generous toe-box space and flimsy flexible upper both help accomplish this immediate level of familiarity. Also, maybe it's just me, but no matter what running shoe I try on, I always expect them to be noticeably bouncy as I trot around my living room for the first time. Most of the time, there's a gap between reality and expectations—whether those expectations are realistic or not. This time, however, the FuelCell Rebel v2 aligned exactly with what was in my mind.

Matt: "The Rebel v2 has a decent amount of flex. The foam is soft enough to move with my foot when progressing through the gait cycle. This gives the Rebel a natural and nimble feel." 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.