About this deal
The softness of the FuelCell has been dialed up a lot and the Rebel v2 is one of the softest shoes to be released so far this year. On an A/B test, with my “newer” Rebel v2 at 75 miles and the Rebel v3 at 92 miles, the Rebel v2 feels slightly softer, but I think that might be from the outsole.
And the slightly stretchy lace which scored 3 out of 5 on our lace stretch test (5 being the stretchiest) gave enough for comfort over the top of your foot but not so much to cause slipping or sliding in the shoe. If you require more support underfoot but still want ultimate New Balance comfort, check out the New Balance Fresh Foam More v3 or New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v11. I've so far worn them for the following sessions: 6 x 1KM reps, 10 x 1min on/off, and a Mona Fartlek. I have been waiting for the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel 2 shoe for what seems like forever (is that a common theme with my shoe reviews?
The unpadded tongue, the thin mesh and the streamlined silhouette all scream speed work, but the plush midsole and grippy outsole hold up to everyday training, too. Have jogged in the shoe on road, gravel, grass and track without any issues, though I feel like these shoes will do their best work on the road. For a comfortable, well-cushioned ride – look no further than the New Balance rebel v2 (FuelCell), up for training runs and intense runs alike.
As a result, the first thing you notice when you pick up the Rebel v2 is that it’s unexpectedly lightweight. It’s not mushy or energy-sapping like so many soft shoes, and its lightweight construction and super-breathable upper fit right in on race days.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. Renee: The changes of the Rebel v3 from the previous version should appeal to runners who want more structure and stability from the upper and the midsole ride.
I didn't feel the foam bottom out during those slower, longer runs, and the softer foam felt like a nice break for my feet. New Balance notes that the Rebel v3 has a “slightly more universal underfoot ride and upper fit and materials inspired by the FuelCell SuperComp Trainer. The midsole is medium-stack, very flexible, and largely similar to the Rebel v2, with the key addition of slightly more stack and width.I think my v3 shoes have similar wear to my second pair of v2s (with similar total mileage), but it’s less noticeable to the eye because of the rubber pattern. When someone is walking or running, it is most common to have a strike at the posterior lateral heel that then pronates and transitions into having the whole foot on the ground. OUR VERDICT The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 is a lightweight daily trainer that's best suited to easy and steady runs.