New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Review | Let’s Dance
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A fast, light, affordable running shoe? That’s right the NB FuelCell Rebel v4 is only getting better without cranking up the price and that’s a massive win for many of us. This review will dive in to all the details of this fast non-carbon plate shoe!
After my first run in these shoes, I realized I was going to need to update my Best Lightweight Running shoes article as soon as they hit the market because it’s a winner.
The second I mentioned testing these on Instagram, I had messages pouring in that you LOVE your Rebel shoes and were dying to know if this version would be as good.
Friends this shoe has had some major changes, but I think you’ll agree that it’s pretty much all for the better.
As always I try to be super honest in my reviews here. I don’t love every shoe, I don’t love everything about a single shoe, but I will tell you who it should work best for to help you make a choice. And when I’ve gotten good feedback from other runners about the shoe, that always makes an appearance too!
Let’s start from the top with the specs, then we can get in to what’s changed and what’s the remained the same in this daily trainer. Looking at the shoe it immediately seems bigger and this is from a couple of changes.
One the stack height did increase from 27.5 mm to 30mm. Still far below the height we’re seeing on a lot of cushioned shoes and yet it absolutely feels cushioned. I personally like the lower stack height in a tempo style shoe.
You’ll also find that the “geometry” of the shoe, which was it’s original goal has been improved again. It’s now in line with their SC Elite Carbon Plate Racing shoe. The goal of this shape is to help the foot roll from the lateral edge to the big toe. Our big toe provides a ton of power, so instead of just talking about a rocker, they are focusing on how to help you get the most power out of your stride.
And as noted in the foam section below, there has been an upgrade (assuming you like bounce) to the foam blend through the midsole of the shoe.
The outsole of the shoe has also improved with more texture to provide better grip, making this a shoe you can confidently run in through the rain, etc. It’s still not a trail shoe by any means, but if you like doing your tempos on crushed paths or dirt you’ll have plenty of durability to make that happen.
However, heel strikers might notice the lack of rubber back there which could lead to quicker breakdown of that cushion.
For those wanting a fast training or race day shoe without a carbon plate, this is a winner.
We know that not everyone needs a carbon plate and this shoe is going to delivery those speedy performances with good cushion. While I’m sure some would wear it up to the marathon, having now tested so many shoes I’d personally keep it for up to 13 miles as my max.
Important to note that my easy long runs are anything from 9:30 to 11 min pace, so you might like this shoe for even longer runs if speedier.
NB FuelCell Rebel v4 Specs
Maybe the shoes would be even lighter if we made the name shorter? A new idea I’d like to run past all of the companies because the names are a mouthful with all of their special tech in the title.
- Weight: 7.5 oz Men’s, 5.9 oz Women’s
- Stack Height: 30mm
- Heel Drop: 6mm
- Available in 3 Colors
- Available in Wide
- Available on NewBalance.com for $139
- PSSSTTTT v3 is discounted and truly a good shoe as well
After a few runs in the shoe, I was already feeling pretty stoked about it for a lightweight trainer. Then I spent a few days in Orlando around the Olympic marathon trials and my new friend (and shoe tester) Kofuzi was rocking these on a ton of runs…felt like validation of my choice!
I’ve heard from so many of you who loved the V3. This shoe is a reasonable price for something speedy with cushion and man is that a win when shoes are suddenly over $200!
Fit
The upper is another design change, now using what they call Fantom Fit. Which I take a phancy way of saying it’s thinner and lighter than other uppers (see what I did there?).
Like many of the lighter shoes it has an attached tongue for a bit more sock like fit and reduces worries about it moving around on the foot. That’s a massive plus for me.
The tongue is super thin, but different than what I see on something like the Mach 6. This tongue isn’t sharp or stiff…it feels kind of like a random piece of cut cloth. That impression might also be from the edge of the tongue not having a finished look.
In general, I find that New Balance does not run narrow or wide, but very normal. I often recommend them because they do offer wide versions when you need more. I use the same size in NB as other brands.
While it’s not a wide toebox, it is comfy with plenty of room.
Who Will Like the NB Rebel v4?
This shoe is actually going to work for a lot of different needs. If you want a racing shoe without a plate this is an excellent option. If you want a daily trainer that’s really light and you aren’t putting in massive miles, again this is a really great option.
While you could certainly take it for long runs, my personal preference would simply be something more underfoot for cushion and support.
In terms of similarity, it’s not as cushioned as something like the Triumph or the Novablast, but feels vastly better than the Pegasus. I’d probably say it’s closest competitor right now is the HOKA Mach 6 or the Puma Deviate Nitro (but that one has a plate).
What is FuelCell Foam?
Like every brand, New Balance has their own foam, in this case, FuelCell.
It’s a foam engineered for a swift and responsive experience. Constructed from a fusion of nitrogen-injected TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foams, FuelCell delivers a lightweight and resilient cushioning system capable of enduring intense impact forces.
The Rebel V3 utilized the TPU and EPA blend where the V4 has been upgraded to more of the cushion found in their to end racer.
The midsole in this shoe is a PEBA and EVA blend, which means it won’t have the same bounce as the racing shoe, but will be a more durable shoe. It still feels cushioned, but with less of that bouncy softness we often refer to in the carbon plate shoes.
Fresh Foam is the New Balance foam that I rave over in things like the NB 1080. It’s just a great soft cushion for a long run or daily trainer, but not the same energy return.
All right friends, I hope this deep dive in to the NB FuelCell Rebel V4 gave you some helpful insights. As always, if you’ve tried a shoe, feel free to leave your notes to help out other runners as well.
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