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New Balance

Fuelcell Rebel v1

Fuelcell Rebel v1
Daily trainer · Neutral · Trail
Excellent (90/100)

Buy at Running Warehouse for $144.95

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Shoe details

Weight
7.2 oz
Release
2019 Q2
MSRP
$130
Widths
Medium, Narrow, Wide
Stack Height
24mm heel - 18mm toe
Drop Height
5mm

Ratings & Reviews

Excellent (90/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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Scores better than 86% of all shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes Rating. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central rating range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Excellent (90/100)

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (90/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 86% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Value

Excellent (91/100)

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (91/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 88% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Very good (84/100)

Comfort rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (84/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 74% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Very good (82/100)

Appearance rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (82/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 66% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Good (76/100)

Cushioning rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (76/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 57% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Durability

Average (62/100)

Durability rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Average (62/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 14% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

43%

6/14

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Scores better than 86% of 2,617 running shoes.

Excellent

Trail Shoes

Scores better than 91% of 399 trail shoes.

91%

New Balance

Scores better than 91% of 255 New Balance shoes.

91%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.

Cons

  • Some of reviewers think this shoe runs too small.
  • Reviewers rate this shoe worse than the FuelCell Rebel v4.
  • Rated below average overall.
  • Rated below average on comfort.
  • Rated below average on cushioning.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

New Balance Fuelcell Rebel v1
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5
HOKA Speedgoat 6
Fuelcell Rebel v1
FuelCell Rebel v5
Speedgoat 6
Current shoe
Reference shoe
Lightest / Newest / Best comfort
Lowest price / Best overall / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Trail
Daily trainer
Trail
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
7.2 oz M
6.9 oz M Lightest
8.6 oz M
Stack
24/18mm
35/29mm
37/32mm
Drop
5mm
6mm
5mm
Release
2019 Q2
2025 Q2 Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$130
$159.99
$155
Best price
$144.95
—
$79.88 Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
Very good (87%)
Excellent (95%)
Excellent (97%) Best overall
Comfort
Good (74%)
Excellent (96%) Best comfort
Very good (86%)
Cushioning
Average (57%)
Very good (84%)
Excellent (97%) Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom tier (14%)
Bottom tier (14%)
Very good (86%) Best durability
Appearance
Above average (66%)
Above average (61%)
Good (76%) Best appearance
Value
Very good (88%)
Excellent (94%) Best value
Very good (86%)
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

Running Warehouse
$144.95

Best price on Raincloud / Min

Buy at Running Warehouse
Other retailers
Dick's Sporting Goods Mint
$144.99

Better alternatives

Higher-rated shoes similar to this one

HOKA Speedgoat 6

Speedgoat 6

Trail

$79.88

Top 3%

Ranks higher than this shoe
Brooks Ghost Trail

Ghost Trail

Trail

$149.95

Top 9%

Ranks higher than this shoe

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New Balance Fresh X 880

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Reader Ratings

13 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 12 written reviews

May Be Worst Shoe I've Ever Bought

Warren Heiser · Aug 9, 2023

1/5

Overall

Normally I love New Balance shoes. But this one is awful. It's by far the least stable shoe I've ever worn. I do pronate a bit, and with every step the mushy foam on this shoe collapses inward. I will never wear it to run in for fear of injury. It's possible to make a foam shoe without a lot of structure that doesn't do this. The shoe this replaces, the Zante Pursuit, was just fine. The Rebel is a good looking shoe for street wear, except that it doesn't wear well. The upper on both shoes has started to pull away from the sole much too soon. Overall, a disaster.

Comfort
2/5
Cushioning
3/5
Durability
1/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
1/5

great with some drawbacks

Anonymous runner · Jun 2, 2021

4/5

Overall

ok, first i must say i got 1/2 size smaller by mistake. (uk shoe sizes , check first). but, the low volume toe box wouldnt be much different 1/2size up, and there lies the problem. its wide enough , thats a plus, but your big toe would rub the upper. having said that , the sock like upper is very nice, and the rubbing probably wont be a big issue due to that. (unlike other shoes i had to cut open...). so , overall nice, great midsole. more suited to midfoot strikers.
Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Little cushion and little small

Anonymous runner · Oct 26, 2020

4/5

Overall

Fit a bit small. Not very cushioned but I somehow like it : I have to run a bit differently then when using something like Zoom Fly 3 to prevent hurting my feet and legs so I tend to use smaller faster steps, closer to the ground, it adds a bit of diversity to my shoe rotation. On the plus side, I got them on sale and they are probably my least expensive shoes.
Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5

POP!

Anonymous runner · Jun 8, 2020

5/5

Overall

My first "easy" run in this shoe ended up being a whole min/mile faster than I planned. This shoe is light and has a serious pop in each step. Every step feels like its rocketing me forward into the next. It has plenty of cushion without being too soft or squishy and light and responsive without hurting the feet. The only gripes I have is that the fit takes a while to dial in. It's tight in the forefoot and loose in the heel, but after a few runs it is much more dialed in. Also the laces are really long. Not a problem just a little annoying. Overall, I keep wanting to run in this shoe more than any other shoe I have. It's fun and comfortable, and I will be buying another.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Rebel Well

Anonymous runner · Jan 30, 2020

4/5

Overall

As a runner with a penchant for minimally-stacked, zero-drop shoes, I bought the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel with the naive plan to use it as my cushy long-run shoe. Consider this review with that in mind. Since my middle-aged legs were beginning to feel more beat up after long runs in the Altra Escalante, and a persistent pain in my lower achilles convinced me to consider a positive drop again, I decided to look for a traditionally cushioned and stacked shoe. After reading lots of reviews of lightweight trainers and testing a select few, I picked the Rebel because its lightness and responsive cushioning impressed me most. I wasn't used to getting energy back from a shoe! After a few runs, I realized that some shoes really are made to go faster. The rebel is *fine* for easy-paced long runs. However, once I tested the shoe on a progression run, I realized that I'd need to find a different long-run shoe. The Rebel is fantastic at faster paces, and that realization results in a slight sense of disappointment with every step when you're not running faster in the shoe. I even used the Rebel for a couple of speed sessions on the track, and it performed just as well as the Nike Lunar Spider 6s I'd been using for speed days. In fact, my feet didn't feel as pummeled thanks to the Rebel's ample cushioning. I also wore the Rebel for a 10K and wasn't disappointed in its performance at all. The fit is pleasant--not amazing, but not uncomfortable. (For reference, I really like the way the Escalante fits) The upper is stretchy-knit stuff, but it doesn't feel sloppy or loose. It just takes a little bit of fiddling to sufficiently secure the shoe to your foot at first. The toe box is wide enough for my medium-width feet, while the toe box volume is rather low. The cushioning is supple yet slightly firm when you're just walking around or running easily. I am mostly a midfoot striker, so the shoe's design suits me well, I'd say. When I'm tired, my left foot gravitates toward the heel on impact, but, even then, the Rebel's rather odd lateral flange doesn't seem to effect my stride. If you are a somewhat dramatic overpronator, that flange might be a problem. Otherwise, if anything, I believe the design quirk aids in a satisfyingly smooth ride. I definitely recommend the Rebel as a lightweight trainer for faster workouts and races. There are more appropriate options to serve as do-anything-(including-long-runs) shoes, though. I hope the next version looks more like the NB 5280 or 1500 line--those upper designs are awesome!
Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5