New Balance FuelCell Impul

Name: New Balance FuelCell Impul
Brand: New Balance

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.4 oz · 6mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock.

How it ranks

The New Balance FuelCell Impul’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 3 runner reviews so far, with brand history also informing the score.

Current estimate: Decent

Overall

Decent 71

Value

Decent 78

Appearance

Decent 78

Durability

Decent 70

Comfort

Below average 67

Cushioning

Bottom-tier 56

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

Confidence

65 Moderate

Moderate 65

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Brand rating
Our ratings
External ratings

What runners say

“The area of the upper behind the ankle creates too much friction and digs into my Achilles area and has caused bleeding”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Vazee Pace

“The cushioning in the forefoot is good but it remains light and snappy”

4/5 Full review 75 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“Feels like a cushioned shoe (despite the low stack height)”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon

“The only sign of wear is that it is dirty”

4/5 Full review 75 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“Very supportive and stable, and is responsive and fast”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon

“It kind of has the feel of a flat but with a little more cushioning”

4/5 Full review 75 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3

“It is more snappy”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Vazee Pace

Prefer this shoe over another

67% 2/3

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 23.

Pros

Reviewers call it light and snappy, and use it for tempo runs and track workouts.
Its three reviewers rate durability 4.7 out of 5, one seeing only dirt at 50 miles and one a few hundred miles in.
One reviewer with wide feet finds it one of the few lightweight shoes made in a women's D width.

Cons

Its three reviewers rate cushioning 4 out of 5, its lowest dimension, and two describe a low stack with a flat-like ride.
One reviewer finds the upper behind the ankle digs into the Achilles, and has bled without taller socks.

FuelCell Impul rates 71. This shoe has moderate confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Runner Ratings

3 ratings

5/5 1

4/5 2

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 7.4 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 8.1 oz · Women's 6.7 oz
Release: 2018 Q3
MSRP: $135
Drop: 6mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Don’t discontinue the Impuse, NB!

5/5

Overall

As a competitive runner who likes lightweight, responsive, lower-drop shoes AND has wide feet (needing a women’s 7.5-8.0 in D width, so unable to order men’s), the Fuelcell Impulse is pretty much my perfect shoe. It checks all the boxes listed above and seems durable (so far—have a few hundred miles on my pair). My only complaint is the area of the upper behind the ankle creates too much friction and digs into my Achilles area and has caused bleeding when I haven’t worn taller socks. Thanks to NB does consistently making lightweight shoes in wide widths, and please don’t discontinue or change this shoe (I was quite sad when the Vazee Pace went away, until I found this one—which I actually like better as it is more snappy).

Anonymous runner · Aug 11, 2019

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Vazee Pace

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

New Balance Fuelcell Impulse

4/5

Overall

The New Balance FuelCell Impulse feels like a cushioned shoe (despite the low stack height), very supportive and stable, and is responsive and fast. The FuelCell works well for longer runs, but will do well on tempo runs and track workouts. It works well on non-technical trails, the road and track.

Anonymous runner · Jul 2, 2019

40 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 5/5

Great shoe for tempo work

4/5

Overall

I received the New Balance Fuel Cell Impulse for free and figured I would try it out. My expectations were low as it seemed a little gimmicky with the nitrogen infused foam, and it also doesn't really look like a traditional running shoe. What I've found is that the shoe is very comfortable, the cushioning in the forefoot is good but it remains light and snappy. It kind of has the feel of a flat but with a little more cushioning. I have used this shoe for some tempo runs and I think it is going to be my new go-to for that type of run. In the past I have used the New Balance Zante and Nike Zoom Elite 9, and I like this shoe better than either of those. SO far the durability is great, I have run about 50 miles in the shoe and the only sign of wear is that it is dirty. With shoes such as the Nike Zoom Elite, I have noticed much more wear at 50 miles. The Fuel Cell Impulse runs a tiny bit small, but I still wore my normal size and it has been fine.

mweidenbruch · Aug 16, 2018

75 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v3