New Balance FuelCell Propel

Name: New Balance FuelCell Propel
Brand: New Balance

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 7.7 oz

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The New Balance FuelCell Propel v2 replaced it

How it ranks

The New Balance FuelCell Propel trails most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 3 runner reviews and 3 other rated shoes in the FuelCell Propel product line. Another 9 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.

Current estimate: Bottom-tier

48/100

Overall

Bottom-tier 48

Durability

Below average 63

Cushioning

Below average 64

Value

Bottom-tier 60

Appearance

Below average 60

Comfort

Bottom-tier 55

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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

80/100

Moderate 80

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and 3 runner ratings.

What runners say

“The heel collar rubs on the achilles area and below the ankle. It has caused a few blisters.”

3/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“The cushioning is pretty plush and the outsole has plenty of rubber, holding up well through 100 miles so far.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Skechers GOrun Ultra R 2

“The midsole feels great, plenty of room in the toe box in my size 10, 2E.”

3/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“It doesn't provide a secure enough fit for sustained faster running.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Skechers GOrun Ultra R 2

“The upper is a 0.5/10.”

3/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“The raised piece on the heel has also caused some irritation.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Skechers GOrun Ultra R 2

“I have 100+ miles on my pair and I don't see any wear points.”

3/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

“I've developed blisters on my toes.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Skechers GOrun Ultra R 2

“Wide. Comfortable.”

4/5 Full review 36 mpw training for a half marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

20% 1/5

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Reviewers rate cushioning and durability 4.3 out of 5.
One of three reviewers so far praises the wide, roomy toe box.
At 7.7 oz it is lighter than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers on sale.

Cons

One of three reviewers so far finds the upper only adequate.
The FuelCell Propel v2 after it scores 61 on one review and the v5 scores 70, against this version's 48.

FuelCell Propel rates 48. This shoe has moderate certainty. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance FuelCell Propel

Each dot is one version of the FuelCell Propel, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

48 2019 61 2020 46 2023 68 2024

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

FuelCell Propel v5

2024 · 1 review

68 Below average

37 Confidence
FuelCell Propel v4

2023 · 12 reviews

46 Bottom-tier

94 Confidence
FuelCell Propel v2

2020 · 1 review

61 Below average

23 Confidence
FuelCell Propel This shoe

2019 · 3 reviews

48 Bottom-tier

80 Confidence

Reader Ratings

3 ratings

5/5 0

4/5 2

3/5 1

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 7.7 oz
Release: 2019 Q3
MSRP: $110

Runner reviews

Write a review

NB Propel

3/5

Overall

The reason I have given the Propel only a 6 is because the upper sucks. The upper is a 0.5/10. Plain and simple. It has caused irritation on the top of my foot that has cuased me to have to take the following day off to recover from the inflammation. If the upper was fixed I would rate this shoe at an 8 or maybe even 9 out of ten. I primarily use this shoe on easy runs up to 1 hr, but it requires loosely tied shoe laces. The midsole feels great, plenty of room in the toe box in my size 10, 2E. Can get up to tempo effort with ease. The outsole is very durable from what I can tell. I have 100+ miles on my pair and I don't see any wear points. If you have a low volume foot, this shoe might work better than it did for me. Would not buy again. Oh, one more thing...the heel collar rubs on the achilles area and below the ankle. It has caused a few blisters.

HarrierStu · May 22, 2020

45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon

Comfort: 3/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

Nice midsole, OK upper

4/5

Overall

I was able to pick these up really cheap online to use for easy/recovery runs. That is all I've done with them with mostly 7-8 mile run along with a 12 and 13. The cushioning is pretty plush and the outsole has plenty of rubber, holding up well through 100 miles so far. Only real gripe is with the upper. It doesn't provide a secure enough fit for sustained faster running (only done strides in them after runs) as even on the 2 double digits runs in them I've developed blisters on my toes. The raised piece on the heel has also caused some irritation. Not sure why this trend has developed.

r2k83 · Apr 7, 2020

60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Skechers GOrun Ultra R 2