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New Balance

FuelCell Propel v4

FuelCell Propel v4
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road
Bottom-tier (36/100)

Shoe details

Weight
10.7 oz
Release
2023 Q1
MSRP
$110
Stack Height
34mm heel - 28mm toe
Drop Height
6mm

Ratings & Reviews

Bottom-tier (36/100)

Better than about 1% of shoes

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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This score rates worse than 99% of 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 score out of 100. 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 score range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Bottom-tier (36/100)

Overall ranking

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.

Estimate

Bottom-tier (36/100)

Rank

Ranks above 1% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Comfort

Good (75/100)

Comfort ranking

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.

Estimate

Good (75/100)

Rank

Ranks above 49% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Cushioning

Below average (65/100)

Cushioning ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (65/100)

Rank

Ranks above 19% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Value

Below average (59/100)

Value ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (59/100)

Rank

Ranks above 8% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Durability

Below average (51/100)

Durability ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (51/100)

Rank

Ranks above 1% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Appearance

Below average (51/100)

Appearance ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (51/100)

Rank

Ranks above 1% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

33%

3/9

Prefer this shoe over another.

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

All Running Shoes

Worse than 99% of 2,532 running shoes ranked.

Bottom-tier (36/100)

Daily Trainers

Worse than 99% of 1,849 daily trainers ranked.

1%

New Balance

Worse than >99% of 249 New Balance shoes ranked.

<1%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.

Cons

  • Most reviewers like this shoe less than their last shoe.
  • More reviewers than average reported getting injured in this shoe.
  • Some of reviewers think this shoe runs too small.
  • Rated among the bottom 10% of shoes overall.
  • Rated below average on comfort.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

New Balance FuelCell Propel v4
New Balance FuelCell Propel v5
HOKA Clifton 9
FuelCell Propel v4
FuelCell Propel v5
Clifton 9
Current shoe
Reference shoe
Newest
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Supershoe
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
10.7 oz M
8.5 oz M
8.5 oz M
Stack
34/28mm
37/31mm
40/35mm
Drop
6mm
6mm
5mm
Release
2023 Q1
2024 Q2 Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$110 Lower MSRP
$119.99
$165
Best price
—
—
$164.99
Ratings
Overall
Bottom tier (1%)
Bottom tier (16%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Average (49%)
Average (46%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Bottom tier (19%)
Below average (25%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom tier (1%)
Below average (22%)
Very good (80%) Best durability
Appearance
Bottom tier (1%)
Below average (23%)
Very good (82%) Best appearance
Value
Bottom tier (8%)
Average (53%)
Good (74%) Best value
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

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Reader Ratings

12 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 8 written reviews

Good brand, Good shoe, Not for me

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2025

3/5

Overall

This is a good shoe, but not for me. I am a beginning runner with a heel strike and the highest archers ever. This shoe is nice, with excellent cushioning, and a nice color scheme. This shoe has awful sizing, a mens 9 when I normally wear 10. I also do not like the styling, but that is just me. Trained and raced in these shoes. Started hurting in them after 4 months, or 200 miles. If you are a plain neutral runner without a heel strike, excellent shoe.

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
2/5
Value
3/5

Good brand, Good shoe, Not for me

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2025

3/5

Overall

This is a good shoe, but not for me. I am a beginning runner with a heel strike and the highest archers ever. This shoe is nice, with excellent cushioning, and a nice color scheme. This shoe has awful sizing, a mens 9 when I normally wear 10. I also do not like the styling, but that is just me. Trained and raced in these shoes. Started hurting in them after 4 months, or 200 miles. If you are a plain neutral runner without a heel strike, excellent shoe.

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
2/5
Value
3/5

Good brand, Good shoe, Not for me

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2025

3/5

Overall

This is a good shoe, but not for me. I am a beginning runner with a heel strike and the highest archers ever. This shoe is nice, with excellent cushioning, and a nice color scheme. This shoe has awful sizing, a mens 9 when I normally wear 10. I also do not like the styling, but that is just me. Trained and raced in these shoes. Started hurting in them after 4 months, or 200 miles. If you are a plain neutral runner without a heel strike, excellent shoe.

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
2/5
Value
3/5

Good brand, Good shoe, Not for me

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2025

3/5

Overall

This is a good shoe, but not for me. I am a beginning runner with a heel strike and the highest archers ever. This shoe is nice, with excellent cushioning, and a nice color scheme. This shoe has awful sizing, a mens 9 when I normally wear 10. I also do not like the styling, but that is just me. Trained and raced in these shoes. Started hurting in them after 4 months, or 200 miles. If you are a plain neutral runner without a heel strike, excellent shoe.

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
2/5
Value
3/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Feb 9, 2024

3/5

Overall

A touch too squishy/heavy to pick up the pace in.

Comfort
2/5
Cushioning
3/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5