The New Balance Fuelcell Rebel v1 ranks above most running shoes in our data. Value and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 13 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the FuelCell Rebel product line.
Good
82/100
Overall
Good82
Value
Good85
Appearance
Good83
Cushioning
Decent74
Comfort
Decent73
Durability
Below average64
Confidence
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.
At 7.2 oz, reviewers find it light and quick at tempo.
Runners report springy cushioning that suits workouts, intervals and races from the 5k to the half.
Reviewers like the stretchy knit upper's snug, comfortable midfoot hold.
Cons
Three of thirteen reviewers find the fit small, with low volume through the toe box.
Durability is its lowest-rated dimension at 3.8 out of 5, and one reviewer has the insole scrunch into a painful ridge after about 8 km.
One reviewer who pronates says the foam collapses inward and calls it the least stable shoe he has worn.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how
much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both
well rated and well established.
Confidence
5060708090100255075100
Better Shoes Rating
Fuelcell Rebel v1 rates 82.
This shoe has high certainty.
See how we rate shoes.
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the New Balance FuelCell Rebel
Each dot is one version of the FuelCell Rebel, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Rating
406080100
822019932021942022992024942025
Release year
We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating.
See why.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
