SUPPORT: Neutral
STACK HEIGHT/ DROP: 30mm in the heel, 24mm in the forefoot(6mm drop)
WEIGHT: 7.4 oz (men’s size 9), 6.3 oz (women’s size 8)
USE: Daily training, tempo work, budget race shoe.
SURFACE: Road, sidewalk, and track
Things I like about the New Balance FuelCell Rebel V4: The Rebel V4 got a new midsole blend of Peba and Eva foam. Well still staying under New Balances FuelCell umbrella, this blend has pleasantly surprised us with a very bouncy and soft feel underfoot. It is responsive enough for uptempo runs and workouts and enough cushion for longer slower paced runs. But both of those aspects are enhanced by how light the shoe is and how light the shoe feels, under 8 oz for a size 11? Incredibly light for a daily trainer! I personally don’t have any issues with the fit of the shoe other than being on the roomier side (especially for those with narrower feet). I have greatly appreciated how breathable New Balance’s Phantom Fit upper is, it does a great job allowing for the heat to disperse on those steamy summer mornings, as well as drying out in time for another afternoon or evening run.
Things I don’t like New Balance FuelCell Rebel V4: Although there’s not much to complain about the shoe, there will always be something to find. First and foremost, I have noticed a slight change in how responsive and “peppy” the midsole feels after 70-100 miles. Not a dramatic difference but I think it is worth noting when a characteristic of a shoe changes like so. Another potential issue I could see some people having with the shoe is how thin and almost abrasive the heel cup is. When I wear socks that have an achilles pad or rise above the “no show length” have no issues with it personally. But, for those who prefer the extremely thin or low cut socks, the upper tends to rub on the achilles and has the potential for some nasty chafing in that area. As previously mentioned, the shoe is wider in the forefoot making it roomy for those with a narrower foot, the issue tends to be getting a good lockdown on the foot. You can tie it as tight as
you’d like but if the shoe is that much wider then your foot, it will always feel like your foot is moving or sliding more than ideal.
Conclusion: The New Balance FuelCell Rebel V4 is taking the rebel back in a great direction, it’s an incredibly lightweight and responsive feeling daily trainer that will cover your tempo workouts as well as bringing those lightweight breathable traits to your daily miles. If you know you have a narrower foot we do find that the shoe will be roomy, especially in the forefoot. The shoe tends to lose some of its “pep” around the 100 mile range but I don’t think it is by any means a fatal flaw for the shoe, it is still responsive and light, I just noticed it was less than out of the box. Overall a great option for those looking for something comfortable, light, and responsive.
