New Balance Women's FuelCell Rebel V2 Speed Running Shoe

Product Information

As for the flap material, the raw edges are soft and completely distraction-free – as is the rest of the upper. PROS AND CONS This is due to the lateral “wing” which flares out at the midfoot and forefoot and pushes your foot inward. This “wing” is not as prominent as on the Rebel V1 but it still results in medial side lean bias.

The soft Fuelcell foam makes even relaxed runs a comfortable affair, and there’s no pressure to go fast. We tested the Rebel V2 during the cold winter mornings of Toronto, Canada – and that included many sub-zero degree (Celcius) runs. Unlike standard EVA foam or even rubber-blend materials like the Nike React, the New Balance Fuelcell foam did not stiffen in the cold and retained its cushioned bounciness.With 30 mm of soft FuelCell foam underfoot, the Rebel v2 offers runners ample protection from the impact of the roads. As a lightweight trainer, this shoe is not necessarily the best long-distance companion, but our testers are confident that runners will comfortably enjoy distances around the half-marathon mark. The new NDURANCE outsole also gives the Rebel v2 improved traction that should instill a lot of confidence while out on the roads.

The Liberate Nitro is also lighter and delivers similar performance benefits, thanks to the soft and responsive Nitro foam. The lightweight upper has a deconstructed, racer-like fit for high-speed training. The midfoot and rearfoot are narrow compared to the forefoot. The outsole rubber placement also makes the shoe more suited to forefoot striking. The FuelCell midsole of the Rebel v2 bears a striking resemblance to the RC Elite’s FuelCell midsole. Both are super soft and are the same “milky” white colour.

Personal: B+ (Really nice to run in, but with it being so soft I typically only can do 1, maybe 2, runs per week without soreness in my ankle stabilizers) DPT/Footwear Science: A (Foam is new, and taking something so soft and making it functional is neat to see with the mechannics of the shoe) Most runners would attest to the merits of this shoe, so the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V2 ended up being the surprise break-out hit of 2021-22.

Given the unpredictable durability outcome, we think that the New Balance Fuelcell 2 will last anywhere between 100 to 500 miles, with 250 miles being the median. THE UPPER DESIGN AND FIT

The heel-to-toe offset is 6 mm, New Balance’s favorite ‘drop’ for tempo trainers. It’s funny how certain offset numbers are associated with the brands. Saucony goes for 4 mm (Kinvara) and 8 mm (Ride, Guide, et.al), Hoka uses a 5 mm offset, and Altra is 0 mm, of course. The Rebel v3 has a similar mesh to version 2 but it’s not as translucent. It has a rough texture and doesn’t stretch so it feels more like a racing shoe upper than a training one. Breathability is excellent and overall comfort is very good. If not for its potential durability concerns, the Rebel V2 would have been an excellent everyday trainer. The Nike Mayfly was designed to be the original disposable running shoe. Named after the Mayfly – an insect that lives its full life in 24 hours – the Nike shoe was supposed to last a marathon and self-destruct. Or at least, that was the idea. Nike is always good at story telling. David: "The midsole cushioning absorbs most of the ground feel, and the redesigned outsole takes care of the rest. I would feel comfortable taking these up to a half-marathon distance (or even farther) without any issues."

Overall, there isn’t a massive difference between the 2 versions so if you want to buy v2 at a heavily discounted price, you have my blessing. Unlike many other tempo-worthy shoes, the Rebel 2 doesn’t have a slim midsole. It’s actually quite wide through the midfoot, with the rearfoot midsole extending past the heel line. You can now replace your Pegasus, Cumulus or Ghost with the Rebel v3 if you’re willing to accept a lower level of durability and stability. You’ll get a much more energetic, much more fun ride with more ground feel. Even though it has lost some of its original DNA, I’m still happy about the direction that New Balance has taken with it because I make more use of it as a daily trainer than a speedwork trainer- it doesn’t have the snappy punch that I like in a speed trainer. I took the Rebel v2 on a 40 kilometre run on two occasions and its performance was excellent. It provided plenty of long-distance comfort and my legs felt great by the end of the runs. You could easily run a full marathon in the Rebel v2.

Remember those kiddo plastic rulers that changed designs depending on the angle? The shape-shifting trim on the midsole is a pleasant element of discovery.