The Rebel is a running shoe designed for runners who love soft-riding shoes. The juicy slab of FuelCell midsole foam compresses so much and so easily, even if you’re a light runner below 60 kilograms.

However, if you’re recovering from Plantar Fasciitis or are generally injury-prone, we don’t recommend buying the Rebel V2. It’s lightweight, soft, responsive, grips well, and priced reasonably for its level of tech. Hey, there’s even an optional width and a size US 16 available.The FuelCell TC is also a better tempo trainer than the Rebel. The Rebel v2 now falls into the daily training category.

Hoka Mach 4 - Hoka's big drop of 2021 so far, the Mach 4 has been a versatile trainer for many, shining particularly in uptempo work. On the forefoot, the rubber panel is different and it makes the ride firmer. There are no longer triangular cutouts in the rubber so the squishy foam can’t push through the holes when the forefoot is loaded. 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." 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. 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)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. 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. 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.

David: "I absolutely love the Rebel's FuelCell midsole. It feels comfortably soft at slower speeds and super lively at faster paces. I thought the Rebel v2s were really fun to run in, and I always wanted to push the pace when they were on foot." For me, the Rebel v2 functions best as a daily trainer for middle distances at easy/steady paces between 4.30 and 5.30 per kilometre. It has a super soft, smooth ride with good energy return that makes it fun to run in. Based on internet chatter, New Balance is going to completely overhaul the Rebel for its third outing. For a change, we’re actually looking forward to a shoe receiving its annual update. SHOES SIMILAR TO THE NEW BALANCE FUELCELL REBEL V2

Pages

The wear pattern on the Rebel v2 is really interesting. Normally I see the most wear on the outer lateral side of the heel but with the Rebel v2, most of the wear is on the medial side. Dr. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon. He typically runs 60 to 70 miles per week and trains from about 7:30 recovery runs to fast shorter efforts at 4:30 pace. He normally prefers neutral shoes with a firmer ride, but is completely open to other types of shoes. He is a footwear enthusiast at heart and will always appreciate a high quality shoe when it comes around. For updates on training or testing, IG handle: @docsofrundavid As a shoe reviewer, one of the most common questions I get is from runners asking me for suggestions to replace their beloved Nike Pegasus Turbo which has now been discontinued. If not for its potential durability concerns, the Rebel V2 would have been an excellent everyday trainer.