I was so excited about testing the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel V2 after I fell completely in love with the New Balance Fuelcell TC and its Fuelcell material in the spring of 2020. Read more and see if I developed a spring crush once again.
New Balance Rebel V2 is the second version of this model but in terms of the updates, you might as well forget all about Version 1. Version 2 is in every way much cooler and completely different!
This running shoe is designed as a racer, but for me it´s so much more than that - in fact, I want to wear it for all my runs!
Lets start with the upper. It was previously designed as a Jacquard sown upper with a sock-like fit. Now it has turned into a lighter and more breathable upper and this time with an extremely wide and unattached tongue which you can place over your wrist for a stable fit.
I am also smitten by the design which is in many ways similar to Nike Vaporfly, which I also love. A completely thin upper with a loose tongue. I still have to get used to the large N on the side but I am sure I will eventually.
The midsole has also been updated. This time with Fuelcell and for a Fuelcell fan like me, my feet start edging to get going every time Fuelcell is mentioned.
Fuelcell is just very special and the softness is in a league of its own, so if you need a shoe to keep your legs fresh throughout your run, this shoe is the right one for you!
However, it should be mentioned that along with the softness comes a bit of lack of stability. A lack of stability mostly felt by runners who land on their heel. In this case the extreme softness can be a problem but for runners like me who land on the midfoot/forefoot, this is the shoe of your dreams.
The weight of this shoe is low, very low! So in this cae you get a shoe with extreme cushioning and minimal weight, WOW!
The weight is specifically 230g for my size 44.5, which is unheard of when we are not dealing with a specific racer. You can certainly use it for competitions but with the extensive selection of competition shoes with carbonplate midsoles available today, I would put this shoe into the category of excellent all-round shoes. You should consider going for a New Balance Fuelcell TC or New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite, if you want a more specific competition shoe.
What kind of training would I use this for? The answer is easy. EVERYTHING. It can handle everything. Its the perfect shoe for the runner who´s on a budget and doesn´t need more than one pair of running shoes. This is an all-in-one shoe.
I was already a big fan before I tested it and I am still a huge fan after having used it! I certainly have a soft spot for New Balance and its Fuelcell! Its very cool.
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