What sizes are left?
New Balance FuelCell Rebel
New Balance's lightweight speed trainer delivers a bouncy FuelCell ride with eye-catching design at a fair price, earning strong praise as one of the best uptempo daily trainers available.
Community Score
Showing the top 20 of 47 live listings.
Key facts
- Popularity: Consistently praised in running media as a top speed trainer
- Comfort: FuelCell foam is bouncy and responsive, rewards faster paces
- Fit: True to size with a secure midfoot and roomy forefoot
- Value: Competitive at $130-140 for the technology offered
- Use case: Tempo runs, intervals, 5K-10K races, fast daily training
- Risk: Soft foam may feel unstable for heavier or slower runners
Shoe intelligence
Guide
Full breakdown
The New Balance FuelCell Rebel is a lightweight training shoe designed for uptempo runs and speed work. It features a full-length FuelCell foam midsole — a nitrogen-infused TPU compound — engineered mesh upper, and a blown rubber outsole. Multiple versions have been released, with each iteration refining the foam responsiveness and upper fit. It sits between the everyday 1080 and the racing SuperComp line as New Balance's speed-training workhorse.
Questions answered
FAQ
Is the FuelCell Rebel good for daily training?
Yes, particularly for runners who train at moderate to fast paces. The bouncy FuelCell foam rewards speed and makes uptempo efforts feel effortless. For easy recovery runs, it may feel too soft and unstable for some runners, who should pair it with a more stable daily trainer.
How does the FuelCell Rebel compare to the Nike Pegasus?
The Rebel is lighter, bouncier, and more speed-oriented than the Pegasus. The Pegasus is more stable and versatile across all paces. The Rebel excels at tempo and interval work; the Pegasus is the better all-purpose trainer. Many runners use both in rotation.
Is the FuelCell Rebel a racing shoe?
It can race 5K through half marathon distances competitively, though it is not as fast as dedicated carbon-plated racing shoes like the SuperComp Elite. Think of it as a fast trainer that can double as a race shoe for non-elite runners who do not want to buy separate training and racing shoes.
How durable is the FuelCell Rebel?
The blown rubber outsole is reasonably durable for a lightweight shoe, lasting 300-400 miles for most runners. The FuelCell foam retains its responsiveness well through that mileage. It is not as long-lasting as heavier daily trainers, but the trade-off in weight and speed is worth it for most buyers.
Sources














![NEW Balance - FuelCell Rebel V5 - Black/White - Men's [MFCXLO5]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0264/7559/3816/files/new-balance-footwear-fuelcell-rebel-v5-black-white-mens-leftfoot-right-view.png?v=1763028961&width=400&format=webp&quality=72)
![NEW Balance - FuelCell Rebel V5 - Alkaline Green - Women's [WFCX3PE]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0264/7559/3816/files/NEW-BALANCE-FuelCell-Rebel-V5-Alkaline-Green-Women_s-WFCX3PE-leftfoot-right-view.png?v=1767856496&width=400&format=webp&quality=72)


![NEW Balance - FuelCell Rebel V5 - White - Women's [WFCXLM5]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0264/7559/3816/files/new-balance-footwear-fuelcell-rebel-v5-white-womens-leftfoot-right-view.png?v=1768304256&width=400&format=webp&quality=72)
![NEW Balance - FuelCell Rebel V4 - Twilight Haze - Women's [WFCXCS4]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0264/7559/3816/files/new-balance-fuelcell-rebel-v4-womens-leftfoot-right-view.png?v=1763113275&width=400&format=webp&quality=72)