New Balance Rebel 4 vs New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5
A side-by-side comparison grounded in verdicts from 6 reviewers with every source linked. We don't invent quotes; every claim below is attributed.
Specs at a glance
The consensus read
Each paragraph is a synthesis across every reviewer in our database for that shoe — what they collectively concluded after wear-testing. Not a quote. Not one person's take. The shape of the room.
New Balance Rebel 4
A lightweight daily trainer with a wider, more stable platform than its predecessor, the Rebel v4 excels at easy paces and short fast efforts but draws mixed marks on fit—some find the generous upper accommodating while others flag excessive volume requiring heavy lacing.
Reviewers who wore both
Direct paired observations — reviewers who actually ran in both of these and wrote the contrast. This is the strongest comparative signal on the page.
Feels lighter, more neutral, more flexible, lower to the ground — Kofuzi recommends buying v3 at ~$90 first
V4 is stiffer, lower stack, more direct and a touch more speed-oriented; V5 has more cushion and a softer feel
v3 was looser and had the signature flared heel; v4 is more stable with a wider heel landing but loses the Loosey-Goosey character
v4 is more stable than v3, which was unstable
v4 is lighter, lower to ground, snappier and firmer; v5 is softer, bouncier, more flexible, better lockdown and durability
v3 ran narrow and short with little arch support; v4 is wider, longer, more cushioned, with better medial and lateral support
v5 has 5mm more stack in heel and forefoot, more cushion, similar lively PEBA/EVA FuelCell feel; v4 available around $100 on discount
v5 has lost some of the fast-leaning character of earlier Rebels and sits closer to a cruisy daily trainer
V5 has slightly taller stack, softer and denser feel under the forefoot, about 10-15g heavier; V4 was stiffer, more direct, and a bit more speed-leaning
V5 is softer and more cushioned; V4 was stiffer, more direct, and a bit livelier at speed
v5 is narrower (v4 overcorrected wide), has 5mm more stack, plusher midfoot fill and tongue, weighs about an ounce more, and has a more durable outsole
v5 is softer with more foam and more comfort, less racy; also shows forefoot compression earlier than v4 did
Original cult-favorite with lateral midsole flare designed to help toe-off; Jacquard upper was a weak point
Stunner release in 2020 with super-critical FuelCell and breathable mesh; beloved but had durability/tearing issues in the upper
BITR didn't like v3 — too soft, too tame, lost character vs v2
Cool design but PEBA blend felt flat and missing punch; afterthought felt tongue; Rebel v5 fixes those issues with better upper, tongue, heel counter, more cushion, and more rubber
v5 is softer, bouncier, more flexible and better-locked-down; v4 is lighter and closer to the ground
Tuned softer than the V4 and has lost some of the V4's faster snap, per one tester's head-to-head impression.
Rebel v5 uses the same EVA+PEBA FuelCell blend as the v4 but the v4/v5 have become much more capable as everyday cushioned daily trainers than earlier speed-focused Rebels
Similar weight (247g both) but v5 upper is dramatically better fitting with less material and superb lockdown; midsole feels more propulsive and exciting
New Balance Rebel 4 — what reviewers say
Ride profile: medium cushion , firm_responsive feel , high energy return , neutral stability .
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A shoe the reviewer really liked — lightweight, stable, and more direct and snappy than the V5, offering a nice antidote to overly soft daily trainers.
Ride:Lower-stack, stiffer, more direct ride than the V5; lively with a bit of pop; wide, stable base introduced in this generation.
In their words: "lightweight daily trainer" · "wide variety of runs" · "narrow, nimble shoes"
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A very light but disappointingly sponge-like ride with an upper design that just didn't work for him — sold on quickly.
Ride:Very light and squashy but felt like a sponge with little energy return; Ed sold his pair on quickly
Fit:Very wide forefoot with rigid material; required super-tight lacing for lockdown
In their words: "I quickly sold it on" · "very light very squashy" · "felt like a sponge"
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A wider-based lightweight trainer that felt stable and long-run-capable for Matt but rocked Andrea backwards into Achilles discomfort because her landing zone missed the outsole rubber.
Ride:Wide sole gives nice midfoot stability; good posterior lateral bevel transition for midfoot strikers (Matt); Andrea lands behind the rear outsole patch, which made the shoe rock backwards onto her heel and gave her the only Achilles pain she's ever had in a shoe
In their words: "the sole is so wide" · "use it for long runs" · "really wide base"
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Kofuzi says the Rebel v4 has only gotten better over 100 miles — foam still feels fresh, outsole and upper are holding up well despite reduced rubber coverage, and it remains a versatile daily trainer that can handle fast pickups.
Ride:PEBA/EVA blend slows compression enough to feel great on easy and long runs but remains snappy when picking up pace; shoe disappears underfoot during strides and feels lighter than the scale suggests.
In their words: "an easy run with strides" · "still feels Snappy" · "feels much lighter than it may indicate"
New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5 — what reviewers say
Ride profile: high cushion , neutral stability .
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The comfort winner of the group — softest Rebel ever and one of the most comfortable shoes here — but the slow-rebounding foam and less aggressive geometry make it the least responsive and not the pick for fast running.
Ride:Completely different from prior Rebels: taller stack, slightly heavier, and by far the softest. The PEBA-based FuelCell is very light but the abundant soft foam rebounds slowly, so it feels tall and comfortable rather than fast; the wider platform and sidewalls keep the softness from becoming unstable.
Fit:Upper width sits in the just-right middle of the group — not a narrow performance fit, not baggy like the Evo SL — with a super comfortable light mesh; also comes in a wide.
In their words: "the softest Rebel by far" · "the bounce is slower" · "the comfort like winner of this group"
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#2 daily trainer. Cushioned but stable without being too wide — Goldilocks of lightness/cushion/speed.
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A comfortable, softer, more wearable update that Fordy initially liked, but the forefoot midsole is already compressing at ~60 miles — he'd swerve it even at discounted prices.
Ride:Softer underfoot than v4 with more foam overall; blown rubber outsole holding up well at ~60 miles, but the forefoot midsole is bottoming out/flattening noticeably at only ~60 miles — similar to the issue Fordy had with the SC Trainer v2.
Fit:Phantom Fit upper with a nice wide toe box; more foam around the heel collar makes it more comfortable but less racy-feeling than previous Rebels.
In their words: "Nice wide toe box" · "less sort of racy feeling than previous models" · "started to bottom out"
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A very soft, plush, lightweight daily trainer best for easy and recovery runs, held back by durability concerns and a midsole that compresses on longer efforts.
Ride:Very soft, plush, marshmallow-like midsole; not super stable and may not suit over-pronators; midsole compresses noticeably on longer runs (e.g. 16–20 km). Grip improved over prior versions though still not as good as the Puma.
Fit:Upper a little wider and more breathable than the Puma, with very good lockdown without being too snug or hot.
Who should buy which
Use cases the reviewers above actually call out — one bullet per distinct take, attributed. Where reviewers converge (e.g. "5K to half marathon" appearing across multiple takes) the agreement is a stronger buying signal than any single voice.
Consider the New Balance Rebel 4 if
- Easy daily training; top end of easy paces — Kofuzi
- Runners who want a very light, soft shoe and have a wide forefoot — EDDBUD
- Fast 10K to half marathon efforts; shorter faster distances where the low-stack cushion can shine — The Ginger Runner
- Versatile lightweight daily trainer with a slightly more direct, speed-leaning feel than the V5. — The Run Testers
- Tempo days and short road races (5K) for runners who want a lightweight trainer with a wider, more stable landing — Seth James DeMoor
- Runners who land on the rear outsole patch — works great as a lightweight cushioned trainer; not for those who land behind the patch — Doctors of Running
Consider the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5 if
- Easy and long runs; heavier, newer, or stability-conscious runners wanting a lightweight but cushioned daily trainer. — The Run Testers
- Daily training, recovery, and long runs that can also handle fartleks, threshold work, and marathon-effort long runs — Kofuzi
- Primary daily trainer — replaces cushier shoes in rotation — The Run Testers
- Versatile lightweight trainer skewing toward tempo, long runs, and workouts, though capable across easy paces and races — Doctors of Running
- Lightweight cushioned daily miles at easy-to-steady paces; versatile enough for long runs and even ultras. — The Run Testers
- Lightweight daily trainer for easy-to-tempo miles and runners who want a versatile shoe with a bit more pop. — The Run Testers
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the New Balance Rebel 4 and the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5?
The New Balance Rebel 4 is a daily trainer and the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5 is a daily trainer. By the numbers, the New Balance Rebel 4 weighs 210g, has a 34mm heel stack and a 6mm drop, while the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5 weighs 224g, has a 38mm heel stack and a 6mm drop. MSRP is $139 for the New Balance Rebel 4 and $145 for the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5.
Should I buy the New Balance Rebel 4 or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5?
Kofuzi on the New Balance Rebel 4: Easy daily training; top end of easy paces. The Run Testers on the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5: Easy and long runs; heavier, newer, or stability-conscious runners wanting a lightweight but cushioned daily trainer.
Per Kofuzi, The Run Testers.
Has anyone reviewed both the New Balance Rebel 4 and the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5?
Yes — Kofuzi, The Run Testers, Seth James DeMoor, Doctors of Running, Run Moore, FORDY RUNS, Believe in the Run, and EDDBUD directly compared the New Balance Rebel 4 and the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5 in their reviews.
Per Kofuzi, The Run Testers, Seth James DeMoor, Doctors of Running, Run Moore, FORDY RUNS, Believe in the Run, EDDBUD.
Which is lighter, the New Balance Rebel 4 or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5?
The New Balance Rebel 4 is lighter, at 210g versus 224g (men's 9) — about 14g less.
Which is more cushioned, the New Balance Rebel 4 or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5?
Measured by stack height, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel 5 has more underfoot foam — 38mm at the heel versus 34mm.