Kat Newton plays VFLW for Hawthorn, and runs most days to keep fit for footy and for the social connection. Pair with this its carbon-plated big brother, the New Balance FuelCell RC Elite v2, and you have all your bases covered. I had no issue with tearing in my Rebel v2 until after 350 miles, but even then the tear was slight.

The unpadded tongue, the thin mesh and the streamlined silhouette all scream speed work, but the plush midsole and grippy outsole hold up to everyday training, too. If you thought that New Balance was only going to make minor changes to the second iteration of the Rebel, you’ll be in for a surprise. Hopefully the redesign will resolve the v2 medial tearing issue, but more mileage by more reviewers is needed to confirm. The main weakness I see with Rebel 2 was outsole durability, so let’s see if Rebel 3 has addressed any of these issues.The Rebel v2 has been 2 years in the making and in those two years, New Balance has been hard at work.

I’ve run about 100 miles in the New Balance Fuelcell Rebel 2, and while I don’t see any major signs of wear, I worry I won’t get 300-400 miles in them.The fit is on the narrow side but I think most runners will be able to wear the standard D width without any problems.

It seems like everyone is a fan of the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2, and I can’t say I’m any different. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon.New Balance engineered the Rebel v2 for a lightweight feel and low-profile fit, but they packed it full of high-end FuelCell foam for bouncy everyday miles. None of these guys are professional reviewers or employees of TEMPO - they're amateur runners of different abilities, and their comments are below.

The Fuel Cell (sic) family is our line of performance, speed and rebound driven shoes but contrary to popular belief is not a midsole compound thus the vastly different rides of different shoes within the family. Because they’re not plated, it doesn’t feel like there’s too much influence on my gait which makes these shoes great for everyday mileage or speed work. In terms of length, I'd say it fits just a hair short, but not so much that I would size up for myself personally. For all intents and purposes, the insole simply acts as a cover over the stitching on the strobel board. The midfoot has a good hold throughout with a little bit of room for swelling accommodation if you are going long miles.

more FuelCell foam height, 3mm more width at the forefoot, 5mm less width at the midfoot and the same heel width. Behind the fabric is a minimalist heel counter that provides just the right structure for a secure fit. My recommendations for the shoe are relatively minor but I do think that they can improve the experience in this shoe. I remembered how much fun the Rebel 2 was and hoped v3 would maintain the nimble underfoot feeling with slightly more midsole foam.