Unbiased. Data-driven. Expert sport gear recommendations.

New Balance

FuelCell Rebel v4

8.1Good

Previous-generation FuelCell uptempo trainer (~199 g men's US 9) for mixed easy and faster road sessions — unplated, 6 mm drop, not a max-cushion long-run shoe.

Available in Men's and Women's sizing.

  • Tempo
  • Daily Trainer
  • Neutral
  • 6mm Drop
  • 199g
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4
  • Best forLight unplated FuelCell road shoe for tempo, strides and mixed easy days, and New Balance.
  • Runner typeNeutral gait
  • SurfacesRoad

Overview

Previous-generation FuelCell uptempo trainer (~199 g men's US 9) for mixed easy and faster road sessions — unplated, 6 mm drop, not a max-cushion long-run shoe.

I'd shortlist Rebel v4 as a previous-generation FuelCell uptempo trainer when you want a light unplated road shoe for mixed easy-to-tempo weeks, and New Balance widths matter. Skip it if you need max-cushion long-run protection, a nylon-plated Speed-class workout shoe, or the current Rebel v5 platform.

  • Light FuelCell pop for tempo, strides and mixed road weeks
  • Official New Balance wide options alongside standard
  • Unplated so easy miles stay in play unlike Speed-class nylon plates

Kitletics Review · 8.1 Good

I'd shortlist Rebel v4 as a previous-generation FuelCell uptempo trainer (~199 g men's US 9, 30/24 mm stack, 6 mm drop, no plate) for mixed easy and faster road sessions. It is not a Nimbus-class long-run shoe and it is not Endorphin Speed’s nylon plate. Skip it if Rebel v5 is the platform you actually want, or if Pegasus-class daily protection is the week.

Read Kitletics Review →

At a glance

Weight
199 g
Drop
6 mm
Heel Stack
30 mm
Cushioning
Medium
Stability
Neutral
Terrain
Road
Plate
No
Category
Running Shoes
Best for
Light unplated FuelCell road shoe for tempo, strides and mixed easy days, and New Balance

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Light FuelCell pop for tempo, strides and mixed road weeks
  • Official New Balance wide options alongside standard
  • Unplated so easy miles stay in play unlike Speed-class nylon plates

Cons

  • Less protective on long easy and marathon-prep days
  • Previous generation — Rebel v5 is the current platform

Key technologies

  • FuelCell

    FuelCell

  • Blown rubber

    Blown rubber

Kitletics Review

A buying decision based on structured product data and evidence — not invented star ratings or fake user reviews.

Kitletics Review

Verdict

I'd shortlist Rebel v4 as a previous-generation FuelCell uptempo trainer (~199 g men's US 9, 30/24 mm stack, 6 mm drop, no plate) for mixed easy and faster road sessions. It is not a Nimbus-class long-run shoe and it is not Endorphin Speed’s nylon plate. Skip it if Rebel v5 is the platform you actually want, or if Pegasus-class daily protection is the week.

Expert Research

Last reviewed 12 September 2026

Read full review

Pros

  • Light FuelCell pop for tempo, strides and mixed road weeks
  • Official New Balance wide options alongside standard
  • Unplated so easy miles stay in play unlike Speed-class nylon plates

Cons / Trade-offs

  • Less protective on long easy and marathon-prep days
  • Previous generation — Rebel v5 is the current platform

Best for

  • Light unplated FuelCell road shoe for tempo, strides and mixed easy days, and New Balance.
  • Shopping leftover Rebel v4 rather than paying current-gen Rebel v5 money for the same family job.
  • Will keep long easy miles in a more protective daily such as Pegasus 41 instead of forcing.
  • Official New Balance wide options alongside standard.

Not ideal for

  • Those looking for Your week is mostly long easy or marathon-prep volume.
  • Those looking for nylon-plated workout shoe.
  • Those looking for specifically want the current Rebel platform.
  • Those looking for Less protective on long easy and marathon-prep days.

Performance breakdown

  • Ride8.6
  • Weight8.8
  • Fit / widths8.4
  • Long-run protection6.8
  • Value8.5· Previous-gen pricing

Scale: Poor (1–3) · Fair (4–5) · Good (6–7) · Very Good (8) · Excellent (9–10)

How it performs

What it is

Rebel v4 is New Balance’s previous FuelCell Rebel: an unplated, medium-cushion uptempo trainer for road tempo, strides and mixed weeks — not a max-cushion daily and not a carbon racer. Generation 4 sits behind Rebel v5 in the same family. I'd shortlist v4 when leftover pricing.…

Key specs

• Weight: ~199 g (men's US 9 reference in catalog fill) • Stack: 30 mm heel / 24 mm forefoot · Drop: 6 mm • Cushion: medium · Feel: balanced · Ride: responsive • Stability: neutral · Plate: none • Midsole: FuelCell · Upper: engineered mesh · Outsole: blown rubber • Terrain: road.…

Fit & width

Catalog widths include standard and wide — a real Rebel advantage versus Mach 6’s standard-only listing in our catalog. Start with your usual New Balance length and judge volume on an easy jog. This is a lower, livelier last than a max-cushion daily; if you wanted plush volume.…

Cushioning

FuelCell here is medium, balanced — enough for mixed easy miles, not a recovery tank. 30/24 mm is protective for tempo and shorter days, thinner than Speed 4’s taller plated stack in our catalog. Heel strikers who want isolation on 90-minute easy runs often bounce off this.…

Read all performance details

Key specs that matter

SpecValue
Weight199 g
Drop6 mm
Heel Stack30 mm
Forefoot Stack24 mm
StabilityNeutral
TerrainRoad
Width OptionsStandard, Wide

Should you buy it?

Buy if

  • You want a light unplated FuelCell road shoe for tempo, strides and mixed easy days, and New Balance.
  • You are shopping leftover Rebel v4 rather than paying current-gen Rebel v5 money for the same family job
  • You will keep long easy miles in a more protective daily such as Pegasus 41 instead of forcing.
  • Light FuelCell pop for tempo, strides and mixed road weeks

Skip if

  • Your week is mostly long easy or marathon-prep volume.
  • You want a nylon-plated workout shoe — Endorphin Speed 4 is the closer specialist
  • You specifically want the current Rebel platform — that is Rebel v5, not this previous generation
  • Less protective on long easy and marathon-prep days

Final verdict

I'd shortlist leftover Rebel v4 when you want a light unplated FuelCell road shoe for mixed easy-to-tempo weeks and New Balance widths. I'd pause if you need long-run protection, a plated Speed, or the current Rebel v5.

Read full review

Alternatives to consider

How we assessed it

We put this guide together from published manufacturer specs and similar products in the same job. We have not personally tested this product unless the page says we did. Scores are meant to help you decide — affiliate links do not change the verdict.

Review type: Expert Research Review.

Read how we review products →

Specifications

Weight
199g
Drop
6mm
Heel Stack
30mm
Cushioning
Medium
Stability
Neutral
Terrain
Road
Plate
No

Geometry

Weight199 g
Heel Stack30 mm
Forefoot Stack24 mm
Drop6 mm

Ride

CushioningMedium
Cushion FeelBalanced
StabilityNeutral
Energy ReturnHigh
FlexibilityFlexible
Ride CharacterResponsive

Construction

UpperEngineered mesh
MidsoleFuelCell
OutsoleBlown rubber
PlateNo
Plate MaterialNone

Use

TerrainRoad
Training TypesEasy, Tempo, Intervals
Recommended Distance5k, 10k, Daily
SurfaceAsphalt
Weather SuitabilityDry
Race LegalYes

Fit

Width OptionsStandard, Wide
Arch SupportMedium
GripRoad
DurabilityModerate
BreathabilityHigh

Other

Fit / SizingMen, Women

Where to buy

Showing offers for Netherlands. Prices may change at the retailer.

  • Amazon.nl

    in stockMarketplaceNLLast checked 12 September 2026

Kitletics may earn a commission when you buy through some retailer links. This does not affect our recommendations. Affiliate disclosure

Sources & evidence

Transparency behind this Kitletics Review — not a substitute for the buying decision above.

Read how we review products →
  • Verified specification

    Official product specifications

    Used to verify identity, published measurements, materials and official features.

    Verified 12 September 2026

  • Editorial research

    Independent expert reviews & Kitletics editorial analysis

    Used to cross-check ride, fit, category placement and buying trade-offs. Not a Kitletics personal wear-test.

    Verified 12 September 2026

View full review evidence
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Product data verified 12 September 2026. Prices checked 12 September 2026.

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New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4: Specs, Uptempo Fit & Alternatives · Kitletics