New Balance Rebel v5

Hes Kicks finds the New Balance Rebel V5 sleek and amazing for the summer time.

kofuzi finds that the New Balance Rebel v5 retails at $145, which the reviewer attributes to a tariff bump increase and notes it should be $140.

kofuzi loves the versatility, styling, and experience of the New Balance Rebel v5.

kofuzi finds that the Rebel v5's midsole foam still feels really nice underfoot at 100 miles and is holding up exceptionally well.

kofuzi finds the Adidas Evo SL is a slightly more dense experience underfoot, while the Rebel v5 has a more airy, more squishy sensation.

kofuzi finds the Rebel v5 a fantastic daily trainer with an incredible amount of pace versatility.

kofuzi finds the Rebel v5 suitable for regular everyday runs, recovery runs, midweek long runs, weekend long runs, and some pace work such as fartlek or intervals on roads.

kofuzi finds the Rebel v5's foam at 100 miles still feels great — not fresh out of the box but not like it is going to die soon — still delivering the fun, peppy, cushioned experience he enjoyed in the first miles.

kofuzi is impressed with how the Rebel v5's outsole is performing at 100 miles.

kofuzi notes the New York City Marathon edition of the Rebel v5 is available for $128, which he thinks is an absolutely lovely price for one of his favorite shoes of 2025.

kofuzi states the Rebel v5 runs great, looks great, and is holding up really well overall at 100 miles.

[New Balance] lists the Rebel v5 at $145; the reviewer finds this a little bit expensive and attributes the increase mainly to tariffs.

kofuzi finds that the New Balance Rebel v5 feels very similar to the v4 on foot: soft on impact with responsiveness that pushes back and facilitates a peppy, fun turnover.

kofuzi finds that the New Balance Rebel v5 is still on the roomier side compared to other daily trainers, aided by a very breathable, lightweight, and thin upper material.

kofuzi finds that the New Balance Rebel v5 still has excellent comfort and pace versatility.

kofuzi finds the $140 price a very competitive market rate for what the New Balance Rebel v5 offers.

kofuzi finds the New Balance Rebel v5 excellent for daily training, recovery runs, speed work, and long runs.

kofuzi finds the New Balance Rebel v5 upper uses a similar material to the v4 but on a slightly different last, with the toe-box height trimmed down and the sides possibly narrowed so the fit is less voluminous than the v4.

kofuzi measured the New Balance Rebel v5 at 35 mm stack height in the heel, 29 mm in the forefoot, with a 6 mm drop.

kofuzi observes that the New Balance Rebel v5 has a lot more rubber covering the front of the shoe than the v4.

kofuzi observes that the New Balance Rebel v5 has a very wide platform, helping keep the shoe from feeling too unstable even when landing off-center.

kofuzi observes, after directly comparing the v4 and v5, that the 5 mm increase in stack height in the Rebel v5 is noticeable and increases the comfort level and his confidence in the shoe.

kofuzi reports that the New Balance Rebel v5 has a retail price of $140.

kofuzi —who identifies as an elite runner—observes that the New Balance Rebel v5 increases stack height by 15% compared to the v4.

The Run Testers recommends the New Balance Rebel v5 as a lightweight daily trainer with a similar stack height to the Brooks Ghost 18, but offering a lot more versatility.

The Run Testers characterizes the New Balance Rebel v5 as a 'bit of a weird one' in the lightweight versatile daily trainer category because its main strength is being 'really comfortable, stable and supportive on easy runs'; the reviewer does not like it so much for fast runs [t 469.0]

The Run Testers observes the New Balance Rebel v5 has a 'very wide base' and is a 'pretty supportive shoe' [t 469.0]

The Run Testers (Tommy from the Run Testers) finds that due to its lighter ride, the New Balance Rebel v5 is a great option for runners that want one shoe to tick off a range of sessions from easy runs up to faster efforts.

The Run Testers (Tommy from the Run Testers) finds that the New Balance Rebel v5 is one of the best value options out there as a versatile daily shoe as part of a rotation, or for runners looking for one shoe to do it all.

The Run Testers (Tommy from the Run Testers) finds the New Balance Rebel v5 an excellent do-it-all shoe for those who want a lightweight but still cushioned and stable option.

The Run Testers (Tommy from the Run Testers) observes that the New Balance Rebel v5 has a lightweight mesh upper modeled on the brand's performance shoes, combining comfort with breathability.

The Run Testers (Tommy from the Run Testers) observes that the New Balance Rebel v5 uses a FuelCell midsole combining PA and EVA to produce a balanced ride that offers a good level of softness and energy return while maintaining a natural feel with plenty of responsiveness.

Running Warehouse finds that the New Balance Rebel v5 is a little bit softer underfoot than the Puma Deviate Pure.

Running Warehouse observes that a big complaint about the New Balance Rebel v5 is that its foam is "so crushable" that it is not necessarily a longevity shoe, and that heavier runners can tend to crush that foam down so it is not as effective anymore.

EDDBUD finds the New Balance Rebel v5 a great price for a nice soft daily shoe.

EDDBUD finds the New Balance Rebel v5 lacked a great deal of longevity; over time it kind of just provides a lot of impact protection, perhaps not a lot of return.

EDDBUD observes that the New Balance Rebel v5's mid-sole was very forgiving on foot.

EDDBUD reports that the New Balance Rebel v5 is discounted to 120 Earth credits at Run Northwest, and with a code can be brought down to 107 quid.

EDDBUD states that if you like your mid-soles really squishy, the New Balance Rebel v5 is up your alley.

Road Runner Sports finds that the FuelCell Rebel v5 is the New Balance shoe for going fast.

Road Runner Sports ranks the FuelCell Rebel v5 on the speedy end of New Balance's lineup, for faster efforts.

Yowana observes that the New Balance Rebel V5 does not feel the best; he describes it as a lightweight shoe that uses 'race foam' but finds its ride unenjoyable.

Marathon Handbook finds that the Rebel V5, along with the Glycerin 22 and Velocity Nitro 4, is light, feels good, allows the runner to easily jump into a fartlek or workout, and can be worn for an easy run without feeling overly thrusted onto the toes.

Marathon Handbook describes the Rebel v5 foam as nice, squishy foam that they have not seen much from New Balance outside their racing shoes.

Marathon Handbook finds the Rebel v5 feels squishy underfoot but not slow, with good rebound off the ground.

Marathon Handbook finds the Rebel v5 might be the fastest workout shoe they have worn that does not have any type of plate — just foam.

Marathon Handbook observes that past Rebel versions pushed feet inward and forced pronation, but the Rebel v5 does not — the reviewer finds them really sturdy, a neutral shoe but a stable one.

Marathon Handbook observes the Rebel v5 feels good at slower-than-workout paces, making it suitable for fartlek workouts and interval training with mixed paces, and the reviewer especially likes it for progressive runs.

Marathon Handbook observes the Rebel v5 is not a racing shoe but can serve multiple purposes: easy runs, workouts, and (per New Balance positioning) street wear, though the reviewer would save them for workouts.

Marathon Handbook rates the Rebel v5 design 8.1/10, praising the looks and colorways as suitable for casual wear, and noting New Balance created a shoe that goes fast without carbon/plastic in the midsole.

Marathon Handbook rates the Rebel v5 value 8.5/10, describing it as a good specialty workout shoe priced like a second-rate trainer, offering great bang for the buck.

Marathon Handbook states they would trust the Rebel v5 for anything from an easy run to a threshold run.

Sagasu Running finds the New Balance Rebel V5 is one of those tempo trainers or performance trainers that can bridge the gap between daily shoe and tempo shoe.

Sagasu Running observes that the New Balance Rebel V5 is very happy to go easy and log long easy miles, but has an extra gear to pick up the pace, getting into threshold and tempo running and max effort running just fine.

Sagasu Running observes the New Balance Rebel V5 has really nice leg savingsness because it is fairly soft and very absorbent.

Sagasu Running acknowledges a common online claim that both the Rebel v5 and Nova Blast 5 go flat at about 150 miles (about 240 km), and states he will test the Rebel v5 to see how well it holds up.

Sagasu Running finds that runners closer to 60 kg (about 130 lbs) will probably enjoy the Rebel v5 a little more than the Nova Blast 5, as it will feel bouncier with less foam compaction.

Sagasu Running finds that the Rebel v5's foam is very soft and not the most resilient; there is not a lot of energy return, but enough to work as a daily trainer.

Sagasu Running finds the Rebel v5 a very soft, absorbent, and cushioned shoe that does not provide an overly aggressive, resilient, or energy-return ride.

Sagasu Running finds the Rebel v5's ride very soft, with more sink-in feel than the Nova Blast 5 because it is much softer.

Sagasu Running is impressed with the Rebel v5's outsole and calls it a return to form.

Sagasu Running is surprised by the versatility of the Rebel v5 — it works for easy running, picking up the pace to tempo running, and stepping back down to easy.

Sagasu Running notes that the Rebel v5's outsole uses a single piece of forefoot rubber, returning to the design of the Rebel v1–v3, which gives a platform to land on and contains the soft FuelCell foam.

Sagasu Running observes that New Balance narrowed the Rebel v5 width by about 5–8 mm across the entire shoe compared to the v4, making it still a generous fit but not overly wide.

Sagasu Running observes that the Rebel v5 is narrower in the forefoot than the Nova Blast 5 but feels more stable because it is wider through the waist and heel.

Sagasu Running speculates that heavier runners pushing 100 kg (over 200 lbs) may feel the Rebel v5 starting to bottom out after about five or six miles on an average run and will wear the shoe down quickly.

Sagasu Running states that if a runner liked the Rebel v4's fit, they will be fine in the v5 — it is just a little tighter around the foot but gives a much better fit overall.

Sagasu Running , at about 74 kg (165 lbs), finds the Rebel v5 not too soft and the right balance.

New Balance lists the Rebel V5 stack height at 38 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot for a 6 mm drop.

Sagasu Running finds that the single-piece forefoot rubber outsole contains the soft fuel cell foam, providing a landing platform that directs energy up and forward rather than allowing mushiness.

Sagasu Running finds the Rebel V5 foam soft but not mushy, and not the most resilient on the market, which the reviewer considers appropriate for a daily trainer.

Sagasu Running finds the Rebel V5 is happy going slow, happy going fast, and happy transitioning between paces; the reviewer calls it one of the most versatile and comfortable shoes at 74 kg / 163 lb.

Sagasu Running finds the Rebel V5 is not as wide as the V4; the width has been toned in by a few millimeters, making the fit generous but not sloppy.

Sagasu Running finds the Rebel V5 is one of the best daily trainers they have ever run in.

Sagasu Running finds the Rebel V5 ride is one of the most enjoyable and pleasant of 2025; it is soft, flexible, has enough resilience to push out of the shoe without being overly aggressive or dynamic.

Sagasu Running observes that the Rebel V5 has gained about 4 mm of stack height across the board compared to the V4.

Sagasu Running observes that the Rebel V5 returns to a single piece of forefoot rubber on the outsole, which the reviewer finds makes a huge difference compared to the V4.

Sagasu Running observes that the synthetic engineered mesh upper on the Rebel V5 is not drastically different from the V4, but it is now compliant to the foot and sits well on the foot.

Sagasu Running observes the outsole rubber on the Rebel V5 has held up extremely well over 50 miles, with no wear beyond surface smoothing; the reviewer notes this is good because New Balance outsoles have been a problem for them in the past.

Sagasu Running speculates that lighter runners (under 70 kg, closer to 60 kg) will find the Rebel V5 truly a performance trainer that can do everything.

Sagasu Running states that runner weight significantly dictates enjoyment of the Rebel V5: at the reviewer's weight of about 74 kg (163–164 lb), the ride is exactly what the reviewer wants; heavier runners (90–100 kg) may find the shoe works only for short runs of 5–6 km and may bottom out the foam, especially if they are heavy heel strikers.

Sagasu Running states that the Rebel V5 is now positioned as a true daily trainer for New Balance, distinct from the 880 and 1080.

Sagasu Running wore true to size US men's size 9 in the Rebel V5 and calls it one of the best fits of any shoe worn in 2025.

RoadTrailRun characterizes the New Balance Rebel v5 as having a more minimal upper and a more up-tempo-to-race feel compared to the Brooks Ghost Amp, which is a daily trainer to up-tempo.

RoadTrailRun finds that the New Balance Rebel v5 is a bit firmer, a bit snappier, and more of a race/up-tempo feel compared to the Brooks Ghost Amp.

RadDadBodTV finds that the Diadora Gara Carbon 3 is not quite as soft or squishy as the FuelCell foam in the New Balance Rebel v5.

jogoncrago speculates that the durability of the BMA Expedition 6's beaded TPU foam will be better than that of 'softer, more fragile models like the Rebel V5'.

jogoncrago believes the weight spec on New Balance's website is misleading, making the shoe seem like a performance trainer, but the softness and compression rule it out as a nippy, speedy all-rounder like the Peg Plus or Velocity Nitro 4.

jogoncrago characterizes the Rebel v5 as a simple, soft, compressive shoe without a strong personality — agreeable and inoffensive, not outrageous.

jogoncrago contrasts the Rebel v5 with the v4: in the v4 he felt he bottomed out the foam immediately and hit the road harshly; in the v5 the extra 2 mm of stack gives more depth so it works as a jogging shoe.

jogoncrago describes the upper as fairly flexible, quite breathable, and good-looking, with no real complaints.

jogoncrago expects the Rebel v5 to last 400–500 km before dying out, compared to a standard of 700–800 km from other models.

jogoncrago finds the $230 price decent for a simple, comfortable, good-looking, fairly light shoe, but says it is not the most versatile in its category and probably not the best value; still, it earns that price in the current market.

jogoncrago finds the Rebel v5 fit is less bloated than the v4, which was extremely wide; the v5 is more normal-width but still accommodating.

jogoncrago finds the Rebel v5 foam is soft, marshmallowy, and compressive with a light, airy feel.

jogoncrago finds the soft compressive foam of the Rebel v5 usable only for easy jogs of about 7–8 km / 40–45 minutes, not for workouts or long runs.

jogoncrago observes New Balance softened the heel counter padding and changed its angle to sit farther from the Achilles, fixing the heel-blisters issue he had with the Rebel v4.

jogoncrago observes more reinforcement in the ankle collar that runs down the eyelet chain, enabling a more secure lockdown through the heel and midfoot.

jogoncrago recommends most people save the $50 and get the Velocity Nitro 4 for more versatility and punchy performance.

jogoncrago reports New Balance lists the Rebel v5 stack at 35 mm heel / 29 mm forefoot (6 mm drop), which is a 2 mm increase over the Rebel v4.

jogoncrago speculates overall durability of the Rebel v5 will not be fantastic due to the soft compressive foam, and notes he already sees compression lines after only 50 km of easy running.

jogoncrago speculates that if a runner puts more force into the shoe — sprints, tempo efforts, or has more body weight — the shoe will wear out quickly.

New Balance lists the Rebel v5 stack as 38 mm heel, 32 mm forefoot, with a 6 mm drop — a 4 mm increase over v4 according to the reviewer.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) finds the New Balance Rebel v5 feels more stable and more responsive in the forefoot despite the higher stack, making it versatile for fast toe-offs and easy squish.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) finds the New Balance Rebel v5 fits true to size, with a less baggy fit and better midfoot lockdown than v4.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) finds the New Balance Rebel v5 forefoot feels a little faster than previous versions, but still considers it too squishy for anything faster than half-marathon pace.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) finds the New Balance Rebel v5 upper (Phantom Fit engineered mesh) much more comfortable than the v4.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) gives the New Balance Rebel v5 a green light for everyday training, finding it has shifted more toward a daily trainer than previous Rebel versions.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) gives the New Balance Rebel v5 a yellow light for long runs; the added stack and upper are more comfortable, but the foam is too soft and feels wobbly when form breaks down at the end of a long run.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) gives the New Balance Rebel v5 a yellow light for speed day, finding the foam too soft and squishy for real speed, preferring something firmer with more ground feel and snap.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) observed exposed foam on the New Balance Rebel v5 gets worn down pretty easily, but the rubber itself is holding up well.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) observes more outsole rubber coverage on the New Balance Rebel v5, especially in the forefoot, compared to v4.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) observes the New Balance Rebel v5 has a more padded and gusseted tongue than v4, improving comfort and keeping it in place.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) observes the New Balance Rebel v5 has a more padded ankle collar than v4.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) observes the New Balance Rebel v5 midsole still uses EVA-Peba blended FuelCell foam but has a higher stack height.