New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 vs FuelCell Rebel v4
Two versions apart. Updated October 14, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Two updates and 3 years separate the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 from the FuelCell Rebel v4. Net change: 4 mm more heel stack, a new midsole, $10 more at list. Both updates in between reworked the ride, so the FuelCell Rebel v4 is two character changes away from what you own.
- New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Oct 14, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
The two updates in between
Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.
- Step 1FuelCell Rebel v2 to FuelCell Rebel v32022A different shoe
- Step 2FuelCell Rebel v3 to FuelCell Rebel v42024Changed character
FuelCell Rebel v2 vs FuelCell Rebel v4: every spec, side by side
The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.
| Spec | FuelCell Rebel v2 | FuelCell Rebel v4 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 7.3 oz | 7.4 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Lightweight engineered mesh with minimal overlays | FantomFit engineered mesh with a gusseted tongue |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 26 mm | 30 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 20 mm | 24 mm |
| Drop | 6 mm | 6 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | Soft, highly flexible FuelCell foam | PEBA-and-EVA blend FuelCell foam |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $130 | $140 |
Or buy the FuelCell Rebel v3 instead?
The FuelCell Rebel v3 is worth a look only if you want the ride it introduced, because that is the update that changed the shoe. Buying it to soften the jump does not work: you would be adapting to the same change either way, just at an older spec.
Buy the FuelCell Rebel v3
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Oct 14, 2026.
Questions runners ask
- Can I go straight from the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 to the FuelCell Rebel v4 and skip the FuelCell Rebel v3?
- You can, but treat the FuelCell Rebel v4 as a new shoe rather than a restock. Both the FuelCell Rebel v3 and the FuelCell Rebel v4 reworked the ride, so a FuelCell Rebel v2 owner takes two character changes at once: Soft, highly flexible FuelCell foam became PEBA-and-EVA blend FuelCell foam.
- How much did the weight change across these two updates?
- It nets out. The FuelCell Rebel v2 and the FuelCell Rebel v4 both weigh about 7.3 oz in a men's US 9, though the FuelCell Rebel v3 sat at 7.4 oz in between.
- Is the FuelCell Rebel v3 the better buy than either of these?
- On paper it splits them: 7.4 oz against 7.3 oz for the FuelCell Rebel v2 and 7.4 oz for the FuelCell Rebel v4, on a 27.5 mm heel and a $130 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the FuelCell Rebel v3 update actually did, which the section above works through.
- Did the FuelCell Rebel get taller between the FuelCell Rebel v2 and the FuelCell Rebel v4?
- Heel stack went 26 mm to 30 mm, by way of 27.5 mm on the FuelCell Rebel v3. Drop held at 6 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
- Where does the FuelCell Rebel v4 sit in the FuelCell Rebel lineup now?
- Two versions on from the FuelCell Rebel v2, and already replaced itself: the FuelCell Rebel v5 arrived in 2025. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the FuelCell Rebel v4 against it before deciding.