New Balance Rebel v5 vs ASICS Novablast 6

FuelCell Rebel v5 or Novablast 6? Here’s how they compare on feel, fit, brand specs and price, from the fitting team at The Run House.

The short answer

Want a light, springy everyday trainer? Get the FuelCell Rebel v5.

Want springy, versatile miles? Get the Novablast 6.

Get the FuelCell Rebel v5 if

• You need a roomier fit
• You like a flexible, natural-feeling forefoot
• You want the lighter shoe, by about 0.9 oz
• You prefer a lower drop (6mm vs 8mm)

Get the Novablast 6 if

• You want more foam underfoot (6.5mm more at the heel)
• You have slimmer feet and like a snug fit
• You like a bit more structure under the forefoot
• You like a higher heel-to-toe drop (8mm vs 6mm)

On the run

FuelCell Rebel v5: Light and springy fun. Soft, springy and light, with a flexible forefoot. It’s a fun shoe for easy and moderate runs, though it can start to feel mushy deep into a long one.

Novablast 6: The springy do-it-all. Light and springy, with a forefoot pod that snaps more the faster you go. It handles everything from easy days to workouts.

Specs side by side

Stack, drop and weight come from each brand’s own website. Numbers marked * aren’t published by the brand and come from other published specs. Weights are for the size each brand quotes. Expected life is our estimate.

Fit

FuelCell Rebel v5. True to size with a roomy toebox. The midfoot is wide, so some feet slide on sharp turns. Wide available.

Novablast 6. True to size with a tapered but splay-friendly toebox and a locked-in heel. It’s low over the toes, so high insteps should go wide rather than longer.

Try them on

Come try on both at The Run House in Walpole, Needham or Falmouth. Gait analysis is always free.

Shop the FuelCell Rebel v5 · Shop the Novablast 6 · Compare other running shoes