Altra Vanish Pulse vs New Balance Rebel v5

Vanish Pulse or FuelCell Rebel v5? 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 low, responsive zero-drop shoe for daily and tempo runs? Get the Vanish Pulse.

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

Get the Vanish Pulse if

• You like a firmer, more stable feel
• You want a zero-drop shoe

Get the FuelCell Rebel v5 if

• You want the softer, more cushioned ride
• You want more foam underfoot (13mm more at the heel)
• Long runs are your thing
• You want the lighter shoe, by about 0.5 oz

On the run

Vanish Pulse: Low, lively, zero drop. Truly low with a responsive midsole, versatile for daily and tempo runs. Not fast enough for serious racing, and traction could be better.

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.

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

Vanish Pulse. True to size with a roomy forefoot and a comfortable knit upper. Wide available.

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

Try them on

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

Shop the Vanish Pulse · Shop the FuelCell Rebel v5 · Compare other running shoes