New Balance Rebel Trail Review

Wilde Wednesday

Untamed Running Reviews by James Wilde

New Balance Rebel Trail Review

NEW BALANCE FUELCELL REBEL TRAIL

Trail season is upon us, and you're gonna need a bigger boat - or at least a better trail shoe…

This week, we’re hitting the trails with the New Balance FuelCell Rebel Trail, an exciting lightweight option that carries the famed Rebel name with some subtle tweaks to make it trail-ready. Let’s see what makes this one special in this week’s review. 

The standard New Balance Rebel is a popular option for many on the roads, so it only made sense for New Balance to eventually bring that shoe to the trails. While the shoe shares the same name, I found it to be quite different than its road-running counterpart. While I initially enjoyed the Rebel, as time went along, that enjoyment slowly faded and I found myself reaching for other shoes. When the Rebel Trail hit the shelves, I was excited to see how they could take one of their most beloved shoes and turn it into a trail monster. 

New Balance didn’t just throw a Vibram sole on the bottom, add some overlays, and add a brown colorway… They completely rethought and retooled the Rebel to make it appropriate for the trail. Upon first try, the upper is accommodating like its road running cousin, but definitely has a better lockdown, making it a great option for tearing up technical terrain. Step-in comfort is immediate. The foam is soft and bouncy, but firm enough to be protective of the foot. The Vibram outsole is very luggy, offering full coverage and protection for a variety of different surfaces. The feel is very different from the road Rebel, but much better suited for the trails. Sizing felt about right, but perhaps a little on the shorter side, so it may be worth trying a half size up to ensure you've got enough space.

Running-wise the shoe feels very smooth, but also reminds me a little bit of the 1975 classic Jaws. Everything about this shoe feels calm and approachable, like the beach on Amity Island on a hot summer day. Once you get it into real terrain, you start to feel that subtle “dun-dun… dun-dun…” building. You realize pretty quickly, this thing has more bite than expected. It grips, it moves, and it handles technical sections with a confidence that sneaks up on you.

The Rebel Trail hits the right cushion/bounce/stiffness balance that makes it a solid option on the trails. Personally, I have a hard time with super cushioned shoes on the trails, and prefer a little more ground feel, which is what the Rebel Trail offers. The lockdown is solid without feeling overbuilt. As always, I appreciate a more open toe box, and this shoe has that without feeling like my forefoot is sliding around. The stack height is also very appropriate for a shoe like this, making it a solid rival to shoes like the Saucony Peregrine, Topo Terraventure, and even the Mount to Coast T1.

This shoe thrives in most conditions, whether it's a more technical run, long days on the trail, or your morning dog walks. It feels fast without being overly stiff, and comfortable enough for longer efforts where you don’t want to be weighted down by bigger shoes. All in all, New Balance really hit the nail on the head here. For those who are expecting the Rebel v5 in a trail form, you may be disappointed, but if you go into it with an open mind, I’d be willing to bet you will be pleasantly surprised. It’s not the flashiest shoe, it's not an incredibly dull shoe, it's just a solid shoe built for whatever you want to throw at it.

If you are looking for a lighter shoe for your trail rotation, or maybe tired of all the max cushioned options, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try. I haven’t ever been overly impressed with New Balance trail options, but I was certainly surprised with the Rebel Trail. This shoe is most definitely worth a try next time you’re in the shop, and could be your next secret weapon in your trail quiver.

Until next week. Run Wilde. Run Flagstaff.