Reviews You Can Rely On

New Balance FuelCell Propel v5 Review

Comfortable and with decent performance at a budget-friendly price
gearlab tested logo
New Balance FuelCell Propel v5 Review
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Price:  $120 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   New Balance
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 3, 2024
62
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#19 of 30
  • Landing Comfort - 30% 7.5
  • Responsiveness - 20% 6.0
  • Stability - 15% 5.0
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 6.5
  • Weight - 15% 4.7
  • Traction - 5.0% 6.5
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

The New Balance Propel v5 brings a small update to a fairly versatile daily trainer. The shoe combines a plush FuelCell foam midsole with a full-length TPU (plastic) plate at a budget-friendly price. We think the foam is improved from the previous version, offering a little more energy return and extra compression underfoot. This is a good option for runners who want a stiff yet well-cushioned shoe that can handle some faster sessions but is really ideal for long runs and moderate efforts. The presence of the TPU plate doesn't mean this is a racer — there are plenty of shoes in our lineup that are more responsive. But if you're after a comfortable and reasonably versatile shoe for a good price, this is one to consider.
REASONS TO BUY
FuelCell foam is improved
Durable
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited overall versatility
Plate feels uncomfortable on uneven surfaces

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Men's Running Shoes
Top Pick Award
Excellent Performance without a Plate
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
 
Price $120 List
$119.95 at Amazon
Check Price at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
$139.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$135 List
$135.00 at Amazon
$160 List
$134.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
62
72
71
70
69
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line Plush cushioning and a bit of pace in a budget shoeA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable priceA great combination of responsiveness and plush comfort
Rating Categories New Balance FuelCel... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3 Puma Deviate Nitro 2
Landing Comfort (30%)
7.5
8.3
8.5
8.0
7.0
Responsiveness (20%)
6.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
7.5
Stability (15%)
5.0
7.0
4.0
6.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
6.5
8.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
4.7
5.8
8.4
5.3
6.0
Traction (5.0%)
6.5
4.0
6.2
9.0
8.0
Specs New Balance FuelCel... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3 Puma Deviate Nitro 2
Measured Weight 10.52 oz 9.76 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz 9.58 oz
Measured Heel Stack Height 38 mm 43 mm 30 mm 38 mm 36 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 7 mm 7 mm 7 mm 11 mm 8 mm
Plate Type Full Length Plastic None None None Carbon
Rocker Angle 19.0 deg 22.5 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg 19.5 deg
Rocker Apex Location 68.3% 66.5% 62.2% 66.7% 69.2%
Style Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer
Upper Engineered mesh Engineered woven/knit FantomFit Engineered knit Engineered mesh
Midsole FuelCell FF Blast + Eco FuelCell NITROFOAM NITRO/NITRO Elite
Outsole Rubber AHAR Lo Rubber PumaGrip PumaGrip ATR
Heel Tab Type None Finger loop None None None
Sizes Available 7-18 US, regular & wide 6 - 15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular 7 - 15 US, regular

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Propel v5 is a solid lower-cost option. It gets some trickle-down tech from higher-end shoes — like the TPU plate and FuelCell midsole. For the right runner, this is a great budget purchase.

Performance Comparison


new balance fuelcell propel v5 - the propel v5 is one of the better budget-minded shoes we've tested.
The Propel v5 is one of the better budget-minded shoes we've tested.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Landing Comfort


The Propel continues to remain a soft shoe in this iteration. New Balance's FuelCell formulations tend to be very plush yet reasonably resilient, and this one is no different. We don't think it's as soft and bouncy as the FuelCell in the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4, but it's close. We measured 38 mm of foam at the heel. As we mentioned, it's a soft foam, making this a pleasant option for long runs, including efforts with a pace pickup in the middle or at the end.

new balance fuelcell propel v5 - the fuelcell formulation in this shoe works well for longer...
The FuelCell formulation in this shoe works well for longer distances and easy to moderate efforts.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Responsiveness


The Propel v5 is about average in terms of responsiveness for a daily trainer. The softness of the foam paired with the general size of the shoe makes this a shoe that is best used for day-to-day mileage. Thanks to the additional stiffness from the TPU plate, this shoe moves decently well at moderate efforts. We found it adequate for threshold workouts, but once we pushed faster, it felt a little lifeless.

new balance fuelcell propel v5 - while this shoe isn't best at faster paces, it can handle the...
While this shoe isn't best at faster paces, it can handle the majority of sessions most runners will do during a marathon build.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Stability


When running on pavement, the TPU plate provides a little stability and direction to the otherwise soft slab of FuelCell foam. On the other hand, we found the plate actually made running on off-camber roads or loose surfaces difficult. This is a neutral trainer and not one we would recommend to runners looking for support.

new balance fuelcell propel v5 - the fuelcell is stabilized by the tpu plate, but this still isn't a...
The FuelCell is stabilized by the TPU plate, but this still isn't a stable option.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Upper Comfort


The upper, along with the overall fit and finish, is nicely improved from the previous version. The materials that touch your ankle feel softer, and the mesh is also slightly less rough. The rigid heel cup does a much better job of providing heel retention when compared to the v4. We also found the lacing to be easier and didn't experience any sliding when running in this shoe. For a more budget-friendly shoe, the upper is well-executed.

new balance fuelcell propel v5 - the upper is both decently comfortable and solidly breathable.
The upper is both decently comfortable and solidly breathable.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Weight


The Propel v5 is no lightweight, coming in at 10.52 ounces per shoe (size 10.5). That's heavier average within our lineup, even among equivalently cushioned shoes. That heft is another limiting factor in the overall versatility of the trainer. Because of the weight, it doesn't feel particularly comfortable when running faster than threshold.

new balance fuelcell propel v5 - this is solid for a daily trainer — if a bit on the heavy side.
This is solid for a daily trainer — if a bit on the heavy side.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Traction


The rubber outsole on the Propel is tacky and utilizes New Balance's diamond pattern to create grip on a wide range of surfaces. We found it to be solid in wet conditions, and it handles loose gravel reasonably well, although the cutout that exposes the plate towards the midfoot and heel can be a bit of a rock magnet.

new balance fuelcell propel v5 - solid grip thanks to the tacky outsole.
Solid grip thanks to the tacky outsole.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the New Balance Propel v5?


This shoe is a solid, wallet-friendly, well-cushioned daily trainer. It's not a shoe we'd recommend if you only have one shoe in your rotation due to the TPU plate and the lack of top-end comfort. But if you're looking for a comfortable shoe to knock out a lot of your weekly mileage without breaking the bank, the Propel v5 is a pretty good option.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


The Puma Velocity Nitro 3 is a significantly better shoe for a similar price. If you're a New Balance fan, we think the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 is an excellent option for most runners, although a bit more expensive.

Nathaniel Bailey