New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 vs Hoka Mach 7
Two shoes people weigh up against each other constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from the same database that drives the Shoe Finder quiz, with nothing added by hand. The short version: they are closely matched on paper, so fit and feel will decide it.
Side by side
| New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 | Hoka Mach 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £140 RRP | £140 RRP |
| Type | Faster training | Faster training |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Weight | 223g | 237g |
| Heel drop | 6mm | 5mm |
| Heel stack | 33mm | 37mm |
| Widths | Standard, wide and 4E | Standard and wide |
| Plate | None | None |
What the differences mean
Weight
The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 is 14g lighter, at 223g against 237g. As a rough guide every 100g costs about one percent in running economy, so 14g is worth a fraction of a percent. You will feel it more than it costs you, and it counts for more on a fast 5k than on a slow long run.
Heel drop
Both sit at around 6mm, so neither will feel unfamiliar if you are coming from the other. Nothing to choose here.
Width fittings
Both come in a wide fitting, but only the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 goes as far as 4E. That matters if wide is not quite wide enough for you, which is more common than the number of shoes offering it suggests.
Price
Effectively the same price at full price, so this is not the thing to decide on. Whichever happens to be discounted on the day is the better buy.
Which should you buy?
Neither, until you have tried both on. Fit decides more than any specification on this page, and the two shoes above are close enough that a foot shape will separate them faster than a spreadsheet will.
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5
Light, bouncy and fun without a plate. A favourite for faster training runs.
Hoka Mach 7
Light and springy without being a race shoe. Good for picking up the pace.
Or let the quiz decide
This page compares two shoes. The shoe finder compares all 104 of them against your width, your weight, where you run, your budget and any recurring niggles, then gives you three and tells you why each one made it. It takes about a minute.