REASONS TO BUY
FuelCell foam is improved
Durable
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited overall versatility
Plate feels uncomfortable on uneven surfaces
New Balance FuelCell Propel v5 Review
Comfortable and with decent performance at a budget-friendly price
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
RELATED: The Best Running Shoes for Men
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.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
New Balance FuelCell Propel v5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Running Shoes |  Excellent Performance without a Plate |  Best Price-Value Performer | Another Great Value Road Shoe | |
| Price | $120 List $79.95 at Amazon | $140.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $135 List $135.00 at Amazon | $130 List $129.04 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Plush cushioning and a bit of pace in a budget shoe | A versatile and comfortable option we think most runners will love | Bouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatile | A daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price | One of the best value daily trainers we’ve tested |
| Rating Categories | New Balance FuelCel... | Asics Novablast 5 | New Balance FuelCel... | Puma Velocity Nitro 3 | Adidas Adizero SL2 |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5.0%) | |||||
| Specifications | New Balance FuelCel... | Asics Novablast 5 | New Balance FuelCel... | Puma Velocity Nitro 3 | Adidas Adizero SL2 |
| Sizes Available | 7-18 US, regular & wide | 6-15 US, regular & wide | 7-16 US, regular & wide | 7 - 14 US, regular | 4-19 US, regular & wide |
| Style | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 38 mm | 41 mm | 30 mm | 38 mm | 38 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 7 mm | 5 mm | 7 mm | 11 mm | 9 mm |
| Plate Type | Full-length plastic | None | None | None | None |
| Rocker Angle | 19.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 19.5 deg | 18.0 deg | 21.0 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 68.3% | 56.0% | 62.2% | 66.7% | 53.3% |
| Measured Weight | 10.52 oz | 9.50 oz | 7.98 oz | 10.07 oz | 9.36 oz |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered jacquard mesh | FantomFit | Engineered knit | Engineered mesh |
| Midsole | FuelCell | FF Blast Max | FuelCell | Profoam | Lightstrike Pro, Lightstrike |
| Outsole | Rubber | AHAR LO | Rubber | PumaGrip | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | None | Finger loop | None | None | Pull tab |
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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