Saucony Freedom 5 vs New Balance Fuel Cell Rebel V2

 

I have traveled all over the world this year and I have seen runners running in both the Saucony Freedom and New Balance Rebel in Marathons. I tip my hat to all of you who do that. Yes, the foam both of these shoes are made of is bouncy and protective but overall they are much lower to the ground than the super shoes and therefore not nearly as protective against the hard ground. 

I first bought the Fuel Cell Rebel (130 dollars) in New York City on marathon weekend. Every time I ran in the shoes I put a note on Strava that I pulled out my house slippers for a run. The upper and the midsole feel as good as your house slippers at the end of a hard day. I found these shoes to be perfect either running fast on the track or doing hill repeats or as recovery run shoes. I will be honest I did not run long in them. There simply isn’t enough shoe there for me. 

The wide platform under your foot feels good while running. The shoe is built with the minimalist in mind. 

Saucony sent me the Freedom 5. I found this shoe to be perfect for the same type of running. Running fast on the track or doing hill repeats and on recovery days. With the Freedom 4, Saucony switched the midsole to their Power Run PB a Pbax based foam. It shows that you do not need a high stack height to feel a bounce in your step. 

The upper unlike the Rebel fits like an old school racing flat. It hugs your foot tight from the heel all the way through the forefoot. There is a security about that kind of fit when you want to run fast. The Freedom retails for 150 dollars which is pricy but you will forget that price as soon as you run in the shoe. That bounce feels great. 

Bottom line you have a choice for your fast run days. While some of you are choosing to run in your super shoes on those days many more are choosing the same bouncy foam without the stack height and stiff plate. Still others are simply running their marathon in these shoes. The main difference will be the fit. Slipper like in the Fuel Cell Rebel and strapped to your foot like the Freedom 5.