The Propel V5 is New Balance’s entry-level shoe in the Fuelcell lineup. Like the Rebel V4, it uses the brand’s Fuelcell foam to provide a balanced ride that combines cushioning with versatility – although New Balance does tend to tweak Fuelcell to provide a different ride across the range.
Along with the foam, the shoe also features a TPU plate to deliver a snappier ride and allow for picking up the pace, and a well-structured upper design built for comfort and support.
Tom gives his full verdict on the shoe and if he thinks it’s worth buying.
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00:00 – Intro
00:13 – Stats
00:27 – Design
01:02 – How’s the Fit?
01:56 – The Run Test
07:38 – Should You Buy It?
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Hey Tommy for in testers in this video I'm going to be doing a full review of The New Balance fuel cell Propel V5 Let's see what I [Music] Thought the New Balance fuel cell Propel V5 costs £20 or $119.99 it weighs 265 G or 9.3 o for men In a size 8 and the drop is 6 [Music] Mm the Propel V5 is new balance's Entry-level shoe in the fuel cell lineup Like the rebel V4 it uses the Brand's Fuel cell phone to provide a balanced Ride that combines cushioning with Versatility although New Balance does Tend to tweak fuel cell to provide a Different ride across the range along With the foam the shoe also features a TPU plate to deliver a snappier ride and A low for picking up the pace and a well Structured upper design built for Comfort and support the outsole design Is similar to that found on the rebel V4 With a generous layer of rubber to Protect the softer fuel cell foam and Provide plenty of [Music] Grip so I'm a size eight in the UK I Would say that the Propel F5 does fit me I would I would stick to my size in this Shoe but it is a little bit more Restrictive than you will what you will Find in some of the other New Balance
Shoes so there's not loads of space in In the forefoot um and around the side Of the forefoot it's quite restrictive Upper uh if you do have slightly wider Feet than me then you're probably going To have a bit of an issue with this and If you like to have extra space uh Before the toe you might want to size up Half a size in this shoe I was okay with It I've not had any issues in the 60k of Running that I've done in this shoe so Far but it does feel a little bit Restrictive uh I actually like my shoes To feel a little bit uh on the laner Side when it comes to fit but I know Some of you don't so um you may want to Size up half size in this Shoe so when I did the first run review Of the Propel V5 I was very impressed With it I thought was a very enjoyable Shooter run in very comfortable the First run that I did in it was a 10K is Easy run but I did pick up the pace a Little bit in it and for that sort of Run it's fantastic it's a great value Shoe that um just does the job if you're Going out and clocking up the miles and You just want something comfortable that Has a nice level of Cushing in it but um Also just feels very supportive and um Structured in terms of the upper it's Just a very good value daily shoe from That first run however in the 60k of Testing that I've done in it I've done a
Few different types of run in it now so I've done a longer run in it up to uh 14k I have done an interval session in It which included a number of uh 90c um Sprints s of fastest faster sections at My uh 5K 10K Pace uh and what I found About this shoe is that it does have Some limitations if you're looking at it As a versatile trainer so as a daily Shoe where you're just using it for Easier runs maybe longer runs uh at a Comfortable Pace it's very good very Good value one of the best value uh Options out there at the moment as we Mentioned in our best shoes uh Roundup But uh what I found is that midsole um Is very soft it's a really really soft Mido which is fine at easy runs um and If you're just sort of um chugging along And and getting your mileage but when You are running at uh faster Pace that Soft midsole really becomes not Noticeable at that those Paces so when I'm running at a faster Pace I'm hitting The ground a lot harder and that soft That softness really does feel a little Bit sluggish if you're picking up the Pace in this shoe um when I did the First run in it it did feel like it had A bit of Ury turn in it uh and it's it Does at uh very short intervals um if You're not really hitting it hard um but What I found during the interval session That I did in this is that I really
Noticed that Mido really squishing in Hard um and I didn't enjoy it for for Those for those intervals uh it might Also be an issue if you are heavier Running because you're really going to Feel that that softer midsole really Compress when you're running in it and It's not particularly uh it's not welld Designed for that so I don't think it's Good if you're going to be doing Anything performance related or if You're a heavier Runner and you need a Little bit more rigidity and a bit more Support in that midsole to um deaden the Uh the impact because it doesn't do that It does feel like it squishes quite Heavily um when you're hitting the Ground at a um with a bit of force um But what I would say is that overall it Is a really nice enjoyable shoe to run In especially if you're just using it For your daily runs um if you're looking For something that has a nice level of Softness in it when you're doing those Easy runs that softness is actually very Nice um and it it's even though it's not The most versatile shoe in the world you Can run a little bit faster in it as Long as you're not going all out and Sort of ramming that midell foam um all All the way down um so other than that Uh other things I would say about it is The outsole is pretty good there's quite A good layer of outsole on this shoe uh
Very similar to many of the other New Balance newer shoes that have come out Things like the um Rebel V4 very similar Outso to that one thing it does have This big cavity in it um and that does Collect Stones I've collected a few Stones whilst I've been out on the run Because I've been hitting quite a lot of Public foot paths um when I've been Going Offroad a little bit I've not been Doing trails in this shoe but um when I'm when I'm going on the areas where There's lots of little bits of rock and Stuff it does pick up in that the other Thing I would say as well it does have This plate in it uh I don't think the Plate really does a lot when it comes to Performance it doesn't seem to um you Don't really feel this plate when you're Out running in it uh I think what it Actually does more of is helps to Stabilize that really soft midell foam So It's a plate that is more designed for Those daily runs to if you didn't have That plate in it and it was just this Foam it would be really noticeably soft So I think that does add a little bit of Um firmness to it and helps to sort of Spread out that that midsole phone so That you've got a little bit more um uh Support in the midsole um but as a as a Plate don't look at this shoe thinking That that plate is going to give you
Some performance benefits cuz it Doesn't It's really just there as a add a little Bit of support and stability you can't Really feel it when you're out on the Run so it's definitely not a performance Shoe from that perspective uh other Things I'll say about the shoe is that The the front of the midsole so I really Only noticed that softness on the back When I was running fast the front of the Midsole the 4 foot is actually very nice When you pick up the pace I didn't feel That being in any way sappy it did feel Like there's a little bit of UR return In the foref foot of the shoe it's only On that heel section that I really Notice it when I'm running fast it Really squishes in noticeably so um just Bear that in mind it's definitely not a Shoe that's designed for doing fast reps In or anything like that but overall Solid experience over the course of Those runs think it is a good option if You're looking for a little bit of a a Good value Workhorse that is comfortable And is enjoyable on those easier runs And those daily runs also a really Comfortable walking shoe as well I think This is one of those shoes that ticks a Lot of boxes for people that maybe are More General Runners um and they want a Shoe that looks nice is comfortable and You can run in it as well especially When it's the easier more General type
Of Running so my verdict on the New Balance Propel V5 is that it's a good value shoe That is a bit limited when it comes to Versatility it's shoe that if you're the Sort of Runner that just wants something That's very comfortable you're going out And you're you're ticking off the 10ks Maybe you have it as part of rotation Which is for your easy runs um it's very Good for that it it's comfortable I like That midell foam it doesn't really um Give you anything outside of those easy Runs or those longer runs at nice Comfortable Pace because once you start Doing more performance Focus stuff in it That midell foam is just a little bit Too soft um and you don't really get a Lot back from it um and it's really Noticeable in the heel section of the Shoe so when you put it up against shoes Like the uh pummer velocity nitro3 it's Quite similar in a lot of ways it's very Similar price it feels in some ways like That shoe but I think there's just a bit More in the pum velocity N3 it's the the Midle is a bit firmer you can definitely Pick up the pace a bit more in that shoe That is a very good value all around a Shoe think this is a good value easy day Shoe daily shoe but definitely doesn't Have any performance elements to it it's Definitely not a versatile shoe um but It is very comfortable to run in so take
That into consideration I would probably Say if you are looking for a good value Shoe and you just want one shoe to do All of your running in the pum velocity Nitro 3 is a better option um if you're Looking to do a bit more bit faster um Sessions in it things like that whereas I think this is probably going to be a Good value shoe if all you want to do is So easy comfortable runs and you want Something really soft and comfortable And cushioned um but isn't going to give You a lot back there's not a lot of Energy return in the shoe and it's not Going to give you um any sort of Versatility for you picking up the pace I wouldn't use this for track I wouldn't Use this for racing um I'd only use it If I was just going out enjoying a 10K Enjoying a 15K maybe even a 20K but at a Very comfortable enjoyable Pace that's It from me on this full review of the New Balance fuel sale Propel V5 thanks a Lot for watching don't forget to like Subscribe click the little bell all of Those sorts of things and if you're Going to catch info you find a link to Our podcast which comes out at the end Of each month thanks a lot for watching Catch you next time [Music]
