FuelCell 5280: Fast Just Got Faster
For runners who can crank out a quick mile, these shoes just might provide that extra edge
The Idea
What if there was a shoe that could make the fastest mile even faster? What if this shoe could shave off fractions of seconds, leading to ground-breaking speed over the course of a race? And what if this shoe wasn't just the result of educated guesswork, but of rigorous testing, science, and data analysis? What if this shoe was designed not just with the fastest athletes in mind, but specifically for them and with their help?
In 2017, New Balance set their sights on creating this shoe. They knew that it would take time, and resources, and a whole lot of perseverance. Just like in running, they knew that if you want to dream big, you have to be willing to put in some work to get there.
The Process
New Balance decided that if they were serious about creating a winning shoe, they'd have to nerd out in the design details. Their innovation team began in July 2017 by testing midsole shapes. They built out different prototypes: one with an oversized midsole, one that was more like a racing flat, one that was built like a track spike.
Designers went to work piecing together countless combinations of midsole shapes and foam, as well as integrating carbon plates and different upper materials. They knew that getting the midsole material right would be key and landed on improving the formulation of their existing FuelCell compound to ensure high energy return and speed.
All in all, they analyzed five full rounds of FuelCell 5280 prototypes with the help of Olympian Jenny Simpson, who put the prototypes through extensive testing and data capture. Much of this testing involved Simpson running sets of strides on a treadmill while high-speed cameras captured every angle of her feet. The team asked her endless questions and poured over the analytics: the angle at which her foot hit the ground, what it looked like at take-off, the path it traveled through the air. The model was also put through the rigors of testing and data capture with eight additional Team NB athletes and wear-tested by 20 more on the team.
The Result
The final test came at the 2018 New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, which would serve as a proving ground for the breakthrough model. Jenny Simpson wore the 5280 to a 4:18 victory, and on the men's side, NB athlete Jake Wightman took the new shoes to an unexpected win in 3:53. Not only did the FuelCell 5280 perform, but it proved to be the winning shoe of the day.
When asked about her win at the race, Simpson was quick to point out that it was also a win for the Innovation Team. "It means a lot to me that I was able to take our team's incredible craftsmanship onto the top of the podium," she said, "I'm so grateful to New Balance for their faith in me with such an important innovation project."
The Specs
The FuelCell 5280 is a racing flat optimized for the mile race. Samples come in at 5.3 oz for a men's size 9.5. It will be available September 2019.
Upper
- Extremely lightweight Hypoknit upper
- Engineered zonal properties that allow stretch, flexibility, and support to be optimized in target areas
Plate
- Multidirectional carbon plate
- Designed to flex at initial contact and then stiffen for propulsion at toe-off
Midsole
- Highest rebound FuelCell compound
- Midsole shape optimized for a quick and smooth transition from initial contact to toe-off
Outsole
- Tacky EVA injected with Dynaride rubber
- Lug configuration optimized to create the best traction at toe-off
The Inspiration
With the proven success of the FuelCell 5280, the New Balance Innovation team felt inspired. Sure, top-level athletes like Simpson and Wightman needed a shoe like the 5280 that could turn out a quick mile. But what about everyone else: the runner looking to set a new 10K PR or run a fast half marathon? What about the athlete searching for a light and fast training shoe? The design team knew that the technology developed for the 5280 could help these runners, too, and set out to create another shoe in the FuelCell line-up, designed specifically for speedy everyday training: the FuelCell Rebel.