New Balance FuelCell Prism Shoe Review
Another Gem in the FuelCell Line
Likes
- Comfortable cushioning
- Springy ride
- Lightweight stability
- Great price
Dislikes
- Awkward tongue
- Slightly restrictive toe box
What's New
The New Balance Prism features the brand's trademark FuelCell midsole to deliver a lightweight and responsive ride that runners will appreciate during their training runs. A medial post adds seamless stability and guides runners forward while reducing overpronation. On the outsole, N-Durance rubber grips the road and provides durability. To round out the package, a lightweight mesh upper offers lightweight breathability that also delivers on comfort.
The Bottom Line
Overall, our testers thought that New Balance did a great job with the FuelCell Prism. These shoes feature a solid combination of comfort and performance features, making them versatile enough to tackle a variety of runs and paces. Our testers were more than pleased with this everyday training shoe and enjoyed its nearly unnoticeable lightweight stability. At a price point that will not break the bank, the FuelCell Prism is an accessible shoe that will not disappoint both beginners and long-time runners alike.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium to low | Height: Medium to low | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to low | |
| Heel Width | Medium to narrow | |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 8.4 oz (size 9 ) | Women's: 7.1 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 28 mm (Heel), 22 mm (Forefoot) | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Minimum Stability | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
The FuelCell midsole delivered a soft and cushioned feel without being overly squishy. This shoe is firm enough to perform at faster paces but forgiving enough to feel comfortable for long-distance training runs at slower speeds.
Kaitlin: "The Prism's ride does not have a soft, squishy feel, but more of a springy rebound underfoot. Each push-off feels easy and propulsive. The step-in feel is not as impressive as the ride."
Justin: "The New Balance Prism feels comfortable without being mushy soft. I found it enjoyable at both slow and fast paces. I felt it was a little better for daily training than the new Balance Rebel (a favourite of mine)."
Ride/Energy Return i
The Prism's midsole delivers the soft and responsive ride that runners have come to love from the FuelCell line. Offering a similar smoothness to that of a rockered shoe, the Prism helps propel runners forward stride after stride. Although not as bouncy as a "super shoe," our testers were impressed with the Prism's ride and thought the energy return was fantastic for a training shoe.
Kaitlin: "I feel launched into each step, with no energy wasted touching down. The construction of the shoe also feels like I'm guided forward, with a rocker-type feel."
Justin: "There is definitely some energy return with the Prism. I wouldn't consider it to have a bouncy feel like so many of the 'super' shoes out there. However, compared to a standard trainer, I feel like it gave me the energy I needed when picking up the pace."
Underfoot Protection i
Our testers found that the Prism provided ample underfoot protection, making it a great shoe for a variety of distances. The cushioning successfully absorbs the impact of running and keeps the wearer comfortable throughout their run. However, those who enjoy a more maximal shoe may desire a little more cushioning.
Kaitlin: "The midsole in the forefoot has great rebound, not feeling flat or compressed, and absorbing a lot of the impact. The bounciness of the ride is not sloppy; it's very linear, preventing ankle or hip soreness from too much extraneous movement."
Erik: "No issues with the protection underfoot. The midsole provided all I need for a longer run."
Underfoot Flexibility i
The FuelCell Prism delivered adequate flexibility for our team to excel at faster paces without sacrificing stability. With its balance of flexibility and stability, this shoe consistently provides a smooth ride that runners will love.
Kaitlin: "The midsole feels like one continuous piece with a slight flex on every landing. There aren't any breaks that would hinder your forward movement. It almost feels like the shoe is built on a curve, rocking your foot forward."
Erik: "The FuelCell midsole provided a good amount of flexibility which made the shoe feel great on short, fast segments."
Upper Feel i
The engineered mesh upper was comfortable and supportive enough to keep our team running confidently. Our testers found the Prism's upper to be both lightweight and breathable, though they did experience some slight issues with the tongue and toe box. Regardless, wearers can expect a comfortable run whenever they lace up the FuelCell Prism.
Justin: "First, before I dig into this too much, I do think the upper is good; it just isn't great. The tongue doesn't look or feel like it belongs on the shoe. For me, it didn't cause any significant issues, but I definitely noticed it. Also, I thought the toebox was a little more restrictive than I would like."
Erik: "The engineered mesh upper feels very minimal but has enough support for the long run. I didn't feel any hot spots or areas of discomfort. While not the most supportive upper out there, it stays out of the way and allows the shoe to perform."
Individual Thoughts
I love this shoe. For me, The New Balance FuelCell Prism is my favourite shoe of the year and gave me some hope for 2021. The underfoot feel is springy and propulsive while also feeling protective. The kilometres feel a little bit easier in the FC Prism. I would have given it a perfect 10, but it's not quite as accommodating in the forefoot as I would like. It's possible I could fix that by going up a half size larger. I feel like if you are between sizes, go with the bigger one. I look forward to future iterations of this shoe, and I feel like I found a keeper in my rotation.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The FuellCell Prism is a solid stability trainer. If that's what you are looking for, I'd say the Prism is worth trying. It isn't a "super shoe," in my opinion, but it is good in all the places it needs to be. There are a few oddities here and there (the tongue construction being one of them). However, it rides comfortably and appears to be holding up well. The Prism will definitely be part of my rotation when I need a touch of stability.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The FuelCell Prism is a well-fitting and lightweight (about 8.5 oz) minimum support shoe. Finally, we have a stability shoe that feels quick, flexible, and provides just enough support for the long run. At the same time, I was able to take this shoe out for some shorter, quicker runs and have a responsive experience. Having run in other FuelCell models (Propel, Rebel, RC Elite), this Prism was the firmest of the bunch but still provided a good amount of cushioning for a support shoe.