New Balance FuelCell Propel v2
Versatile Cushioning at an Affordable Price
Likes
- Seamless upper
- Secure fit
- Comfortable arch
- Value price point
Dislikes
- Low-volume toe box
- Thin tongue
- Could use more cushioning
What's New
Applying customer feedback on the original New Balance Propel, the Propel v2 gets redesigned from the ground up. The shoe's FuelCell midsole delivers a cushioned running experience with a responsive and smooth ride. Meanwhile, the upper saw changes that further enhance the shoe's fit and breathability while giving it a sleek new look. New Balance finished off the Propel v2 with an N-Durance rubber outsole for long-lasting durability.
The Bottom Line
The New Balance Propel v2 is an excellent shoe for both beginners and experienced runners looking for something durable at a value price point. While our testers generally loved the shoe for its bouncy responsiveness and smooth ride, they did notice that it felt a little flat at slower paces. If you are a runner seeking a daily trainer that is relatively lightweight and responsive, particularly for tempo work, the New Balance Propel v2 is a solid option that won't break the bank.
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 | Height: Medium (Women's: Medium to low) | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium | |
| Heel Width | Mens: Medium | Women's: Medium to narrow | |
| Arch Height | Medium to high |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.3 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.1 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 27 mm (Heel), 21 mm (Forefoot) | 6 mm Heel-Toe Offset | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
While our testers found the Propel v2's underfoot comfortable, they did wish there was a bit more FuelCell cushioning. With its current design, the lack of stack height gave the shoe a firmer feel.
Kaitlin: "The underfoot felt semi-firm to me. While landing never felt hard, the cushioning was just enough to keep me comfortable; it certainly did not add anything to the experience."
Tyler: "The Propel v2 is by no means a soft shoe, but its FuelCell cushioning does feel reasonably firm. My only wish is that this shoe had a few extra millimetres of it underfoot."
Ride/Energy Return i
While the Propel v2 felt reasonably responsive at faster paces, our team found that the energy return was somewhat lacking on slower runs.
Kaitlin: "This shoe felt more responsive at faster paces than slower paces. I am typically somewhere around a 9 to 10-minute mile pace, and I could not feel a lot of the rebound."
Tyler: "Although the Propel v2 is not as bouncy as a race shoe, I enjoyed the FuelCell foam's responsiveness. Thanks to the energy return, this shoe made my long runs at around a 7:30 pace (per mile) feel more effortless. This is what some of the more premium models like the Rebel were supposed to feel like. I thought the Propel was smoother and performed better than most other shoes at higher price points."
Underfoot Protection i
The New Balance Propel v2 offers cushioning with a decent amount of protection. However, our testers noticed that this shoe provided more ground feel than they were expecting, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on preference.
Kaitlin: "I felt comfortable and protected in this shoe. It had enough cushioning to dampen the feel of the road but was firm enough to keep me feeling grounded with no extra movement in the foot."
Tyler: "Runners looking to feel disconnected from the ground will not like this shoe. Despite having enough cushioning to offer decent protection, I could still feel the impact of running on harder surfaces. While I enjoyed it, it may not work as well for runners who need extra protection."
Underfoot Flexibility i
New Balance designed the Propel v2 with features to optimise the smoothness of its ride. When our testers tried it out, they found that New Balance succeeded, as the shoe felt quite smooth underfoot.
Kaitlin: "The ride feels very smooth, without any structure issue or limitation. From landing to take-off, it has a nice, fluid feel."
Tyler: "The Propel v2 is a flexible shoe. I believe that this mainly has to do with the thickness of the midsole. Thanks to the smooth ride, this is a shoe that I unconsciously tend to gravitate to for my daily workouts."
Upper Feel i
The Propel v2's upper provides a secure fit while providing plenty of room in the forefoot. While our testers found the fit to be great for people who may need extra width in the forefoot, they thought the lower volume in the midfoot and heel might turn some runners away.
Kaitlin: "The upper feels snug and offers a form-fitting contour without a lot of give. It hugs further back in the arch and wraps the ankle nicely for a secure fit. I feel like it would still work for someone with a wider forefoot or bunion (like myself), but it is very low volume. If you have a higher instep or thicker toes, it might feel a little too snug."
Tyler: "The weirdest part of the shoe for me is the upper. It felt lower volume in the midfoot and tighter in the heel, while the toe box felt wide (almost sloppily). After several runs, though, I have played with the lacing and gotten a secure lockdown that feels great. My only real complaint is that the tongue could use more padding, and I wish it were a bit longer."
Individual Thoughts
New Balance did a great job with the Propel v2. It is responsive, feels lighter than the stats show, and offers an extremely smooth running experience. In terms of responsiveness, the Propel v2 outperforms other shoes at a higher price point. It made my long runs feel easy and offered me enough protection that I didn't have to worry too much about what surface was underfoot.
Two things would have made this shoe better: The first being a little more cushioning underfoot for added protection, and second, a tongue that isn't overly stiff. When putting on these shoes, the first thing I noticed was that the tongue forced me to wear taller socks to prevent it from cutting into my ankle while running. Overall, I think this will be an excellent option for people looking for a responsive shoe. Given its low price point, the Propel v2 is definitely worth checking out.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The New Balance Propel v2 is a good everyday shoe, with features like a seamless upper and standard cushioning to keep you comfortable. Additionally, the midsole and structure protect your feet and joints. For me, I am carrying some post-knee injury/post-quarantine weight and need just a little more cushion for the pushing. If this shoe had the New Balance Prism's midsole, I would love it, but it fell flat when I was running at my slower pace. The low-volume forefoot kept me from running higher mileage in these shoes, so I kept it under 10 kilometres and was fine, but my toenails would still feel a little tender. I'd recommend this shoe for someone who likes to connect with the road and prefers a semi-firm feeling shoe.