New Balance FuelCell Propel v4 Review
This week we’ve put some miles into the New Balance FuelCell Propel v4 for our latest review. The New Balance Propel v4 is designed as an everyday training shoe, with a bit of extra propulsion. The midsole is made of New Balance FuelCell, which is has an initial soft feel to it and remains very bouncy and responsive, to encourage a quick cadence. In addition, there is a TPU plate enclosed within the midsole. This increases the spring and propulsion. It also makes the shoes stiffer, which helps guide the foot to a good toe off. Although the New Balance Propel v4 is a neutral shoe, the stiffness that the TPU plate supplies will naturally help reduce some pronation. In my opinion, they could be used by a mild pronator for some of their quicker runs.
The stack height is 31mm in the heel and 25mm in the forefoot. The 6mm heel to forefoot drop and the curved shape of the midsole promotes a more midfoot landing, compared with the higher traditional drop of some of New Balance’s running shoes.
The upper is a seamless construction made of an engineered synthetic mesh. It fits very snuggly around the foot giving the shoes a classic race day shoe feel. The padding around the heel cup provided a nice secure and comfortable fit. The tongue is lightly padded enough for you not to feel any tension from the laces. The tongue isn’t gusseted, but the laces do feed through a tab on the tongue to prevent the tongue from slipping around as you are running.
When I review New Balance shoes the size a little small and the Propel v4 is no exception. The pair that I have been running in are a UK 11.5. This is the same size as I would use in Hoka, Karhu, Altra, Scott, Walsh, Inov-8 and La Sportiva. However, I use a UK 11 in Brooks, NNormal, Scarpa, Saucony and Topo Athletic.
With regards running shoes with plates and propulsion, the more work the shoe does for you, the less work your feet and lower legs do. There is a trade off between the fitness that your feet and lower legs will gain and the amount of propulsion that the shoes provide. A plastic or TPU plate allows your toes to function more than a stiffer carbon plate. It is recommended that carbon plated shoes are only used once a week by most runners to reduce problems by your feet and lower legs not functioning as much in these shoes. Plastic or TPU plated shoes can be used more frequently. The plate in the New Balance Propel v4 is quite flexible so it does allow your feet to function. That’s why New Balance are saying that the Propel v4 can be used as a regular training, yet fast-feeling shoe.
I found that I could run at all paces in the Propel v4 during my review miles. Often shoes designed to aid propulsion are ‘difficult’ to run slowly in! I didn’t have any problems jogging along slower in the Propel v4. The plate in the midsole does give the shoe a bit of extra bounce, which is quite nice when your legs are tired and you notice the propulsion when you put some force through the shoes. You can feel the shoes springing you forward. At higher speeds the midsole feels firmer and more responsive than at slow speeds. The plate stiffens up the shoes both medially and laterally so that you are only moving forward and toeing off from under your bit toe.
The fit is on the narrower side, which is in line with a lot of the newer New Balance models, such as the 880v13. If you have a broader forefoot or like room for your foot to spread on impact, then you are likely to find the New Balance Propel v4 a little snug in the toe box.
The snug fit of the shoes meant that for me, an hour or so was the most comfortable length run, as opposed to two. They felt best on steady, or tempo runs when comfortably zipping along.
The New Balance Propel v4 weighs 300g men’s UK8. However, the spring from the shoes makes them feel much lighter when you are running in the shoes.
The New Balance Propel v4 could be a good option for standard or narrower footed runners looking for something that you can push the pace in, with a (non-carbon) plate that can actually be used for everyday training. When you bring the speed down to a jog they still feel great, but it’s the extra force that makes them react and become fun to run in.
Other Considerations
Brooks Hyperion Max: A much lighter shoe. The propulsion comes from the foam and the rocker. There is no plate in these shoes.
https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-hyperion-max-review/
Topo Specter: A broad rounded toe box gives these more room for foot function. The TPU in the midsole is a foam rather than a plate. Which encourages more foot function. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-specter-review/
Hoka Mach 5: Available in two widths. No plate but, the rocker offers a good level of propulsion. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-mach-5-review/
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