adidas Adizero Evo SL vs New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

adidas Adizero Evo SL
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Feb 13, 2026 07:14 PM

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Adidas.com

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Feb 13, 2026 04:56 PM

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Amazon.com
  1. Recommended in 3 articles:
  2. Running Shoes
  3. Women
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  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Women

Our Verdict

adidas Adizero Evo SL

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5

The adidas Adizero Evo SL and New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 are two very popular trainers, but they play different roles in a runner's rotation. The adidas is more at home when you pick up the pace, with a lighter build and a premium Lightstrike Pro midsole that absorbs and returns energy very effectively, making it feel more efficient and lively for uptempo runs and steady efforts with surges. The New Balance is the more predictable daily trainer, with a calmer, more stable platform that stays comfortable at easy paces and works especially well for shorter, no-fuss sessions. A practical advantage for the New Balance is that it's available in a wide version, making it a better fit for runners who need extra room.

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Variants

  • Adizero Evo SL (Carbon/Lucid Red/Solar Slime - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Cloud White/Core Black/Cloud White - (Men - US 9))
  • FuelCell Rebel v5 (Angora/Earth Shadow/Sea Salt - (Men - US 9))
  • FuelCell Rebel v5 (Angora/Earth Shadow/Sea Salt - (Women - US 7))

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

7.7
6.8

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

8.4
6.7

Heel Energy Return 
 

8.1
5.2

Plate 
 

Plastic Shank
None

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

30.2 mm
29.2 mm

Heel Stack Height 
 

36.9 mm
36.2 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

7.5
7.3

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

220.0 g (7.76 oz)
227.3 g (8.02 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

36.9 mm
36.2 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

30.2 mm
29.2 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.7 mm
7.0 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.0 mm
6.0 mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
adidas Adizero Evo SL 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

84 mm (3.3")
94 mm (3.7")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

64 mm (2.5")
88 mm (3.5")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

114 mm (4.5")
115 mm (4.5")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.27
2.60

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.77
3.94
Show Text 

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
adidas Adizero Evo SL 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

276 mm (10.8")
275 mm (10.8")

Internal Heel Width 
 

61 mm (2.4")
64 mm (2.5")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
94 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

7.6
8.9

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

-2.2 mm (-0.085")
3.1 mm (0.120")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-6.4 mm (-0.253")
-2.6 mm (-0.104")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

8.5
6.3

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-2.1 mm (-0.081")
-4.5 mm (-0.176")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

8.5
9.8

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-2.6 mm (-0.103")
2.2 mm (0.085")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Toe Clearance Photo

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Semi-gusseted

Plate 
 

Plastic Shank
None
Show Text 
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

8.1
5.2

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

81.4%
72.1%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

8.4
6.7

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

83.3%
75.2%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

8.0
7.5

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.46 J
3.75 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

10.03 J
9.13 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

17.07 J
14.65 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

8.1
7.0

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

5.16 J
4.55 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.87 J
7.56 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.68 J
10.73 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.0
6.2

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

47.8 N/mm
53.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

98.2 N/mm
129.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

234.4 N/mm
295.6 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.0
8.5

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

96.4 N/mm
116.7 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

209.8 N/mm
246.5 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

459.6 N/mm
503.0 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

7.6
6.7

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

8.31 J
7.34 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

8.17 J
7.14 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

8.07 J
7.01 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

7.99 J
6.91 J
Show Text 

adidas Adizero Evo SL

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5

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