Trail

New Balance FuelCell Rebel Trail

A grippy, close-to-the-ground trail shoe for mixed running — Vibram Megagrip and real durability rather than the lowest weight.

The Rebel Trail is New Balance's do-everything off-road shoe rather than a specialist. A full-length Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5 mm lugs copes with most surfaces, and the midsole keeps you closer to the ground than a maximally cushioned trail shoe would, so you read what you are running on instead of floating over it.

It suits you if your running is mixed — some trail, some gravel, some road to get out there — and you would rather have grip and durability than the lowest number on the scale.

It is not fast and it is not a mountain-race shoe. At 303 g there is real weight on the foot, 5 mm lugs are shallow once mud gets deep, and anyone chasing a time on technical ground will want something lighter and more aggressive.