Hoka Mach vs New Balance Rebel

If you’re looking for a lightweight tempo or daily trainer, your decision might now be between two neutral models: NB Rebel V5 vs Hoka Mach 6. Lucky for you, I’ve been testing out these shoes for over a decade and love to share my opinions and details about the shoes.

Each year, our team tests out new models from both brands and put in enough miles to have solid feedback on feel, fit and whether we’ll be shelling out money for another pair.

Here we hope to help breakdown the differences and help you find the right option for running. While these two shoes are similar, they absolutely have some things that might make you lean more towards one over the other. Right now, we’re just looking at the latest model of both shoes, there might be some differences if comparing older versions.

HOKA Mach 6 Vs New Balance Rebel V5 Overview

In the case of the NB Rebel and HOKA Mach, two popular offerings from the renowned running shoe brands, there are distinct variations that cater to different running styles and preferences. Exploring these differences will help you make an informed decision based for your needs.

The New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 solves a lot of those issues and cements its place as a very capable and fun lightweight trainer and tempo shoe.. It gives you more feeling of the ground underfoot and feels a little snappier for tempo style workouts.

Meanwhile the Mach 6 has shifted a bit from the 5 and now does seem to prioritizing more cushion.

On the other hand, the Mach is 100% still a lightweight faster shoe…but more when compared head to head with other Hoka running shoes. Against the Rebel it can feel like you’re losing a little of the energy return in the softness. Making this a shoe that more easily transitions from a daily trainer with some serious miles to a tempo shoe.

Rebel Vs Mach Key Differences

I will go through all of this in more detail, but for a very quick overview some key differences:

• Rebel is a more responsive shoe
• Mach has 7mm higher stack height for more cushion
• Mach feels softer underfoot
• Rebel is lighter shoe
• Rebel feels like the wider fit of the two
• Rebel has a little more feeling of support/stability

Hoka One One Mach 6 Review

When you’re ready to turn on the speed, the Mach is your HOKA of choice. It’s not a carbon plate shoe, instead it’s a super lightweight running shoe designed to spring off the ground and help you find that quick turnover.

This shoe is best for runners who are looking for a fast and responsive shoe to take on long-distance races or interval training. BUT to be clear it’s also a stellar daily trainer, NOT a carbon plate bouncy shoe.

Of these two shoes, runners who want more cushion are going to prefer the Mach. Slightly heavier runners or those farther back in the pack, are also going to appreciate the feel of this shoe. It’s still got speed, but may simply feel better under foot longer.

The Mach features a lightweight foam midsole that provides a quick, lively feel, while the meta-rocker design helps to encourage a more natural gait.

While many shoes promote something like a meta-rocker to help propel you from heel to forefoot, I will say I did actually notice it a bit in the Mach. That’s super unusual, normally I’m wondering what on Earth they mean.

Additionally, though this shoe is lighter and has a lower stack height, the difference in the PROFLY+ foam is noticeable. The Mach 6 feels like a really great cushion.

Fit

These feel like they might be a bit more narrow than the Clifton and yet still not narrow like a Nike. Putting them on you can also feel immediately how light they are and how thin the upper is for breathability.

You won’t find a padded tongue here, but I had no issues with the thin tongue. I felt just fine on the foot.

While they’re also listed as a neutral shoe, I was thrilled to see my foot didn’t drop in one bit when I put them on which is common in other shoes. Another example of how their shoes have some natural support due to the bigger platform.

• True to size
• Very similar to Clifton,lower cushion
• Good room in the toebox

Specifications

I wasn’t a fan of the first models, but the Mach 6 has a steady place in my rotation. I’m probably running in it every few weeks, which says a lot for someone testing new shoes weekly!! I might love the Mach 5 a tad more, but probably just because I’ve used it more.

Mach 6

• Stack Height: 37mm
• Heel Drop: 5 mm drop
• Weight: 6.8 oz women’s, 8.2 oz men’s
• Available in 9 colors
• Available in Wide in some colors
• $140
• Read my full HOKA Mach 6 review
• See all HOKA Mach models (also includes a Ironman version)

New Balance FuelCell Rebel V5 Review

All right now, let’s look at the competitor. The Rebel is also a lightweight runner, but I think will be a favorite of even more runners looking for a speed workout shoe.

The responsiveness at faster paces kicks in as you put down more force into the shoe, up until a point. Much like the Rebel v4, the softness of v5 makes faster intervals more of a chore than they already are.
The additional 5 millimeters of PEBA Blend FuelCell Foam adds a little more protection from the ground over longer distances. This version feels less flexible in the forefoot than version 4, likely due to the aforementioned added foam and the big single piece of outsole rubber under the forefoot.

While the ability to tear through fast track workouts may be a thing of the past for the Rebel, it is still an excellent non-plated lightweight daily trainer, tempo shoe, and affordable racing shoe for anything from the 5K to the half marathon.

Fit

The Fantomfit upper is less pliable than I remembered in version 4. When walking, I could feel the fabric flexing on top of my toes. That sensation went away after the first 2 runs, so you may also experience a short break in period for the upper.

The heel is also much improved in the comfort category. The heel counter cradled my heel better, was much more padded, and the materials in the heel didn’t rub a hole in any expensive pairs of socks like its predecessor.

And the tongue, much can be said about the improvement of the tongue on version 5, but I’ll keep it short and say New Balance took the afterthought of a tongue from the Rebel v4 and upgraded it with something light years better.

Specifications

If you’ve run in previous models, they really have made a lot of updates. Including increasing the stack height and changing to using PEBA/EVA midsole for a more plush feel but with some pop.

NB Rebel V5

• Weight: 6.3 oz Women’s, 7.9 oz Men’s
• Stack Height:  35mm
• Heel Drop: 6mm
• Available in 8 Colors
• Available in Wide
• Read our full NB Rebel V5 review here >>
• Available on NewBalance.com for $139

Hoka Mach vs NB Rebel

Trying to decide between these two models? There are a a few big ways in which they are different, so it’s going to depend on what you prefer in a shoe.

Hopefully the initial details above gave you some things to think about with these road shoes. But for a straight side by side comparison of Mach vs Rebel, here’s what I’ve found over testing many models.

• Both are a lightweight neutral running shoe.
• Mach is going to feel like a more cushioned shoe because it has 3mm more of cushioning (still not plush like the HOKA Bondi).
• Rebel can feel like a slightly more stable shoe, just because of the wide fit and less cushion. Gives you more feeling of really pawing the ground in a hard run.
• Rebel is a lighter shoe than the Mach
  
• Having run in both, I like both, but definitely use the Mach a lot on daily runs where I might want to throw in some speed.
• Mach is going to be great for speed work to daily runs, for those in the middle or back of the pack.
• Rebel is going to be that speed workout shoe for those pushing beyond the middle or even a lightweight racer for the 5K, 10K.

Looking for more reviews to find the best things for your run?

Here are some other requested running shoe comparisons:

• 10 Best Hoka Running Shoes – Complete breakdown of the full line
•  Best Carbon Plated Running Shoes – Updated frequently right now!
• Hoka vs On Cloud

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