FuelCell Rebel 4 vs Spectur 2

The FuelCell Rebel v4 is New Balance at its most fun: a lightweight, plateless tempo shoe built to make quick running feel easy. At 212g it is properly light, and there is no carbon plate here, so the pop comes straight from a soft, springy FuelCell midsole rather than a stiff propulsion board. That makes it one of the more versatile speed shoes going. You can rip a session in it, float through a steady long run, then use it as a do-everything daily trainer the next morning. It sits in that sweet spot between a cushioned daily and a race shoe, and it does it for a fair RRP. If you want a single pair to cover most of your mileage without buying a rotation, this is a strong pick. The newer Rebel v5 has since arrived, so the v4 is often the smarter buy on price. Just do not expect the locked-in, aggressive feel of a plated racer. This one is about bounce and freedom, not rigidity.

The Salomon Spectur 2 is the brand's road running shoe for runners who spend most of their week on tarmac but want that unmistakable Salomon security underfoot. It is a cushioned, do-most-things trainer rather than a stripped-back racer. At 250g it is on the heavier side for a shoe Salomon files under tempo, so treat it as a versatile daily training shoe that can lift to a steady effort rather than a featherweight speed tool. What you get for that weight is a planted, confident ride and a grippy outsole that shrugs off wet British pavements and the odd gravel path. The 8mm drop keeps you connected to the road. At £170 RRP it sits at the premium end, and there is no carbon plate here, so you are paying for build and grip rather than propulsion. We rate it as a reassuring everyday miles shoe for road runners who value durability and stability over snap. If you want a lighter Salomon road option, the Aero Glide 4 is the softer, bouncier stablemate.