Hoka Mach 6 vs New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5:
Which to Choose

On paper these two are close cousins — both neutral, both plateless, both tuned for the same uptempo paces and weighing within about 10 grams of each other (the Mach 6 near 210g, the Rebel v5 near 220g), so neither will feel heavy or sluggish. The clearest difference is underfoot. The Mach 6 carries more foam, stacking 37mm heel / 32mm forefoot on a 5mm drop, while the Rebel v5 sits lower at 33mm / 27mm on a 6mm drop. But material matters more than millimeters: the Mach 6 uses a supercritical EVA/TPU midsole that feels firmer, flatter, and more connected to the ground — protective for long efforts but businesslike at easy pace — whereas the Rebel v5's PEBA-blend FuelCell foam feels softer and springier, with a livelier bounce that's reflected in its higher responsiveness rating. That bounce is also why the Rebel can feel slightly less planted at very slow jogging paces; both shoes are happiest moving, but the firmer Mach 6 feels a touch more stable and composed when you dial the pace back. Use case splits accordingly: the Mach 6's deeper, firmer platform stretches comfortably from 10K through the half and all the way to the marathon, with the half its sweet spot, while the lower, snappier Rebel v5 is sharpest at 5K through the half, with the 10K and shorter tempo work its true home. Both breathe well through engineered mesh and neither offers added pronation support.