Latest news with #SCElitev4
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
I ran 40 miles in the New Balance SC Elite v5 carbon plate racing shoe — here's my verdict
With most of the best carbon plate running shoes, brands tend to make incremental updates with each new version to fine-tune their performance. Not so with New Balance, who make sweeping changes every time they update their flagship racing shoe, once known as the RC Elite and now as the SC Elite. The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5, or SC Elite v5, is a lighter, narrower and faster shoe than the New Balance SC Elite v4, which makes it a better racer for me. However, the SC Elite v4 drew fans for being a more stable and comfortable carbon shoe than most, and if you loved it, then the SC Elite v5 might not be the racing shoe for you. In my New Balance SC Elite v5 review, I'll explain how it differs from the previous model and compare it with top racers on the market, like the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 and Nike Alphafly 3. The New Balance SC Elite v5 will be available from 7 August 2025 and costs $250 in the U.S. and £260 in the U.K., the same price as the SC Elite v4. Its U.S. price is about par for a carbon plate racing shoe, but in the U.K., it's a little pricier than most. The New Balance SC Elite v5 was used by elites at the London Marathon 2025 in the same white and red colorway I tested, which is likely to be the design available at launch in August. It's a lighter shoe than its predecessor, with the SC Elite v5 weighing 7.4oz in my US men's size 9.5 compared to 8.6oz for the SC Elite v4. It's the lightest version of the RC Elite/ SC Elite yet. The SC Elite v5 has a stack height of 40mm at the heel, which drops to 32mm at the forefoot for an 8mm offset. That's double the offset of the SC Elite v4, which had a 4mm drop; this, plus the fact that the SC Elite v5 is narrower, largely accounts for the drop in weight. I found that the shoe fit me well in my normal running shoe size, but I have a narrow foot, and if you loved the wider design of the SC Elite v4, you might find the new shoe a little cramped around the toes. New Balance usually offers wide-fit versions of its racing shoes, though, so that should be the case with the SC Elite v5 when it launches. The SC Elite v5 has a thin mesh upper designed to be as light as possible while still holding the foot securely for fast running. An important update is the reshaped heel collar, which has a little more padding and holds the back of the foot better. I was one of many runners who found the heel on the SC Elite v4 could rub and cause blisters on longer runs, but this isn't a problem for me with the SC Elite v5. The SC Elite v5 has a midsole made from New Balance's FuelCell foam. However, New Balance calls several different foams "FuelCell," which is unhelpful. In this case, it's a 100% PEBA foam, the bounciest, lightest and best material in New Balance's range. Running through this midsole is a scooped carbon plate, which is stiffer in the forefoot than the plate on the SC Elite v4 to create a more propulsive feeling when you spring off your toes. As I've mentioned, the midsole is narrower than the SC Elite v4, with New Balance aiming for a nimbler, more aggressive ride at the cost of the stability offered by the SC Elite v4. A thin layer of rubber covers the forefoot of the SC Elite v5's outsole, along with two strips of rubber at the heel. A cutout in the midfoot reduces weight and shows off the Energy Arc carbon plate in the midsole. There are shallow triangular lugs on the forefoot to improve its grip, and I've had no concerns about its traction on roads and the track. I've tested every model of the RC Elite/ SC Elite to date, and I've generally liked the odd-numbered shoes most. That's because New Balance has alternated its approach to its flagship racer with each generation — the RC Elite v1, SC Elite v3 and SC Elite v5 all focused on being light and nimble, while the RC Elite v2 and SC Elite v4 were wider racers that seemed to prioritize comfort and bounce. I prefer a lighter, more aggressive racing shoe myself, and so I love the updates made here. The SC Elite v5 is firmer and has a faster transition from heel to toe with a more propulsive feel than the SC Elite v4. I've used it for a variety of hard runs, including 400m and 800m interval sessions and a tough tempo workout, and find it easier to run fast and maintain that speed in the shoe compared with the SC Elite v4. It's almost a combination of the SC Elite v4 and New Balance SC Pacer v2, which is the lower-stack racing shoe in the range, and the SC Elite v5 is actually lighter than the Pacer v2. However, the way New Balance seesaws with its super-shoe design might be off-putting to some, because if you loved the width, stability and bounce of the SC Elite v4, you'd be better off finding a deal on that shoe or looking elsewhere than going for the SC Elite v5. The design is also now more similar to racers from other brands — light, narrow shoes with an aggressive forefoot rocker — whereas the SC Elite v4 stood out as one of the more accommodating and comfortable super-shoes available, which made it appeal to a broader range of runners. If the New Balance SC Elite v5 were the best racing shoes available, this wouldn't matter, but for me, there are faster options with a similar profile, like the Puma Fast-R 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, so the New Balance risks getting lost in the crowd. The SC Elite v5 is certainly a very good racing shoe, and I rate it as the best New Balance has ever made. I don't doubt it can help propel you to PRs pretty much as well as any shoe available, but it's not my top option overall. I'd start by looking at the Puma Fast-R 3 or Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris — or wait for the upcoming Asics Metaspeed Tokyo series to launch. Those shoes are lighter and, for me, faster than the SC Elite v5, though personal taste will be a factor here. Despite being a less impressive racer in my opinion, the SC Elite v4 might actually have had more going for it because it was something a little different from most carbon shoes, and worked well for heavier runners and those who wanted a more stable ride, especially for marathons. If you want a bouncier, more accommodating carbon shoe to replace the Elite v4, the Diadora Gara Carbon 2 is a good option, or the Nike Alphafly 3. The New Balance SC Elite v5 will not let you down on race day and it performed well in every run I did in it, but in a very competitive carbon plate running shoe market, it doesn't quite do enough to stand out as a must-buy.
Telegraph
05-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 review: is this super shoe the best choice for a marathon?
This article contains affiliate links. The products or services listed have been selected independently by journalists after hands-on testing or sourcing expert opinions. We may earn a commission when you click a link, buy a product or subscribe to a service. Our rating: 9/10 We like: The impressive energy returns The cushioning which reduces injury The smooth ride We don't like: The stone-collecting midsole voids The heaviness The cheap, thin laces which are fiddly to tie £260 Buy now Price at New Balance What is the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4? The SC Elite v4 is New Balance's first big entry into the 'super shoe' or carbon-plated market. When Nike fired the gun on the carbon running shoe era in 2017, it was widely hailed as the biggest breakthrough in distance-running tech for decades. As well as carbon, super shoes also usually have the super-bouncy PEBA (polyether block amide) foam, which offers good energy return. But while some experts continue to praise these innovations, others have questioned whether they actually offer anything of worth to the average runner, particularly given that these sorts of shoes usually cost up to £100 more than other running shoes. I wanted to take a deep dive into all this and find out if the extra cost is justified for everyday athletes. New Balance seemed my best way in because its Elite series has already received rightful plaudits and the v4 has promised to take it to new heights. It's already caused a fuss among reviewers, so it felt like time to take a long look at the New Balance carbon plate racing shoe. How we test running shoes for men For the last four years, I've tested dozens of brands and models in the hunt for the best running shoes for men. I wanted to test the New Balance shoes on the main five metrics that every runner would want: comfort, bounce and shock absorption, responsiveness, stability and durability. This means I tested them on everything from the big details (cushioning and support) to smaller details like lace position. As the author of The Runner's Code and Running: Cheaper Than Therapy, I've been obsessed with running shoes for as long as I can remember. I'm also running my fourth marathon this year, making me a good candidate to try out this year's running shoes and test whether these New Balance super shoes are suitable for long distance. I've spent the winter months running on every surface and in all conditions in these shoes, discovering how they respond to absolutely anything a runner might put them through. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more about Telegraph Recommended reviews. Comfort: 10/10 While they look comfortable, appearances can be deceiving with running shoes, so I was very keen to see what they would feel like in reality. The moment I slipped these on, I was thrilled with how comfortable and plush they were. With their soft cushioning, they're as heartening to wear as a pair of slippers. The soles of my feet felt supported and comforted by the plush but firm base, and the top of my feet felt comfortable against the thin upper mesh. This is certainly an improvement on the brand's previous models and sets a decent bar for its rivals. Made of Fantomfit air mesh (a lightweight and technical New Balance created upper), the upper did take a bit of fiddling to get it perfectly positioned but once I got it there it stayed put. To test how comfortable the shoes are in different contexts, I ran in all weathers, including torrential rain, and took them on the sort of long outings that separate the wheat from the chaff comfort wise. The shoes stayed as snug throughout. Bounce and shock absorption: 10/10 I was pleasantly surprised by the shoes' landing pads, which offer a very soft touchdown. I could literally feel the impact disperse around the shoe, making each stride a much nicer experience for my legs. They've got a fairly wide base and this was undoubtedly a big factor in the way they caressed the ground. The middle of the shoes in particular really absorb the shock and makes them so buoyant that they almost felt hilariously springy at first. I really felt the benefit of this FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 midsole technology in the days after long runs. I felt almost none of the fatigue and soreness in my legs that usually rear their ugly heads in the 36 hours after a long outing. For the first time in a while, I woke up in the morning after a long run, and I felt ready to get the shoes back on and head back out for another run. Ground feel and responsiveness: 9/10 As we've seen, these New Balance FuelCell SuperComp trainers have a slender carbon fibre plate, which means the lightweight feel of these shoes doesn't come at the price of poor energy return. In fact, these give more energy return than I could ever imagine was possible. They are such effortless shoes to run in that it almost felt like I was cheating as I flew down the road. With the midsole's PEBA, a soft, super responsive foam, and the carbon fibre plate each working in tandem, I could actually feel the shoes compress and spring back into shape. I sensed that each stride was that bit longer than usual, which is a feature that could offer a significant advantage on race days. Once I started wearing these, my average finish time in my Saturday 18-milers was 20 minutes faster. Stability: 9/10 One of the first things I noticed in these shoes was how tall and balanced I felt in them. They gave me a feeling of invincibility that I think would be a particularly welcome feature for nervous runners. Once I set off, I found they did take a little bit of getting used to because the Energy Arc style includes strategic midsole voids, which meant my feet accidentally rocked to the side in my first few miles of testing. But once I'd gotten used to that feature, these shoes felt more stable than any I've ever run in before. Even as I ran deliberately erratically, switching suddenly from pace to pace, surface to surface and from flat to inclination, these shoes gave me the sort of stability that a Himalayan yogi would envy. Durability: 8/10 Thanks to my marathon training I've put these shoes through hundreds of miles of winter training. I kept a regular eye on the hardness and depth of the outsoles, to watch for wear. Although the rubber is quite soft, it wore well and these shoes should see you through hundreds of miles. I also checked the toe box and heel padding, because when either of those parts of a shoe start to wear down, shoes can become very uncomfortable and cause blisters. Neither area showed much sign of wear, which was particularly remarkable in the toebox, because breathability usually comes at the price of a lack of durability. Technical specifications Here's how the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 up against a similar competitor, Nike Zoom Vaporfly 3. As you can see from the comparisons, both are similar in price, but the Nikes are lighter and cheaper, with a greater drop. Telegraph verdict: 9/10 Long-distance runners who are happy to invest a bit extra in return for a luxurious, easy ride should certainly consider buying these shoes. I'll definitely be using these for my forthcoming marathon. Overall, I found that some of the hype around super shoes is justified – these shaved significant minutes off my finish times on long outings. Runners who are very focused on shorter runs might like to look elsewhere. If you prefer your shoes to be on the lighter side, you should also give these a swerve. They perform equally well in heat and cold, but I found that they perform particularly well in the wet, so you might like to invest in these by the time autumn comes our way. In short: these are the best running shoes I've ever tested. FAQs Who is the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 best suited to? Runners who want to try out carbon shoes for the first time. How does the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 compare to other super shoes? This model offers greater energy return than rival models. Is the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 suitable for wide feet? Yes, they have a wider platform than most models.
