Following an injury-related DNF at my last marathon, I was ready and willing to try something different ahead of the New York City Marathon. Shoutout to Amanda for setting me up with New Balance’s latest and greatest so I can bring you a New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 review just in time for race day!
Let’s see how New Balance’s carbon-plated racer handled all five boroughs of the New York City Marathon. I mean, there’s no better place to test a racing shoe than in a World Major, right?
My first impression of the SuperComp Elite was that it LOOKS comfortable. That has never been my initial thought about any plated shoe, so right away I knew I was in store for something different.
My eyes immediately gravitated to the thick foam surrounding the arched carbon plate. A little comfort, a little speed? Don’t mind if I do! And my goodness, the SuperComp Elite was a smooth and speedy tour guide on my date with the TCS New York City Marathon.
I am always honest in my shoe reviews as I want you all to find the shoe that works best for you. I have yet to find that unicorn shoe (sounds cool, right?) where I can’t find something I’d modify, but hey, maybe this is the one!
Who Is It Good For?
Who is New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 a good fit for? Let’s break it down with some common categories:
- Wide Feet: Unlike many carbon plated shoes, we do think this one will work for wider feet. AND it’s available in wide.
- Heavier Runners: The width of the shoe adds a nice touch of stability, so they’re great for runners with wider feet or those who have ankle issues.
- Long Runs: 100% this is designed to carry you over the miles with good cushion, support and energy return
- Front of the Pack: We think this is going to appeal more to the middle of the pack runners.
To lay it out in terms of paces, the SuperComp Elite is perfect for anyone who’s looking to run a marathon in 3:40:00 or more. Anyone looking to it faster than that might have a look-see at more aggressive carbon-plated races like the Saucony Endorphin Elite or the Nike Vaporfly 3.
New Balance Fuel Cell SuperComp Elite v4 Review
I logged around 50 miles in the SuperComp Elite. This mileage included shorter speedwork sessions (4×400, 4×800) ahead of my travel, as well as a few relaxed efforts, a Central Park shakeout, and the entire New York City Marathon (including navigating out of the finishers’ area and back to my hotel…woof).
The SuperComp Elite is New Balance’s high-performance carbon-plated racing shoe, designed for long-distance runners seeking a combination of speed, responsiveness, and cushioning.
The shoe boasts an eye-catching color scheme and distinctive geometric design, as well as easy rocker shape. And the midsole is THICK, made of peba foam (more on that in a bit), layered around a thin carbon fiber plate.
And the outsole is made from a durable rubber and features the geometric pattern for additional traction. None of us want to slip and slide during a race, right?!
The toe box is generous with plenty of room to splay your toes every which way. The SuperComp Elite is available in wide, which is rare for a super shoe, so props to New Balance for remembering our wide-footed friends!
The upper is made of an airy mesh that provides just the right amount of support when combined with the traditional lacing design. The tongue is relatively thin but does feature a centered guide loop to help hold it in place. I do wish the tongue was a touch longer, as it has a tendency to slip beneath the lace line. Not a huge inconvenience, but worth calling out.
The collar does ride a bit high, so there is potential for irritation if you prefer to wear low or no-show socks. I prefer to wear quarter socks, so it was a non-issue for me, but I don’t want any of you dealing with blisters!
While it doesn’t have the bouncy feel common to other super shoes, the SuperComp Elite does offer remarkable comfort not found in its counterparts. If you’re looking for a cushioned and speedy plated race day shoe for a half-marathon and beyond, the SuperComp Elite should be your new running mate.
New Balance Fuel Cell SuperComp Elite v4 Specs
- Weight: 8.1 oz (Men), 7.2 oz (Women)
- Heel Drop: 4mm
- Stack Height: 40mm
- Available in wide
- Available in 1 colorway currently
- Available at newbalance.com for $250
The midsole consists of New Balance’s proprietary FuelCell PEBA foam wrapped around a thin carbon plate.
New Balance dubbed the combo of the carbon plate, foam, and geometric midsole design the Energy Arc, which sounds like something from a comic book movie…but is said to deliver a high amount of energy return while providing a classy ride.
Remember when I mentioned the shoes rubber outsole?
One unexpected obstacle surfaced during the race at a few of the aid station zones as there were pockets of cups, gatorade, and water blanketing the streets. The incredible volunteers were hustling to part the sea but it was SLIPPERY. The outsole and the shoe’s grip were both outstanding as I maneuvered through these areas unscathed without ever losing traction.
The SuperComp Elite has my vote of confidence in wet conditions!
SuperComp Elite v4 Fit
When you’re purchasing racing shoes for a half-marathon or longer distance, I highly recommend bumping up a half-size. Our feet tend to swell during longer races, so having a little extra room can spare your feet a bit of pain during and after (and maybe save a toenail or two).
That being said, I normally wear a size 11 but opted for an 11.5 in the SuperComp Elite. From my experience, this shoe runs true to size.
I found the fit of the SuperComp Elite to be a touch on the wider side. And the combination of the shoe’s width and sturdy upper brought an unexpected, but reassuring stability element to the fit.
Earlier, I mentioned the shoe’s generous toe box, but I want to add that I felt secure in the midfoot and upper, and locked down in the heel collar. I experienced zero issues with hotspots or my feet slipping. As someone with more narrow feet, the shoe performed brilliantly for me.
One small nitpick I have is with the laces themselves, which are rounded and super thin. I’m talking, try tying your shoe with cooked spaghetti noodles thin. However, they are an appropriate length and I didn’t run into any trouble with them coming untied.
Feel
The few sessions I had in the SuperComp Elite ahead of the NYC Marathon were fantastic. The shoe felt fast, cushioned, and responsive. After working my way back from an injury at the end of the summer, I was looking to enjoy a relaxed effort, with an option to take a little bite out of the Big Apple during the last 10K if I was feeling good.
Hands downs, this was my most comfortable experience wearing a plated super shoe in a marathon.
In races past when I’ve worn other carbon-plated super shoes (notably the Saucony Endorphin Elite and the Nike Alphafly 2) and experienced foot discomfort in the later stages of the races (mostly from mile 20 and after) where both shoes felt firm and unforgiving. The bounce and moderate comfort they displayed in the first few miles were long gone.
I only point this out because my experience with the SuperComp Elite was the exact opposite from what I just described: smooth sailing from the Start to the Finish Line.
The shoe features a subtle rocker shape that provides a soft landing and gentle forward propulsion. Whether you’re a heel striker, midfoot runner, or forefoot flyer, it delivers comfort in every stride.
The arch of the carbon plate helps create forward momentum, by giving your heel that little bit of lift.
The NYC Marathon course features a variety of challenges, including several bridges (views galore), plenty of climbing and fast descents, authentic New York City potholes, and a jaunt through Central Park. And I’m happy to say, the SuperComp Elite swiftly conquered each and every one of these challenges.
I took in the majority of the race at my endurance pace, which is around 8:20/mile and experienced ZERO foot discomfort. I surged a few times on a count of the raucous crowds (Brooklyn and Queens are my faves) and found the shoe transitioned seamlessly to faster paces (I maxed out at 7:12/mile).
For once, I stuck to my race plan, had plenty in the tank for the final miles, and crossed the finish line feeling bulletproof. The SuperComp Elite was the perfect match for me at the New York City Marathon.
Unfortunately, the SuperComp Elite’s standout feature comes with a few strings attached.
That cushioning is exceptional, but the tradeoff is that the shoe lacks energy return and the snappy feel we’ve come to expect in plated supershoes. It’s the fastest NB shoe to date but it is nowhere near the speediest racer on the market.
SuperComp Elite v4 vs SuperComp Elite v3
I haven’t logged many miles in the previous version of the SuperComp Elite but here’s a breakdown of how the v3 and v4 compare.
- v4 is slightly heavier at 8.1 oz vs v3 at 7.7 oz
- New Balance resigned the upper, opting for a supportive, mesh upper in v4 departing from the bootie construction upper of v3.
- The midsole foam of v4 is made of Peba foam, which is firmer than the blended foam featured in v3, but produces better energy return.
- The feel of v4 is slightly firmer and faster, with v3 feeling more plush and spongy.
The v4 does have more of a bouncy racing shoe feel, but maintains enough of the comfort that made v3 a success. If you were a fan of v3, I have a good idea what your next purchase is going to be.
Plated Racers Similar to the New Balance Fuel Cell SuperComp Elite
Looking to see what might be similar to decide if this is the right fit for you. Here are some we’d list:
- Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 (Slightly firmer and similar speed, a shoe we highly recommend)
- Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 (Similar cushion, similar width, faster)
- Nike Vaporfly 3 (Bouncy and more narrow fit, fastest)
And if you’re looking for more, checkout out our Best Carbon Plated Running Shoes >>
Who Will Not Like The SuperComp Elite
- Runners seeking a sub 3:40:00 marathon.
- Front of the packers looking to tap into speeds faster than their half marathon pace
- Those looking for an aggressive plated super shoe with a snappy feel and strong forward propulsion.
- Runners seeking the fastest of fast racing shoes
And that’s our official New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 review!
We’d love to hear your feedback. Have you run in this or other NB shoes? Drop a comment below. It all helps other runners who are deciding what shoe to try next.
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