New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 review: is this super shoe the best choice for a marathon?

Telegraph

05-03-2025

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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.
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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.