The New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 is designed to go fast. They have a full-length carbon fiber plate, fuel foam for a propelling feel and rocking geometry to help move the foot forward while running.
The Elite V3 is the latest version of the Fuelcell RC, New Balance’s long-distance racing shoe in the brand’s Supercomp collection. The range also features an extension Supercomp bossa cushioned training shoe, and the Supercomp Pacer, a shorter distance running shoe.
to set
He writes: race
Weight: 8.1 oz (m), 6.3 oz (w)
He falls: 4 mm
price: $229 / £220
colorway: White / bright mint
But how do they compare to each other? The best carbon fiber shoes In the market? To find out more, I’ve been running a New Balance Fuel Supercomp Elite V3 for the past few weeks. I covered about 50 miles in the shoe, on a mix of longer runs, tempos, and faster sessions on the track. Read our New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 review to learn more.
New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 review: Price and availability
The New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 costs $229 / £220, which is roughly the same as a carbon fiber racing shoe. For example, the Nike Vaporfly Next %2 is priced at $250 / £230, and Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 It’s $225 / £210.
The shoe comes in men’s sizes US 7 – US 14 and women’s sizes US 5 – US 12. The shoe comes in two colors – white with victory blue, and bright mint with green pixels. New Balance also released a bright red route to celebrate the New York City Marathon.
The shoe is now available directly from New Balance and other retailers.
New Supercomp Elite V3 Fuel Balance review: Design and fit
The New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 is built to be fast – the shoe has a tall bootie upper, and a two-layer midsole with New Balance’s “Energy Arc” technology (this basically refers to the carbon fiber plate). It’s a lightweight racer featured in the shoe’s design.
When it comes to sizing, it runs true to New Balance. I usually size up at New Balance, as I find shoes can run a lot smaller than other brands. However, I went for a UK 5 in these shoes, unlike my everyday running shoes like New Balance 1080v12I want racing shoes to fit my feet. I didn’t have much room in the toe box on this shoe. If you are between sizes, I always recommend sizing up. Confused? here How should running shoes fit?.
upper
The upper of the SC Elite V3 features a bootie style, with a single sock-like piece that wraps around the foot to keep it secure while racing. They don’t have a great deal of give and are thicker than those used in the Nike Vaporfly, or the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3. I enjoyed the slip-on feel of the shoe and had no trouble moving my feet, even after a longer 8-mile tempo session on the track.
The only complaint with the top is that the collar is a bit too high at the ankle, which can itch a bit uncomfortably at first. I found I had to wear a thicker, higher sock with the shoe to prevent this, but that could be due to them being a few millimeters shorter for a more comfortable fit.
midsole
The midsole of this shoe is where the magic happens. Sandwiched between two layers of foam, the carbon fiber pad is designed to feel soft and springy underfoot. The shoe feels sturdier than the Fuelcell RC running shoe, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing—the Fuelcell RC always felt a little squishy on the run and a little unstable around corners. While I loved it in practice sessions, it just didn’t feel responsive enough for me to get into that shoe on race day.
The midsole of this shoe is where the magic happens. Sandwiched between two layers of foam, the carbon fiber pad is designed to feel soft and springy underfoot.
However, it’s by no means firm—it still has the comfort and cushioning you’d expect from a racing shoe. The 4mm drop feels snappy, but if you’re here for a rocker thrill, you won’t find it here—there’s no aggressive spring here, and it feels more relaxed than other carbon fiber racing shoes.
outsole
The outsole of this shoe is definitely designed for concrete. There’s not a huge amount of stability, and what’s there is concentrated around the heel and toe, with a little bit of protection around the cutout to protect the carbon fiber plate. However, during testing, I wore these shoes on completely frozen running tracks, and on wet sidewalks, and had no problems with slipping.
New Balance Fuel Supercomp Elite V3 review: Running performance
I enjoyed running in the SC Elite V3, and would go so far as to say that this is New Balance’s best carbon fiber running shoe to date. It definitely has more pop than the RC Elite and feels more stable around corners. It’s also similar to a Supercomp boss, without the (illegal) massive height of the stack. It’s a forgiving ride, with enough cushion for long runs. I enjoyed wearing this on the track and found I could keep up the pace with ease.
I enjoyed running in the SC Elite V3, and would go so far as to say that this is New Balance’s best carbon fiber running shoe to date.
However, New Balance still needs to do more fine-tuning to get me to this than say Vaporfly Next% or Endorphin Pro 3 for my next marathon. It has a gentler rocker, which makes it feel a bit more relaxed than some of the other super shoes on the market.
New Balance FuelSale Supercomp Elite V3 review: The verdict
The New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 is an excellent running shoe and a huge improvement over last year’s version. You could easily run a marathon in this shoe—it’s stable, has plenty of snap, and feels bouncy underfoot. However, the upper will not be suitable for everyone, and the Rocker is more relaxed than other carbon fiber shoes on the market.
If you’re in the market for a sprint shoe on race day, the Nike Vaporfly Next %2 and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 Two of the most popular carbon fiber shoes on the market, both around the same price.
If you’re looking for a little more bounce over long distances, and don’t plan on hitting the podium on race day, The new Super Comp balance trainer It is also worth considering. If you’re looking for a shoe to wear for your daily miles, you won’t want one with a carbon fiber plate, because it’s not very durable. scan the The best running shoes On the market in our directory.
