New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Review: Race-day ready?

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

Don’t let the name fool you – this shoe isn’t just for the elites. The New Balance SC Elite v5 packs a carbon-fiber plate, a PEBA-based midsole, and a featherlight feel into a shoe that’s built to go fast — whether you’re chasing podiums or personal bests.

Kate, Mandy and I laced up the SC Elite v5 for speed workouts and race-day. From fit to performance, here’s how they performed when the pace picked up.

They say “nothing new on race day,” but I was dying to test out the Elite v5 and a perfect opportunity presented itself at my local Memorial Day 5K. Plus, the Urgent Red/White colorway matched my red, white and blue aesthetic perfectly. I had already tried the shoes on and worn them around quite a bit, so I knew they felt comfortable. It would all come down to the way they performed. With a midsole made of 100% PEBA foam — an ultralight, resilient material — and a full-length carbon-fiber plate, I was feeling pretty optimistic about running fast. The carbon-fiber plate works in conjunction with the midsole foam to deliver energy back to the runner with every step. New Balance told us they increased the forefoot stiffness of the carbon plate to make it even more propulsive.

The first thing I noticed about the Elite v5 is that, unlike some super shoes, they weren’t aggressively shaped. Some racing supershoes have such an aggressive rocker shape that they feel uncomfortable to walk or jog in — not the case with these. I did my warm up mile and some strides and, later, wore them for my cool down mile and to the bagel shop for a post-race treat. They were comfortable throughout the entire morning.

Mandy agreed, saying “I’m a fan of the shoe not having a super aggressive rocker shape. I tend to run on my forefeet and shoes that have an aggressive rocker don’t work well with my stride. The Elite v5 feels as if it’s enhancing my natural stride as opposed to changing it.”

Because they don’t have an overly aggressive shape, the speed advantage feels much more subtle when compared to shoes with sharp toe springs. I didn’t feel like I was bouncing my way through the race, but they felt incredibly lightweight and natural underfoot. I was able to keep a fast (for me) pace, despite the 80-degree weather and complete lack of speed training.

The race course was on a pathway through a park, and many spots were wet from the showers that hit us right before the start. The traction on these shoes felt superb, thanks to a new outsole material that New Balance claims reduces weight while increasing grip and durability. There were plenty of turns on the course, and dips and rivets in the pavement. I never had to think twice about these obstacles because I felt really connected to the ground and secure in my footing.

Unfortunately, Mandy had a different experience.

“I raced a 5K at night in my neighborhood after my daughter got sick and I missed The Big Run,” Mandy says. “I felt like I was flying on the straight roads, but had to slow down on the turns to make sure I didn’t fall. I love the propulsive foam, but I think these need to be widened a touch to feel comfortable going full speed.”

Kate agrees, after twisting her ankle on one of her test runs. To be fair, she did take the Elite v5 for a bit of offroading through a grassy section — a necessity after her old running route was wiped out by Hurricane Helene. We never recommend taking your road shoes, especially racing shoes, on anything other than pavement!

The SC Elie v5 offers a snug, secure race-day fit that’s designed to hold your feet in place as you run at top speeds. There is an extra eyelet around the ankle to tie the marathon loop, which I ended up doing just so my feet would feel as locked-down as possible.

The upper material is a breathable, perforated mesh-type material, and the heel and ankle collar is soft, smooth and slightly padded. I had a lot of blister issues on the backs of my heels in the SC Elite v4, and I’m happy to say this has been completely resolved in this new version thanks to more padding and a new shape.

“The moment I put on this shoe, it felt featherlight and wrapped around my midfoot like a glove,” says Mandy. “The performance fit upper makes it feel as though there is nothing on top while the underfoot feel gives me propulsion and pep. I like the little bit of extra padding in the heel, helping me feel secure throughout my runs.”

The upper material felt so airy that, even after some light showers and a steamy race, I kept the shoes on for my post-race celebratory bagel outing. Oftentimes my feet feel like they’ve been drenched by a hose after a summer run, but the combination of the breathable upper and my thin Feetures Elite Light Cushion socks meant that my feet didn’t feel like they were suffocating in a swamp.

However, Kate noted that “the upper really seemed to soak up water. I got caught in a mild rainstorm and my feet got soaked and sloshy.”

And the disagreements didn’t end there. Kate and Mandy both noticed that their toes felt a bit cramped in their normal size, but my shoes fit perfectly. If you’re in between sizes, it’s worth trying the SC Elite v5 in person at your local Fleet Feet.

Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

The SC Elite has undergone quite a few changes since the last iteration, the SC Elite v4.

New Balance outlined these changes in an interview with our content creator, Brandon Rossi, at the New Balance Sports Research Lab.

First, New Balance reduced cushioning in the forefoot to bring the heel-to-toe drop up from four millimeters to eight millimeters. A shoe’s heel-to-toe drop is the distance between your heel and forefoot, and New Balance claims the higher drop adds propulsion and snappiness. The reduction in forefoot cushioning also reduces weight–this is the lightest iteration of the Elite yet!

A new outsole material also contributes to the weight reduction, while still maintaining reliable grip and durability — at least, in my opinion. Lastly, an increased stiffness in the forefoot of the carbon-fiber plate is meant to add responsiveness as you toe off into your next stride.

I’ll be honest, I was not a fan of the SC Elite v4. It felt firm and brickish to me. The v5 feels softer and bouncier, plus I didn’t get any blistering on the back of my heel. I’d consider this a major upgrade.

“I like this model better than the v4. The materials feel a lot more comfortable and responsive compared to the previous version,” Kate agrees.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the SC Elite v5 stacks up. Here’s what we found:

The New Balance SC Elite v5, Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 and Nike Vaporfly 4 are all their respective brands’ race-day super shoe. With springy midsole foams and snappy carbon-fiber plates, they’re all designed to help you reach your personal best.

All three shoes are relatively similar when it comes to weight, heel-to-toe drop and stack height. Your preferred shoe will likely come down to the fit and overall feel of each model.

The SC Elite v5 is bouncy, snappy and lightweight, but it still feels very natural underfoot, making it perfect for runners who are averse to aggressive rocker shapes.

It will feel comfortable during your warm up and cool down miles, and you can even wear it to your post-race celebrations if you forgot to pack your OOFOS.