Shoe Review: New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3

Everyone can feel like an elite in the New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3.

Built for maximum speed and energy return, the SC Elite v3 is the pinnacle of innovation from New Balance. A bouncy FuelCell midsole, a snappy carbon-fiber plate and New Balance’s proprietary Energy Arc midsole geometry make the Elite v3 a perfect choice for chasing a PR.

Fleet Feet reviewers put the SC Elite v3 to the test during tempo runs and interval workouts. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest racing shoe from New Balance.

The New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3 offers a trifecta of innovative technology: a rigid carbon-fiber plate, soft and springy FuelCell midsole foam, and a unique midsole geometry called Energy Arc.

The carbon fiber plate is the foundation of every race-day super shoe on the market these days. It flexes as you land and rebounds as you take off, propelling you forward with each stride. In the New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3, the carbon fiber plate is sandwiched between two layers of springy FuelCell midsole foam.

New Balance’s FuelCell foam is touted as providing the highest energy return in the New Balance lineup. It was created using data from the biomechanics of world-class runners by analyzing their stride patterns during landings and takeoffs.

The FuelCell midsole is hollowed out in the middle, increasing energy return. New Balance calls this their Energy Arc technology—the carbon-fiber plate is flattened into the channel during landings and rebounds during take-offs.

The combination of the carbon-fiber plate, the FuelCell foam and the Energy Arc technology combine to create an ultra-smooth, responsive ride.

“From the first few steps of my run, I had a big smile plastered on my face,” Caroline says. “The cushioning is so bouncy and springy! I did a six mile run at my goal marathon pace and the shoes felt amazing. Every stride just felt so smooth. I won’t say the run felt easy, because it didn’t, but the shoes definitely helped.”

Because the New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3 is designed to be as lightweight as possible, it doesn’t have as much rubber covering the outsole on the heel and midfoot as your average trainer. This means that the shoes may wear down faster than your everyday trainer, as is the case with most super shoes, so it’s best to save them for race day (or maybe a challenging speed workout if you need an extra boost).

The partially exposed midsole also doesn’t offer reliable traction on surfaces other than pavement. With all that being said, it’s an excellent shoe for chasing fast times on the road. “The energy return in the midsole is among the most impressive I’ve seen,” Max says. “The responsiveness of the foam coupled with the carbon plate offers a propulsive feeling that makes me want to pick up my pace.”

The New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3 is designed to be as lightweight as possible, and that includes more than just the midsole. The one-piece upper is made up of an engineered knit material that feels silky smooth against your foot.

A flat, stretchy tongue sits atop your foot, providing just enough padding to eliminate pressure from the laces. The lacing system is held together by thick string that’s woven into the fabric of the upper. This makes it easier to lock down the fit, compared to other one-piece uppers reviewers have tested.

“I was a bit nervous about the lack of a separate tongue which, in my experience, makes it harder to adjust the fit,” Kate says. “But the positioning of the eyelets on the SC Elite v3 helps make the lacing system more effective than other one-peice systems that I’ve tried.”

You likely won’t need to tighten the laces too much, as the New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3 offers a snug, race-day fit. Racing shoes typically offer a snugger fit to eliminate movement within the shoe, helping you run as efficiently as possible and shave off those precious seconds.

The New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3 is the racing counterpart to the FuelCell SC Trainer, which launched last year and made our list of The Best Daily Trainers of 2022.

Both shoes use the same bouncy FuelCell foam, the same carbon plate and the same Energy Arc technology. The Elite v3 is lighter and lower to the ground than the Trainer, making it feel smoother and more efficient for fast running.

“During my run in the Elite v3, I was trying to mentally compare it to the SuperComp Trainer which I used to do lots of training runs in,” Caroline says. “The lower stack height in the Elite gives me a bit more ground feel, even though it’s still well cushioned. While the Trainer felt like I was running on pogo sticks, the Elite v3 feels a bit more stable while still offering tons of responsiveness.”

The SC Trainer also has more rubber on the outsole, specifically around the heel, which adds both weight and durability.

The New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3 is designed for runners who want to maximize their racing potential. You don’t need to run at the front of the pack to wear this shoe, but you’ll feel fast wearing it.

The SC Elite v3 features a 4-millimeter heel-to-toe drop (the difference in height between your heel and forefoot) that encourages runners to land more on their midfoot and forefoot rather than their heel. Because most runners naturally land this way while picking up the pace, the Elite v3 is a great choice for speed work, tempo runs and intervals. However, lower heel-to-toe drops can place more pressure on your calves and achilles, so we recommend gradually easing into this shoe if you have problems with those areas, or if you’re used to running in shoes with a higher heel-to-toe drop.

“For someone who is struggling with achilles and foot issues, I don’t feel comfortable wearing these shoes all the time, but I will break them out for special occasions,” Caroline says. “With that being said, I would absolutely recommend this shoe to runners who don’t have those issues and are looking for a fast race-day shoe. It’s light, peppy and soft.”

The smooth, one-piece knit upper makes this a great choice for runners who want to feel as light and sleek as possible. Because the upper is so thin, it doesn’t provide as much stability as shoes with thicker, more structured uppers, which is something to keep in mind if you enjoy a super locked-down fit.

“The upper is definitely sock-like and snug, but it’s still stretchy enough to almost feel custom-fitted to your foot,” Max says.

We took a look at some comparable shoes and how they stack up against the New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3. Here’s what we found.

The SC Elite v3 is right up there with the best of the best racing shoes, like the Nike Next% Vaporfly 2 and the ASICS Metaspeed Sky+. All three shoes offer hyper-responsive midsole foams paired with snappy carbon-fiber plates and lightweight uppers. But Fleet Feet reviewers noted that the SC Elite v3 is the softest of the three.

“The New Balance SC Elite v3 is one of those rare shoes that’s equal parts soft and bouncy,” Caroline says. “It’s probably the softest super shoe I’ve ever tried.”

The SC Elite v3 feels like a trampoline,” Kate says. “You sink into it and then it sends you back up. It reminds me of the Nike Next %, although this shoe feels softer.”

While the ASICS Metaspeed Sky+ has a lower stack height than the SC Elite v3, it offers the same springy ride with a comparable weight and heel-to-toe drop.