New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite v5 Review

The New Balance SC Elite v5 is the latest version of New Balance’s carbon-plated road racing shoe, built for distances up to the marathon. There are some significant updates that affect both the fit and the ride.

The upper now has less volume. While it’s not as low-volume as the SuperComp Pacer v2 (which has more of a spike-like feel – read that review here), it’s still significantly reduced compared to the previous model. Fortunately, the SC Elite v5 is available in both D (regular) and 2E (wide) widths, so runners with wider feet can still find a good fit. The upper is a one-piece, single-layer mesh that’s extremely lightweight yet feels secure on foot, offering a firm, race-ready fit.

The heel cup is semi-stiffened and wraps partway up the heel, allowing the heel tab to remain soft and flexible. There’s a good level of padding in the heel tab and collar, showing that despite being a lightweight racing shoe, New Balance hasn’t compromised on comfort. The tongue is gusseted on both sides at the top, which keeps it secure without adding bulk. It’s very soft and pliable, with no padding except for a small, well-placed piece beneath the lace knot. I found this provided just enough cushioning for comfort. The laces also thread through a tongue loop to prevent any side slippage. There’s an extra eyelet if you want to secure the heel further or use a butterfly lacing technique.

The fit strikes a good balance—snug and locked-in, but still comfortable. The toe box features a straight big toe line, which encourages a strong push-off from the big toe. This alignment helps reduce tension through the foot, giving your smaller toes more freedom and making the shoe feel roomier and more comfortable, especially on longer runs.

The stack height remains 40mm at the heel, but the forefoot is now reduced from 36mm to 32mm, creating an 8mm heel-to-toe drop. However, thanks to the aggressive rocker, the drop doesn’t feel that steep. From the moment your foot strikes the ground, the shoe rolls you smoothly through the gait cycle. Even walking in them feels like the shoes are trying to keep you moving.

BROWSE NEW BALANCE FUELCELL SC ELITE

The midsole is firmer and has a noticeably more responsive ride. You can feel the rebound underfoot, but without the excessive give that some soft super shoes have. It’s still 100% PEBA-based FuelCell foam, so cushioning remains soft and forgiving—just not to the same extent as the v4.

The Energy Arc carbon plate has been stiffened for a snappier toe-off. The base of the shoe is also narrower, making the v5 feel nimbler and more responsive. These changes have greatly improved its performance at faster paces. I found the v4 too soft for short hill reps or quicker intervals, but the v5 feels much better suited to these efforts. It’s still cushioned enough to be forgiving during longer runs, but now delivers that “race shoe” feeling.

The features that help you run faster in this super shoe are the aggressive rocker shape, the soft yet springy foam, and the carbon plate. The rocker encourages forward momentum and helps maintain a more upright posture and quicker cadence, reducing leg fatigue. The carbon plate reinforces the rocker, providing a snappy toe-off and adding to the spring effect. When you land on your midfoot, the foot spreads slightly, stretching the plantar fascia—like loading a spring. The combination of this natural recoil, the carbon plate, and the high-rebound foam extends your stride without extra effort, helping you run faster.

How much faster? That depends on your ability to load the carbon plate efficiently and maintain good form.

The SC Elite v5 is best suited for quicker runners with efficient mechanics—like all super shoes. If you’re not a midfoot striker but still want a performance boost, the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 might be a better choice (read our review here). It helps carry the foot through the gait cycle, so you don’t need perfect form to benefit.

One trade-off with the softer midsole is reduced ground feel, which can affect your sense of control. This is where a grippy outsole becomes crucial, and New Balance has delivered. The SC Elite v5 features a sticky rubber outsole that provides excellent wet traction—just like the previous version. This time, however, they’ve added small lugs that improve grip on rougher tarmac or uneven road surfaces. While they won’t help much on muddy grass, they offer just enough grip to stay upright on trickier sections during local races.

The SC Elite v5 is also lighter than before: a UK8 weighs 214g, and a UK5 just 165g. New Balance sizing runs similar in length to Hoka, Karhu, Inov-8, and La Sportiva. If you typically wear Brooks, Saucony, 361, Topo, or Altra, you’ll likely need to go half a UK size down in New Balance. For example, a UK11.5 in NB is similar in length to a UK11 in Brooks.

In Summary

The New Balance SC Elite v5 is lighter, snappier, and more nimble than its predecessor. It offers a more responsive, race-day feel, making it better suited for both short distances and marathons alike.

Alternatives to New Balance Supercomp Elite v5

Hoka Rocket X3: This is the more responsive carbon plated super shoe from Hoka. It is still softer than the SC Elite v5 and doesn’t have the same nimble feel. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-rocket-x-3-review/

Brooks Hyperion Elite v5: Brooks have previously made firm and responsive carbon plated racing shoes. The Hyperion Elite v5 is the first with a very soft foam in the midsole. This makes it softer than the SC Elite v5 but it still has a narrower footprint than a lot of the super shoes which gives the Hyperion Elite v5 a similar nimble race day shoe feels to the SC Elite v5. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-hyperion-elite-5-review/

Hoka Cielo X1 2.0: To run effectively in the Cielo x1 2.0 you need to be able to load the plate by landing on your midfoot. The midsole is very soft and cushioned and gives no stability or roll if you land further back in the shoes. When you are hitting the plate you can feel the spring but, if your posture faulters then you lose the propulsion. The SC Elite v5 is far more versatile in the number of runners that will be able to run effectively in the shoes. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-cielo-x1-2-0-review/

Topo Specter 2: Topo don’t make any shoes with a carbon plate as the plate does some of the work for your feet. Topo design shoes that work with your feet rather than replace your feet. There shoes have a broad rounded toe box to allow for foot function. The Specter has a full Peba foam midsole which gives the shoes a very bouncy feel and the rocker is very effective. Which makes then a very fast race day shoe and worth a mention here. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-specter-2-review/

Altra Vanish Carbon 2: Like Topo Altra shoes have a broad rounded toe box to allow for foot function. They also make running shoes that work with your feet rather than replace them. The Vanish Carbon 2 has a very flexible carbon plate that help to enhance foot function to make you run faster. These feel the most natural of all the shoes mentioned here. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-vanish-carbon-2-review/