New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V4s Review: Our Perfect Race Day Shoe

If you run, you’ll probably be more than aware that some pretty major new running shoes are rumored to be landing on our shelves later this year. There’s some new Adidas models, the Nike Vomeros—which seems to have an endless stream of influencers already backing it on TikTok—a Puma supershoe—and then there’s the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5. Debuted by whom? Only Olympic gold-medallist triathlete turned marathon runner Alex Yee, who clocked in with a debut marathon time of 2:11:08 (that’s just 6 minutes off Mo Farah’s British record) in London while wearing them this April.

I love a new running shoe as much as the next person—I really do—but while I wait for the V5s to drop in August with great anticipation, I’d ask you to cast your mind back to New Balance’s last major release: the V4s. In fact, with so much attention now on the FuelCell SuperComp Elite line thanks to Yee, I felt the moment had come to properly confess my love for the pairs that are on the shelves right now. I’d even go as far as to say they’re my favorite race day running shoe of the current era. Here’s why we still love the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V4.

It’s Made for Race Day

The first thing that’s essential to note about the SuperComp range is that it’s a race shoe. It’s not the kind of thing you can wear here, there and everywhere, and I’d even suggest approaching with caution about wearing it to your weekly interval session. These are shoes that are almost entirely designed to be fast, which means that they ultimately make sacrifices in other areas, such as support and cushioning, to help propel you around a course on race day with as little holding you back as possible. The carbon plate is the key here, giving you extra propulsion.

Part of my job involves testing out running shoes, so I’ve tried a fair few carbon-plated shoes in my time. There’s a great range out there: the Asics Metaspeeds got me my 5K PB, the Nike Vaporflys are our Lifestyle Director Mike Christensen’s marathon shoe, and the Saucony Endorphin Elites are ultra responsive. But for my foot personally, and the way I run, the New Balance Elites feel the fastest.

While I’m not going to waste a shoe by cutting it open here (IYKYK), it’s definitely important to go through the intricate details that those really invested in the running shoe world have noted. The conclusions tend to be quite similar across the board: it’s not the most explosive shoe for a fast 5K or sprint distance, but if you’re looking to cruise at a fast marathon, half marathon, or even a 10K pace, it’s got you covered. The rocker feels strong, the new Pebex foam that New Balance brought into the mix here is more comfortable than most supershoe foams, and it offers a bit more of a smooth ride than the super performance-focused shoes that really strip things down.

Testing the New Balance SuperComp running shoes

Perfect Balance

What you’re getting here is a carbon-plated supershoe that offers a bit more give than some more professionally minded shoes. For the average runner, this is preferable, helping soften things up, feeling generally more comfortable than other supershoes, but still helping you feel bouncier, speedier and overall closer to hitting those PBs. It’s why we think it offers the perfect balance between speed and comfort.

Verdict: Is the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V4 Worth It?

From a personal perspective, this is one of the best shoes I’ve ever run in. I debuted them on a half marathon in Verona, and while I put most of my speed down to my intensive training plan, I knocked eight minutes off my PB despite slippery cobblestones while wearing them. As the technical gurus of the internet suggest, they’ve not felt explosive enough on the faster paces to break my 5K PB just yet, but if you’re after a long-distance race shoe that doesn’t leave you feeling totally wrecked afterwards from the lack of support, this is your one.

This story originally appeared on British GQ.