New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite v3

Pace, speed, aggressiveness, control, vertigo, competition, success... These are the first impressions you get once you use the new New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite V3 for the first time. The first impressions can't be better. Once you put on these shoes you feel that you are in a shoe made to break all the molds and pre-established barriers as far as carbon and the American brand are concerned.

Aggressive in its aesthetics, this is a shoe that once on the foot, it feels like a second skin. In addition, when you see yourself in the mirror, the aesthetics with them on is beautiful. In its white color with orange and pink details with the logo in gray, it is personally the most beautiful model I have ever worn. As soon as they cease to serve their purpose, they will be one more option in my list of shoes for day-to-day use. The New Balance FuelCell SC Elite v3 is made in one piece that provides a perfect fit. Its composition, based on elastic yarn, is completed with a stiff but not excessively stiff heel cup and traditional laces that make the fit even at higher speeds.

The foot does not move and the feeling of power is maximum.

In order to achieve optimal fit, support and comfort, the American brand has decided to build a shoe in one piece but with a very large elasticity that makes putting  the foot very simple. This is a very interesting option for the practice of triathlon. The fastening is completed with a very cushioned heel pad that fixes the foot to the insole of the shoe and a puller that makes it easy to put them on.

Once on, the first thing that stands out is the comfort. From the first stride you find a very pleasant feeling of softness under your feet. It is impressive how soft the new midsole material is.

The FuelCell is extremely comfortable, sinking in with astonishing elasticity to then offer you unprecedented energy return for an unprecedented feeling of power. Continuing with the midsole, this feeling of power is enhanced by the carbon plate present throughout the entire shoe, which is even visible in the middle and rear of the sole. A plate that stands out for its rigidity but does not prevent flexion in the metatarsal area.

This curved plate technology has been dubbed "Energy Arc" and is completed by an elongated space in the sole area that favors, according to the Boston-based company to offer even more energy return in each step. This midsole composition has pleasantly surprised me. In previous occasions I had already highlighted the goodness of the New Balance 1080 and its softness, although, evidently not being intended for it, they did not stand out for their reactivity. I dare to say that even this compound of the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite V3 is more comfortable and more pleasant than the rest of the compounds of the American company.

Finally, the outsole, covered in portions by rubber, offers optimal grip. More than 50% of the kilometers I had to run on wet terrain, even on a wet running track, and at no time, despite the very fast paces, did I feel even the slightest failure in the grip.

What kind of runners are the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite V3 for?

This model is intended for runners of low weight, up to approximately 70-72 kilos, with a good running technique. It is an ideal shoe for very fast paces, otherwise, you have the feeling of not taking advantage of the benefits of this model. It is a shoe that the faster the pace and the longer the distance, the better the performance. Undoubtedly this is a shoe that is going to be out on the streets for a few days. They are intended for competition and the most demanding days, with controlled race paces and always under 4:00 minutes per kilometer.

I think that for heavier users there are options that will adapt better to their needs, since, despite having good cushioning, I think it may even be too little or too soft for heavier users. This is a very stable shoe that combines perfectly with very rolling models for regenerative days or very comfortable paces and with flying models for quality days.

What distances do we recommend the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite V3 for?

This model is undoubtedly focused on races from 10 kilometers and upwards, gaining more for longer distances up to the marathon, since its strong point is stability combined with that reactivity to the rhythms that we have pointed out above and that improve with distance. I have used this model for short and very explosive series, for controlled 5 km runs and for a 10 km competition despite having accumulated few kilometers with them due to their gratifying impressions in the first days.

It is impossible to distinguish the carbon from the Nike Vaporfly, Alphafly, Adizero Adios Pro... but, after testing the previous ones and these ones, there is nothing to envy, even at test level with both of them.

What we liked most about the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Élite V3

As I have already insisted before, comfort, stability, fit, speed, reactivity, power... are the adjectives that stand out the most in these New Balance. It is a direct alternative to the models par excellence with carbon, entering fully these American shoes in the olimpo carbon and top level competition. The feeling of speed is very satisfying, the power you put out is returned in a big way and they are also beautiful.

Opportunities for improvement in the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite V3

Honestly few buts can be extracted from this model, but there is one that rises above the rest. In the collar that closes the instep area, in its outer part and coinciding with the last of the lace holes is too rigid and, after a good series of kilometers and sessions, there has not been a day that I have not returned home with blood in my sock and therefore the shirts, forcing me to compete in the 10 km test that I mentioned before with a protection to prevent that open wound from conditioning my result. It's a shame to run uncomfortable because of a small detail like this, but it doesn't interfere at all in the performance of the shoe.

Which models can be compared with the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite V3?

The competition for this model is:

• Nike Vaporfly Next% 3
• Nike Alphafly 2
• Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
• Saucony Endorphin Elite
• Hoka Rocket X 2
• Asics Metaspeed Sky +

Final conclusions of the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite V3

Undoubtedly this is a model that represents a before and after in New Balance and even in the carbon industry. The barrier that separates glory and success from not achieving it is increasingly thinner with these FuelCell Supercomp Elite v3. A shoe destined for success, to break records and to seriously challenge the rest of the brands in terms of carbon models.

RUNNEA tester's rating

• Lightweight: 9.5
• Responsiveness: 10
• Cushioning: 10
• Stability: 10
• Flexibility: 9
• Grip: 10