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v3 was, in my opinion, an excellent shoe, but I know not everyone agreed. I loved the feel on the run; I loved the upper comfort, and I loved using it for almost any run that wasn’t an easy or recovery run. In hindsight, it was one of my most used running shoes last year, yet funnily enough, I didn’t use it for any races!
And this is something that has been aware of. Previously, they made accommodating, comfortable, and fun running shoes, but they hadn’t yet mastered creating a true competitor for the fastest shoes on the market. This is something Chris Morfesi, senior global product manager at New Balance, addressed in an interview with Runnersworld.
To achieve this, New Balance has made three vital upgrades to revolutionize how this shoe runs and feels on the foot.
FantomFit - New Balance Supercomp Elite v4
We start with the most polarizing aspect of the SuperComp Elite v3, the upper. Last year’s version had a sock-like upper with a knitted tongue that wrapped around the midfoot. It was quite high around the ankle and didn’t have an extra eyelet for the “runner’s knot.” This made the upper either a hit or miss. I loved it and found it extremely comfortable, but many did not.
The new SuperComp Elite v4 has stepped onto the scene with an older technology called FantomFit, where they glue very thin mesh layers together, resulting in a very thin, more static upper that is stiffer but also feels more traditional. So traditional, it reminds me of the classic 1400 and 1500 models, which in my opinion is a great thing!
The tongue is very thin, not gusseted, and on the shorter side, but just (just barely) long enough to cover the laces if you use the extra eyelet. I’ve seen thinner tongues in running shoes that sometimes fold and cause discomfort on the top of the arch. This hasn’t happened for me in the SuperComp Elite v4, and the tongue also stays in place despite not being gusseted.
I consider this shoe TTS (True To Size). I usually run in size 45, and it fits well. If anything, the shoe leans towards being on the shorter side, but I still have a decent amount of space in the forefoot for longer and warmer days.
Midsole Shape - New Balance Supercomp Elite v4
The second major upgrade is the midsole shape and feel. In SuperComp Elite v3, the midsole was notorious for being very soft, and even though it had a rocker, it didn’t feel as pronounced due to the softer foam.
v4 has several new features in the midsole. First of all, the midsole is different, with a firmer and far less soft foam. And even though the official midsole height is the same in both generations, SuperComp Elite v4 has a far more aggressive spring, which, along with a more responsive foam, significantly highlights the toe-off.
This is noticeable when you first put the shoe on. Your feet just want to roll forward. This is a fantastic sensation, which wasn’t there to the same degree in the previous model.
The heel drop on the shoe is 4mm, meaning the official midsole height in the shoe is around 40mm under the heel and 36mm in the forefoot. Some worry about this, and others don’t, but the reason I mention it is mostly because of the larger amount of foam you get under the forefoot.
36mm is a lot of foam, and I am more than confident it will be enough to get me comfortably and quickly through a marathon, even if I have a more sensitive forefoot.
Midsole Foam - New Balance Supercomp Elite v4
has been one of the last major manufacturers out there not using PEBA in their fastest shoes, but this is now past. They did pretty well with nitro-infused TPU, but nothing seems to beat PEBA when it comes to enhancing your running economy.
When you put the shoe on, there are two things you notice. It’s the rocker and the bounce in the midsole. These two things complement each other fantastically and make this shoe different from its previous generations.
Energy return hasn’t improved due to the update to a full PEBA midsole. It is very important to clarify that Elite v4 is in no way a firm running shoe. The midsole is still soft, but compared to Supercomp Elite v3, it is firmer and definitely more bouncy, especially when you increase speed. This results in Supercomp Elite v4 hitting a fine point between comfortable and bouncy.
Based on several tests, New Balance has confirmed that the midsole should maintain its bounce and energy return for a while, which isn’t normal in a pure PEBA running shoe, now that it has become the norm both to limit customers' expectations regarding the number of marathons a running shoe should be used for.
But don’t be fooled into thinking it will last forever. A lighter shoe is always a bit more challenged in its durability compared to a daily trainer. That’s how it goes when you make a shoe out of thinner and lighter materials.
How should you use Supercomp Elite v4?
This is a race shoe, no doubt, and for most people, it is a race shoe for all distances, whether it’s 5k or a full marathon. But if I were to specialize it a bit, I think it works best on longer runs because it is so cushioned and comfortable.
It also makes sense for New Balance to position Elite v4 as a long-distance race shoe when hearing rumors about the new lower and lighter v2, rumored to arrive later this year.
The firmness of the midsole also makes New Balance Supercomp Elite v4 a stable running shoe and a very valid option for runners who need a bit more stability.
Either way, this is a safe choice if you want an extremely reliable running shoe with both performance and comfort in mind.
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