I'm sorry you have to hear my whining. It's not really your concern, but I just had a really bad day last week. I knew this day would come sooner or later, and unfortunately, I couldn't put it off any longer. It was time to retire my beloved New Balance SuperComp Elite v4.
Luckily for me, a brand-new version arrived shortly after. Uptivupti, New Balance was back on my feet when I was testing the limits of my 35-year-old legs. Those legs deserve some luxury, and they get it when the SuperComp Elite v5 is securely fastened on them.
New Balance SuperComp Elite v5
- Type: Race/Competition
- Midsole: FuelCell (PEBA)
- Drop: 8mm
- Weight: 210 g (men's US 9.5)
New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 - History lesson
New Balance SuperComp Elite v4 became a fan favorite for its very accommodating design. It was a shoe that newer runners could easily jump into on race day and experience some of the magic that shoes with superfoam and carbon have to offer. SuperComp Elite v5 has been slightly refined, literally, so read on to find out what that means for you.
As with many other things in life, it's a good idea to have an understanding of the past to understand the present. Quote Jakob Gade Pedersen (and maybe some of my philosophical colleagues).
As with many things, it's useful to understand the past to understand the present. v4 was popular but not necessarily the obvious choice if you were looking for the fastest shoe on the market. New Balance has changed that.
In v5, the wide platform is gone, replaced by a narrower, lighter version. Especially mid-foot, material is cut away, pushing you faster forward and reducing weight. The FuelCell midsole remains 100% PEBA, but the structure is adjusted to make the shoe feel snappier and more aggressive. At the same time, the carbon plate is stiffer, providing even more propulsion.
The upper resembles its predecessor: breathable, comfortable, and with more structure than often seen in other race shoes on the market. A clear plus for longer distances where comfort matters.
The outsole has also changed. New Balance has drawn on experiences from the first edition and given v5 a rougher outsole with better grip – perfect for challenging conditions like a rainy half marathon.
New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 - Midsole
In v5, the wide platform is gone, replaced by a narrower, lighter version. Especially mid-foot, material is cut away, pushing you faster forward and reducing weight. The FuelCell midsole remains 100% PEBA, but the structure is adjusted to make the shoe feel snappier and more aggressive. At the same time, the carbon plate is stiffer, providing even more propulsion.
The upper resembles its predecessor: breathable, comfortable, and with more structure than often seen in other race shoes on the market. A clear plus for longer distances where comfort matters.
The outsole has also changed. New Balance has drawn on experiences from the first edition and given v5 a rougher outsole with better grip – perfect for challenging conditions like a rainy half marathon.
New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 - Upper & Sole
The upper of New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 stays true to its predecessor and is truly comfortable. It's a breathable upper, as a race shoe should be, but it has a lot of comfort and structure, which many other race shoes have cut away. For me, it's a clear plus. I understand that as runners, we typically want the lightest shoe possible, but if you're running a marathon, I'm sure you'll appreciate the extra comfort SuperComp Elite v5 offers. In this way, the shoe inherits some of the accommodating qualities for which its predecessor was so popular.
Turning the shoe over, we find another significant change. I've been lucky to own this shoe since edition no. 1, and it was known for being a shoe you could also run fast in on more challenging terrain. It had quite a rough outsole. New Balance has gone back to the archives and drawn inspiration from the first edition, giving SuperComp Elite v5 an outsole that closely resembles it. I happened to be at a half marathon in Copenhagen this weekend, and I think many wished for an outsole like on the SuperComp Elite v5. It was soaking wet.
New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 - Conclusion
All in all, New Balance has made some changes that have made SuperComp Elite v5 much more competitive in the market. It has certainly taken a slight turn towards being a real speed machine, but it's still in a very simple way that makes it extremely comfortable to run in. There's no excessive rocker or overly experimental upper, just safe choices all the way through. So if you're looking for a safe choice and a shoe you can use for both fast training and competitions across all distances, then New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 might be a really good option for you.
