I have delayed writing this review a couple of times as I wanted to make sure I had tested New Balance’s FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5 thoroughly before putting pen to paper. I never want these to be spec breakdowns, as you can go and read that stuff on any other running blog or product page. What I want to do is give a more tactile sense of how these shoes actually feel underfoot. With shoes designed for racing that’s trickier than it sounds. Racing flat-out every day is a quick way to the physio’s table, so instead I stacked up a good mix of faster paced runs: two interval track sessions, two tempo workouts, and one all-out 5K race. Enough to know what’s what.
The first surprise was the size. Out of the box, New Balance’s FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5 looks positively lean compared to its predecessor. I honestly thought I’d been sent the wrong size until I tried them on. Lining them up next to the Elite V4 and the Rebel V5 they both looked chunkier by comparison. New Balance clearly put the Elite V4s on a diet, and the result is a shoe that looks closer to a track spike than your clunkier marathon racer. At 210g for a UK 9, they’ve had a noticeable trim of around 20g compared to the Elite V4. That weight shedding is visible and very much felt – these are nimble things.
On the run, they perform as expected which is to say, very well. That first time in a carbon super shoe is always a moment, but by now we know what to expect: energy return, comfort, speed. The Elite V5 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. The weight saving makes a difference in pick-up – pace changes are easier, and the shoe never feels like it’s holding you back. Compared to the V4, they’re slightly less aggressive, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. What’s been lost in punchiness has been gained in lightness and rhythm
When I spoke with the New Balance team about the changes, Chris Morfesi, Senior Product Manager for Performance Running, explained it like this: “With every iteration of the Elite, our goal remains the same: to create a high-performance racing tool that instils confidence and helps runners achieve their race day goals. The enhancements in Version 5 were driven by insights from elite athletes and everyday runners, specifically the desire for increased stiffness and a responsive feel through the forefoot.”
Those insights came directly from athletes like Alex Yee, who wore the shoe for his marathon debut at the London Marathon, running 2:11:08. His feedback helped shape the new plate geometry and the decision to move from a 4mm to an 8mm drop. As Chris put it, “a new plate shape geometry increases forefoot stiffness from our predecessor plate, helping give runners the explosive pop they are looking for in race day footwear.”
Photo: Bob Martin for London Marathon Events
Yee’s own verdict was simple but telling: “It feels super responsive and allows me to roll through my stride naturally, efficiently, and quickly.” That matches what I felt too, just so you know. It’s a shoe that quietly gives you confidence. New Balance are clear about the intent, stating that this is a marathon shoe first and foremost. Built to last the full 26.2, but versatile enough to cover shorter distances as well. From my runs, I’d agree. It provided that much needed stability at tempo pace, sharpness in intervals, and pushed me on when the pace got hard in a 5K.
On balance the FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5 is lighter and smoother than it’s predecessor and just as reliable as you’d want a race shoe to be. It doesn’t aggressively shout and it doesn’t overcomplicate things, it just helps push you to get the job done. And when it comes to race day, that’s really all you need.
Shop the FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5 at newbalance.com
