Running Shoe Reviews
Brooks Hyperion Elite 5
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Review
Published: August 28, 2025
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 7.1 oz (size 9) | Women's: 6.2 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 40 mm (Heel), 32 mm (Forefoot) | 8 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 is for you if...
You want an approachable road racer for your next 5k, marathon, or anything in between
You’re looking for a shoe that’s fast, light, and bouncy
You have a need for speed, but comfort is still key
What is the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 made for?
The FuelCell SuperComp Elite has served as New Balance’s pinnacle race-day shoe since its debut in 2021. The midsole utilizes a carbon plate wedged within FuelCell foam, delivering high energy return at a low weight with a bouncy and snappy feel. While other super shoes tend to emphasize the most daring design components to cater to the elite runner, the SuperComp Elite has always aimed to be a go-getter that can adapt to a variety of running levels.
The upper offers a more forgiving and adaptable fit, delivering uncharacteristic comfort for a race-day shoe. And its less aggressive rocker shape makes it more approachable for a wider range of runners, and is wearable at slower paces for a quick warm-up or cool-down. This also means you can easily walk from the parking lot to the starting line, or even grab a beverage after your race, without needing to switch shoes or awkwardly wobble around! With many rigidly assertive super shoes, it’s nice to have a race-day shoe that you can feel confident in, especially for marathon distances.
Version 5 of the SuperComp Elite aims to be even lighter and bouncier than before, making it even easier to reach your next PR. The shoe sheds some unnecessary weight and now comes in nearly an ounce lighter than its predecessor. Some fine-tuning has been made with a decreased heel-toe drop, a more generous fit, and a more propulsive overall feel. While the SuperComp Elite v5 has not quite succeeded the 6-ounce range for a true side-by-side rivalry with super racers from some other brands, it certainly maintains its objective as a jack-of-all-trades for the motivated runner.
Comfort
While comfort isn’t usually the first thing you think of with super shoes, the SC Elite v5 manages to blend comfort and speed in the foreground. Right out of the box, our feet felt great even after a long tempo run. The soft, responsive superfoam in the midsole offers both cushioning and shock absorption, making it easy to go the distance. And while the shoe really shines at faster paces, it’s comfortable enough to wear at any speed, even just walking, which was a big plus for us. That versatility made it especially useful for interval sessions and other workouts that mix up the pace.
This shoe does a satisfactory job of creating a seamless and disappearing feel on foot. The upper is made of a thin, lightweight mesh that felt very comfortable while racing over long distances. The tongue is slim and buttery soft, and sits effortlessly on top of our feet without any bunching. It offers a minimal approach while still being really comfortable. The heel collar is a little more built up compared to other super shoes, but we found that this works well for the SC Elite. It’s still thin enough for a streamlined profile, but it offered a good amount of support and really kept our heels locked in.
Performance
The SC Elite v5 is a solid racing option that does several things very well. For starters, the 100% PEBA foam delivers a soft and lively underfoot feel, which is consistent with its predecessors. The v5 is a whole ounce lighter than the v4, and feels extremely light on foot. It’s not the lightest or bounciest foam on the market, but it still performs great and feels efficient at a variety of paces, from marathon to 5k race pace. The outsole has a notably sticky and tacky feel that gave us confidence on turns, slightly wet surfaces, and even the occasional light fire road.
In our experience, the SC Elite v3 and v4 were very diplomatic and inherently stable super shoes that could be used by almost any runner. While v5 is still decently stable and approachable, it does feel much more dialed in for high performance. The new geometries make the shoe feel even more aggressive, which encouraged us to stay fast when we ramped up speed. In other words, this shoe became more rewarding when we ran at a quicker pace. The harder we ran, the more comfortable and springy the shoes felt.
Fit
The fit of the SC Elite v5 is definitely a plus. These shoes fit true to size and didn’t have any notable pinch points. Past versions of the SC Elite had quite a bit more volume in the midfoot and were a little baggy, which made it hard for some runners to get a really secure midfoot lockdown, and caused some shakiness on hard turns. Not anymore! The v5’s new upper has a much slimmer fit in the midfoot and forefoot that held our feet in place without feeling too tight, but still had a little give for those who prefer a little extra volume. Thanks to the thin and flexible tongue, we felt confident in playing around with lace tightness to achieve our ideal fit.
Individual Thoughts
DaisyOverall Score: 8/10
As a hobby runner who enjoys pushing herself and progressing, I thought this was a great shoe. I know to save it for when I have lots of energy and motivation, since it’s not going to give me a free ride. But when in action, I feel unstoppable. The cushion and bounce made me want to dance while running. It never felt rigid or stiff, and while soft, it didn’t feel like I was sinking throughout my run, like I do in other highly cushioned shoes. I loved the tongue design, with elastic connecting it to the side/bottom. This sock-feel was secure and never rubbed, and the consistent placement made lacing up easy. Overall, I would recommend it for someone chasing that PR or a fun quick run!
ConnorOverall Score: 8/10
The New Balance SC Elite series is a shoe that I’ve been wearing since the early days of the RC Elite, and I’ve worn every iteration over the years. It’s always been a high-performing shoe, and in recent years, it has provided a very democratic experience that a wide variety of runners could wear. Its generous fit and wide net bases made it very stable, but it also came at the expense of being a little heavier than the competition.
As the years have gone by, most super shoes continued to get lighter, and the SC Elite had to find ways to try to hold on to the pack. While it may not be a market leader in weight, version 5 does see some significant weight decreases that continue to keep the shoe in the conversation. The PEBA foam is bouncy, the platform remains fairly stable, and the shoe, in general, is just really comfortable on foot.
As a fairly competitive runner, I always seek out the very top caliber super shoe that is the lightest weight and offers the bounciest foam. Shoes like the Metaspeed Ray, adidas adios Pro Evo 2, and the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 are always top of mind, and from a pure performance standpoint, the SC Elite does feel one notch down. But with that being said, the shoe still performs very well, and even going back a year, it would’ve been one of the top shoes on the market. The geometries have been fine-tuned to provide a smooth yet propulsive feel, and the upper really is one of my favorite fits of recent super shoes I’ve tried.
While the shoe's updates definitely make it lean a little more advanced or more geared towards competitive runners than past versions, it also still remains fairly stable and is a shoe that shouldn’t be overlooked. Whether you’re a high-level runner or a mid-pack marathon racer looking for a light, bouncy, and stable super shoe, I would recommend giving the SC Elite v5 a shot.
New Balance Men's FuelCell SuperComp Elite
The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite combines top-level technology to create a highly cushioned, carbon fiber-plated running shoe designed for peak performance.
New Balance Women's FuelCell SuperComp Elite
The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite combines top-level technology to create a highly cushioned, carbon fiber-plated running shoe designed for peak performance.
