New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 Review

• Infinion foam upgrade tuned for race-day energy
• Redesigned carbon plate for for springier toe-off
• New lightweight outsole compound

Immediately, we loved how energetic these shoes felt from the very first run. The Infinion foam in the midsole has been tuned for the highest energy return possible to reach top speed, and it shows. The foam responds extremely well, and it is only enhanced by the Energy Arc carbon plate. We had no issues with the traction on the outsole.

Not only do you get fantastic energy return from the midsole and carbon plate, but these materials are impressively lightweight, so there was nothing holding us back during our fastest efforts. This shoe will work best for racing environments, high-intensity workouts, and runners with a higher cadence.

Amelio explored a wide range of his faster paces in these shoes, ranging from 6:08 to 4:56 minutes per mile. He did not feel any fatigue when completing a 16-mile long run within this range. The rocker and 8 mm heel-to-toe drop really agreed with his stride, and he was able to trust the structure, fit, and feel of the shoe enough to put more focus on his foot placement during his runs.

While a racing shoe’s top priority is performance over plushness, it still needs to be comfortable enough to keep you moving without any pain points, and allow you to focus on your speed. The SuperComp Elite v6 ticked every one of our boxes.

While the snug fit was perfect for a racing shoe (more on this in the Fit section), it didn’t constrict or squeeze our feet, which let us move without discomfort. The breathability of the mesh upper and the just-padded-enough tongue made for a very light feel that still treated our feet well when pounding through intense workouts.

There was no uncomfortable rubbing, tongue slippage, hotspots, or blisters to be found. Even during a 2 ½-hour long run, there was no discomfort with the upper or underfoot when going the distance. 

The underfoot experience of the shoe was also quite comfortable for a racing shoe. The Infinion foam is tuned to be highly energetic, but still had an element of softness that helped keep us comfortable on our longer efforts without sacrificing speed. The way the foam was sculpted, and the placement of the carbon plate underneath, worked well with our strides which kept us moving comfortably and quickly, with no stability issues.

Now, we know that race-day shoes typically have a snug fit in order to secure your feet in place for fast efforts. Because of this, their fit typically isn’t considered comfort-oriented. That said, with consideration to the expected race-day fit, we found the SuperComp Elite v6 not only fits true to size, but is quite comfortable for a racing shoe.

The width is appropriately snug for race day, yet still wider than some older models of New Balance racing shoes. With this in mind, the Elite v6 will work well for a variety of foot types—and thankfully, it’s one of the few super shoes that’s offered in a wide width, for those who need the extra room.

The upper material is minimal and fit well without any hotspot issues. The tongue was just padded enough to provide protection from the laces, while still being very thin and light. Once we got the lacing dialed in, these shoes kept us comfortably flying, even on long stretches of marathon-paced efforts.

"Super light and super fast. If you are looking for a shoe that is minimal in weight, then the Hyperwarp Elite is hard to beat. At 6.0 oz you aren’t going much lower unless you start doubling your budget for a single pair of shoes." -Erik

"As a midfoot striker with a higher cadence, the similarities between these two were hard to tell. I enjoyed the carbon plate on the Elite v6 more than adidas' energy rods, just because they were more noticeable and felt a bit awkward at times, but the energy return was immaculate. The Infinion superfoam in the Elite v6 feels superior and made my legs feel fresher and snappier." -Amelio

"A very solid contender for a front-of-the-pack option for the $250-300 price point. Hard to turn this model down if it is an option for your rotation. Picking the adios Pro 4 over the SC Elite v6 comes down to fit and feel once they are on your feet. Go with what is most comfortable." -Erik

"I found the Elite v6 has an energetic and aggressive feel that the Fast-R shoe also
gives. It is a bit heavier by 0.5 oz, but with the mechanical efficiency, you can’t tell
the differences over the longer distances. I found the v6 to be more plush and
less strenuous on the Achilles as well." -Amelio

"You are going to pay a little more for the Fast-R, but if the price doesn’t bother you, then you are going to get what might be the fastest racing shoe on the market (at $300 or under). It is hard to turn down wearing this shoe for a race. It comes down to if you are ready for this shoe and its aggressive geometries." -Erik