New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 review

New Balance has innovated once more with an all-new shoe with a lower drop and new, thinner arched carbon plate. Enter the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4, which may become one of the best running shoes around.

The previous FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 from New Balance were a huge hit for us in 2023’s carbon plate shoes test (check out the best carbon plate running shoes in 2024 for the latest models), with the wide array of triathlon-friendly features – heel loop and tongue loops and huge sockless comfort ­– seeing them take the best on test badge.

First impressions

The next generation New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4s are very much a different beast, however, with the new PEBAX foam midsole construction being the most significant upgrade.

Opening up the shoe box and I personally think the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 look brilliant, their ‘white with bleached lime glo and hot mango’ (who makes this stuff up?) doing the job aesthetically and looking every inch the modern day supershoe. That white is the only colour, however (female racers get a ‘cyber jade with white and black’).

Upper and fit

Onto the foot and I wished I’d gone up at least half a size, with the fit feeling short in length. The toe box is about average, but New Balance isn’t currently offering its ‘standard’ and ‘wide’ options with v4 like they did with the v3.

Although not at the level of the previous incarnation’s ‘bootie construction’, the Elite v4s still deliver sockless running-friendliness thanks to the smooth internal construction.

The tongue does take a bit of fiddling to sit perfectly in place, however, which won’t appeal to time-crunched triathletes in transition, and there are certainly higher tech, more high-performing tongues elsewhere.

The heel and tongue loops of v3 are also missing, but the breathability given by the upper felt impressive on July runs and I had no internal comfort issues.

Aided by the near 40mm stack height (the maximum allowed by governing body World Athletics) and the new FuelCell midsole now made with 100% PEBAX foam, the Elite v4s offer a bouncy run full of energy return.

They feel cushioned but not too cushioned, but also stable for such a maximal shoe, and I’d feel confident in these on moderately twisty tri run courses.

The 4mm heel-to-toe drop and new, thinner and arched carbon plate also encourage race-day use for a wealth of distances and paces.

Ride and feel

At £260 ($249.99) and 222g (UK7), they are £40 more expensive and 20g heavier than the previous editions, however, and that extra weight anecdotally felt noticeable when compared to the sub-200g club of the Asics Metaspeed Edge+ and Nike Zoomx Vaporfly 3, for example.

The solid rubber outsole feels durable and offers decent-enough traction, but it might well be the source of some of that added weight and could be adapted when the inevitable v5 arrives.

If New Balance pays more attention to the tongue and sheds a few grammes on the v5s, they could become one of the very best supershoes around.

Alternatively, see our list of the best cushioned run shoes for more options.

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 specs

Price:	£260 / $249.99
Sizes:	6.5-12.5 (men’s, UK), 3-8 (women’s, UK)
Stack height:	40mm
Drop:	4mm
Midsole:	PEBAX foam
Weight:	227g (UK 7)