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When you’re about to cross the Willis Avenue Bridge in the Bronx near Mile 20 on the New York City Marathon course, the last thing you want to be thinking about is your shoes. Anyone who’s run a marathon knows the journey truly begins in training, when you log hundreds of miles to get your mind and body ready to conquer 26.2 on race day. That’s why I’m glad I tested New Balance’s flagship marathon racer, the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5, to prepare for the hills, bridges and breathtaking straightaways that make up one of the world’s most iconic races. The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5 is a race-day weapon. Here's why we like it for marathons. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Spencer Dukoff For Forbes In the lead-up to the New York City Marathon—my third marathon—I logged hundreds of miles in the SC Elite v5 with the intention of choosing it on race day. It’s designed to handle long, hilly, relentless runs thanks to a 100% PEBA FuelCell foam midsole, a stiffer carbon plate and a geometry that helps your stride feel smooth even as you fatigue. Light without being unstable, cushioned without feeling squishy and fast without requiring perfect form, this shoe stacks up well against the competition. That balance isn’t accidental. “We started with a simple brief,” says Chris Morfesi, senior global product manager at New Balance, who led the development of the v5. “What will make runners physiologically faster and confident on race day—and how do we validate that with athletes and everyday runners?” Beyond the obvious physical test, training for a marathon is an emotional rollercoaster—your shoes shouldn’t be the weakest link. Fortunately, this trainer served as a stabilizing force that made marathon prep just a little easier. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering adding the v5 to your arsenal. New Balance New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 Price: $265 | Weight (per pair): 12 ounces (women’s); 15.2 ounces (men’s) | Drop: 8mm | Stack height: 40 mm (heel), 32 mm (forefoot) | Upper: Single layer mesh | Midsole: PEBA FuelCell | Outsole: Rubber Marathon racing, especially hilly courses like NYC and Boston Long, fast efforts where comfort matters as much as speed Runners seeking a stable, forgiving super shoe You prefer ultra-soft, low-stack cushioning You want a minimalist or aggressive 5K–10K racer RECOMMENDED BY FORBES VETTED The Best Trail Running Shoes: Testing 22 Pairs Over Hundreds Of Miles By Steven John The Best On Running Shoes, Based On Testing And Expert Recommendations By Steven John New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 Features Energy That Lasts From Staten Island To Central Park Every major marathon course has its rhythm, and in New York, that rhythm is unpredictable. Rolling bridges, tight turns and long concrete stretches drain your legs faster than you expect. That’s where the v5’s midsole shines. The 100% PEBA FuelCell foam feels energetic without being twitchy. Meanwhile, the full-length carbon plate and Energy Arc design (a channel through the midsole) combine to deliver smooth, consistent propulsion. “Energy Arc is the ecosystem—not just a plate,” says Morfesi. “The cavity lets the plate load and give back as you unload.” While it’s not the “springboard” launch of more aggressive super shoes, the v5 offers a steady forward roll that helps you maintain efficiency when fatigue sets in. During training, I put this to the test on a 20-mile long run of the American Tobacco Trail in North Carolina, and double-digit Saturday workouts all over the Richmond, Virginia area. The difference is subtle but critical for a marathoner: Where some shoes feel incredible at mile three and punishing at mile 20, this one maintains its poise the entire way. The SuperComp Elite v5's Energy Arc channel isn't just a gimmick. It truly returns energy with every step. Spencer Dukoff For Forbes Snug Where It Counts If the midsole is the engine of the SC Elite v5, the upper is its steering system, built to keep runners secure and distraction-free from start to finish. As Morfesi puts it, “We’re trying to build a race car… but we also want the runner to feel taken care of throughout the race.” That philosophy becomes apparent when you study the shoe’s details. The upper’s single-layer mesh is thinner and more breathable than the v4’s knit upper, and it’s reinforced with FantomFit overlays that secure the midfoot in place without adding weight. It molds quickly to the foot and maintains its shape even when damp, which was helpful on humid morning runs and even rainy days. Around the heel, padding is deliberately generous because Morfesi posits that comfort and security matter over 26.2 miles. The gusseted tongue stays anchored and distributes lace pressure evenly, and I didn’t notice any sliding or bunching during dozens of workouts. Up front, the toe box sits lower and slightly narrower than the v4, creating a racier profile that still leaves enough room for natural toe splay. The result is a fit that locks the heel, hugs the midfoot and frees the forefoot, offering support without feeling restrictive. The shoe fits true-to-size for most, though wide-footed runners may consider a half-size up. On a run, it’s the kind of fit you stop thinking about entirely, which is exactly the point. The fit feels snug from heel to toe, in just the right way. Spencer Dukoff For Forbes Testing DNA: Elites First, Then Everyday Runners The development ladder for the v5 ran top-down, with New Balance runners Emily Sisson and Alex Yee validating early prototypes in New Balance’s Boston lab, followed by large-scale wear testing to make sure everyday runners—not just pros—benefit from its design. Since this is the fifth version of the SuperComp Elite, it’s less of a brand-new entry into the super shoe space and more of an evolution from previous models. Morfesi calls out two primary goals in moving from v4 to v5: more snap and a cleaner roll. To get there, New Balance increased drop from 4mm to 8mm, which results in improved propulsion and weight savings. They also redesigned the plate, making it 38% stiffer than the v4 and wider at the forefoot to deliver that final snap at toe-off. The redefined midsole shape enhances responsiveness, while the added heel padding and gusseted tongue are subtle comfort details that mostly go unnoticed. That means you’re not thinking about your shoes with 10K left in the race. The carbon plate does a lot of the heavy lifting, but the midsole is also propulsive and reactive. Spencer Dukoff For Forbes Things To Consider If you adored the v4’s broad platform and softness, you might not be on board with the v5. The new version is snappier and less plush, which is great for chasing down a PR, but less than great if you’re after plush cushioning. If you’re gunning for maximum speed and comfortable with a narrower fit and lighter base, you might consider the Nike Alphafly 3. Other forgiving, race-ready options include the Adidas Adios Pro 4 and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4. Ultimately, I’d say the SC Elite v5 falls somewhere in the middle of these super shoes by delivering a balanced ride that pairs high performance with stability and comfort. It’s also difficult to overlook this shoe’s price tag. You can still train in (and run marathons with) non-super shoes, especially if your primary focus is finishing. If this is your first marathon, skip the hype and go with something a little more pragmatic, like New Balance’s Fresh Foam X 1080 v14 (another shoe I tested and loved during training), or other best-sellers like the Hoka Mach 6. All of these will be more forgiving on your joints, and your bank account. This shoe doesn't miss, but that doesn't mean it's right for you on race day. Spencer Dukoff For Forbes Final Verdict Running a marathon is less about wearing the “fastest” shoe, and more about finding one that’ll keep you efficient and pain-free for 26.2 miles. The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 doesn’t chase gimmicks or explosive bounce, focusing instead on efficiency, control and comfort. It’s a super shoe designed in collaboration with some of the world’s top athletes, developed for run-of-the-mill marathoners like myself. If you’re running a long, punishing course like New York and hoping (praying? manifesting?) a PR on race day, it’s worth considering. How I Tested The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 To test the SuperComp Elite v5’s performance, I incorporated it into my training program for the 2025 New York City Marathon, logging everything from easy recovery miles to double-digit long runs and tempo sessions across several months. My focus was on how the shoe handled responsiveness, cushioning and stability over varied terrain—including roads in and around my home of Richmond, Virginia. I wore the v5 on back-to-back training days to gauge durability and midsole consistency. I tracked how the foam and carbon plate felt as the mileage climbed. And I rotated in other marathon shoes—both plated and non-plated styles—to better understand how the Elite v5 compared in comfort and energy return. Finally, I paid attention to fit and feel over time. This included how the upper adapted to foot swelling during long efforts, whether the gusseted tongue and heel padding prevented friction, and how the shoe held up in different weather conditions. The goal was to simulate the full race-day experience before stepping onto the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge for the marathon. Why Trust Forbes Vetted The Forbes Vetted team reviews performance footwear and training gear designed to help runners move better, recover faster and reach their goals. Whether you’re chasing a PR or training for your first marathon, the running shoes you choose should balance propulsion, comfort and long-haul stability. The author of this guide and Forbes Vetted off-platform content and strategy director, Spencer Dukoff, has spent years testing fitness, wellness and recovery products. A former Men’s Health deputy editor, he integrates new running gear, including shoes, apparel and tech, into his training programs to evaluate how products perform under real-world race conditions. For this review, Dukoff logged 150 miles in the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 as part of his 2025 New York City Marathon training, testing the shoe across easy runs, long runs and marathon-pace efforts. He also compared it with other top-tier shoes from Nike, Hoka, Asics, Altra and On to understand how it stacks up against the competition. The article was reviewed by Forbes Vetted gear editor Cam Vigliotta, who has more than six years of experience testing outdoors, fitness and wellness products. As a runner, he’s competed in races ranging from 5k to 50k, and a rotating cast of shoes allows him to test the latest models from the running industry’s top brands. 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