New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer Review

Upper

Connor F: "The SuperComp's upper has a no-sew construction, with a semi-stretchy mesh material. The upper had just enough stretch to provide a bit of roominess, and it also didn't lack a secure lockdown. Unfortunately, the rear of the shoe has a reinforced heel cup, and the stitching on the top edges rubbed on the bottom of my ankle bones. In the past, I have had issues with shoes that implement a similar design, so I was not too surprised that I had challenges while testing the SuperComp Trainer, but it was a bit of a letdown nonetheless. On another note, the laces also have a slight stretch that helps hold my foot in place regardless of pace. The midfoot cage is a nice touch that further adds to the SuperComp Trainer's secure design. Finally, I cannot forget to mention the upper's sleek aesthetic. I received the Glo colourway, and it looks fantastic."

Jonathan: "The SuperComp Trainer's premium stretch-knit upper with gusseted tongue fit me well and was comfortable and secure throughout testing. I did not experience the same challenges with the heel collar as Connor, and it caused me no irritation. That said, the shoe's asymmetrical lace alignment did not provide an ideal fit for my lower-volume feet, but the lockdown wasn't a problem. The upper's breathability was fairly average compared to similar shoes and was not at the level I was hoping for."

Midsole

Connor F: "The giant slab of FuelCell foam is soft, responsive, and smooth. The midsole foam is shaped around a large void that runs from under the heel through most of the forefoot. In the void, you can see the concave carbon fibre plate, which New Balance calls Energy Arc. New Balance's concept behind the plate and the void is that when landing, the plate is supposed to bow into the void and then deliver a snappy energy return at toe-off, much like a trampoline. The SuperComp Trainer has an enjoyable ride, and I am loving how the FuelCell foam performs over different distances and paces. That said, I do not feel like the shoe is helping me run any easier, and the Energy Arc plate does not seem to add to the midsole's energy return, so I am a little torn overall."

Jonathan: "A standout feature of the shoe is the high energy return from the FuelCell midsole foam. If you are a heel striker or land on the outer edge of the shoe, then the midsole will feel soft and smooth underfoot. For midfoot strikers like myself, the shoe has a slappy feel and leans toward the firm side."

Outsole

Connor F: "The outsole is minimal and makes the shoe stick to road surfaces. The rubber on the outsole grips surfaces well and protects the heel and forefoot from wear. These are road-only shoes, as the outsole does not provide much traction on hard-packed dirt, grass, or more gravely paths. The large stack height with the carbon plate keeps the shoe feeling protective, and the outsole adds slightly to the protection."

Jonathan: "The outsole is thin with some exposed foam. I had no issues with traction or wear, but I only used the shoe in dry conditions on concrete."

Comparable Shoes

Connor F: "First I'd note the Saucony Endorphin Speed (1, 2, 3). I can see this as a targeted competitor by New Balance. The Endorphin Speed is much lighter and much more energised. If I was looking for a shoe for faster-paced runs or even for some racing, then the Endorphin would be my choice over the New Balance SC Trainer. However, the SC Trainer is a smoother shoe that provides a very comfortable and adaptable ride. The SC Trainer is a better shoe for everyday training runs at slower paces, and the SC Trainer's design is more forgiving than your typical carbon-plated running shoe. 

I'd also compare the SC Trainer to the HOKA Bondi X. These two shoes are similar in that they are max-stack trainers with an embedded carbon fibre plate. While the SC Trainer is heavier, the FuelCell foam is much more fun to run in and would be my choice over the Bondi X for everyday runs and slightly faster efforts."

Jonathan: "I think the SC Trainer is good in concept, but it just does not work the best for me. A high-stack shoe with a supercritical foam compound and a carbon fibre plate should make running fast seem easy. I did not experience that magical 'running feels effortless' feeling, and I prefer to run long and fast in shoes like adidas adizero Adios Pro 3. Granted, Adios Pro are race-day shoes, but still, the SC Trainer does not come close in terms of speed. I prefer the lower stacked and much lighter-weight Rebel for tempo runs and workouts. I would also choose the Fresh Foam More for recovery days and the New Balance 1080 for daily training."