New Balance/Canva

New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 | £230 | Tester: Laura Fountain

A firm, punchy race shoe that wants you to put your foot down.

The New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 is the brand’s top-end carbon-plated racing shoe. This latest version is lighter and more focused on speed, with New Balance’s Infinion foam and a redesigned carbon-fibre plate.

While plenty of modern super shoes go big on soft, squishy cushioning, the Elite v6 takes a firmer approach. New Balance positions it as a marathon racer, but for me its more direct feel makes it better suited to racing shorter distances.

New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 technical details

Price: £230
Sizes: UK 3-9
Weight: 154g
Drop: 8mm drop
Stack: 40/32mm

Image: New Balance

New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 pros and cons

Pros

• Good energy return
• Light and punchy
• Secure racing fit

Cons

• Firmer than other carbon racers
• Not enough comfort under foot for longer distances

Who and what is the New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 for?

This is very much a race-day shoe. New Balance has made the Elite v6 lighter and more performance-focused, pairing its Infinion foam with a carbon-fibre plate to help propel you forwards. New Balance positions this as its top-end marathon racer, and some runners will happily use it for 26.2 miles. For me, though, its firmer, more direct feel makes much more sense over 5K, 10K and potentially a half marathon.

How does it fit?

It has a snug racing fit and I’d recommend going up half a size. I’m usually a UK 6 but I’ve been running in a UK 6.5, and even then it still feels snug. I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to go any smaller. I was slightly concerned when I first put the shoe on that the back of the heel might rub on my right foot. Once I started running, however, I didn’t notice it at all and it hasn’t caused me any problems.

Is the New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 comfortable?

This isn’t a shoe I’d choose primarily for comfort. It’s designed for speed and racing and you don’t get the really soft, squishy feeling underfoot that you find in some other carbon-plated race shoes. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Not everyone wants an incredibly soft racing shoe and there’s enough cushioning here for shorter races. But as the distance increases, I personally want something a little more forgiving.

Image: Laura Fountain

I’ve run 4 miles and 10k in this shoe so far. It’s a punchy shoe and it makes much more sense once you start running faster. Pick up the pace and you get some good energy return from the combination of the foam and carbon plate.

The Elite v6 seems to come alive when you start pushing the pace, with its faster, more responsive ride being one of the biggest improvements over the previous version.

It feels firmer and more direct than some of the other super shoes I’ve raced in. Rather than sinking into a big layer of soft foam, there’s a quicker feeling as you move through your stride. That works well when you’re pushing the pace and is one of the reasons I think I’d enjoy it most for 5K and 10K racing.

I could see it stretching comfortably to a half marathon too, but whether you’d want to take it further will depend on what you like from a race shoe. If you prefer a firmer, more direct racer, you may well enjoy it for the marathon. If, like me, you want more cushioning once you get into those really long distances, there are more comfortable options, including the New Balance SuperComp Rebel which is a fantastic shoe.

Where can I buy it?

The New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 is available from New Balance and selected retailers.

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