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Following an injury-related DNF at my final marathon, I used to be prepared and keen to attempt one thing completely different forward of the New York Metropolis Marathon. Shoutout to Amanda for setting me up with New Steadiness’s newest and biggest so I can deliver you a New Steadiness FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 evaluation simply in time for race day!
Let’s see how New Steadiness’s carbon-plated racer dealt with all 5 boroughs of the New York Metropolis Marathon. I imply, there’s no higher place to check a racing shoe than in a World Main, proper?
My first impression of the SuperComp Elite was that it LOOKS comfy. That has by no means been my preliminary considered any plated shoe, so straight away I knew I used to be in retailer for one thing completely different.
My eyes instantly gravitated to the thick foam surrounding the arched carbon plate. A bit consolation, slightly velocity? Don’t thoughts if I do! And my goodness, the SuperComp Elite was a easy and speedy tour information on my date with the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon.
I’m at all times trustworthy in my shoe opinions as I would like you all to search out the shoe that works finest for you. I’ve but to search out that unicorn shoe (sounds cool, proper?) the place I can’t discover one thing I’d modify, however hey, perhaps that is the one!
Who Is It Good For?
Who’s New Steadiness FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 a superb match for? Let’s break it down with some frequent classes:
- Large Ft: Not like many carbon plated footwear, we do suppose this one will work for wider toes. AND it’s out there in huge.
- Heavier Runners: The width of the shoe provides a pleasant contact of stability, so that they’re nice for runners with wider toes or those that have ankle points.
- Lengthy Runs: 100% that is designed to hold you over the miles with good cushion, assist and vitality return
- Entrance of the Pack: We expect that is going to attraction extra to the center of the pack runners.
To put it out by way of paces, the SuperComp Elite is ideal for anybody who’s seeking to run a marathon in 3:40:00 or extra. Anybody seeking to it quicker than that may have a look-see at extra aggressive carbon-plated races just like the Saucony Endorphin Elite or the Nike Vaporfly 3.
New Steadiness Gas Cell SuperComp Elite v4 Evaluate
I logged round 50 miles within the SuperComp Elite. This mileage included shorter speedwork classes (4×400, 4×800) forward of my journey, in addition to just a few relaxed efforts, a Central Park shakeout, and the whole New York Metropolis Marathon (together with navigating out of the finishers’ space and again to my resort…woof).
The SuperComp Elite is New Steadiness’s high-performance carbon-plated racing shoe, designed for long-distance runners in search of a mix of velocity, responsiveness, and cushioning.
The shoe boasts an attention-grabbing colour scheme and distinctive geometric design, in addition to simple rocker form. And the midsole is THICK, manufactured from peba foam (extra on that in a bit), layered round a skinny carbon fiber plate.
And the outsole is created from a sturdy rubber and options the geometric sample for extra traction. None of us wish to slip and slide throughout a race, proper?!
The toe field is beneficiant with loads of room to splay your toes each which method. The SuperComp Elite is obtainable in huge, which is uncommon for a brilliant shoe, so props to New Steadiness for remembering our wide-footed mates!
The higher is manufactured from an ethereal mesh that gives simply the correct quantity of assist when mixed with the normal lacing design. The tongue is comparatively skinny however does characteristic a centered information loop to assist maintain it in place. I do want the tongue was a contact longer, because it tends to slide beneath the lace line. Not an enormous inconvenience, however value calling out.
The collar does trip a bit excessive, so there may be potential for irritation when you favor to put on low or no-show socks. I favor to put on quarter socks, so it was a non-issue for me, however I don’t need any of you coping with blisters!
Whereas it doesn’t have the bouncy really feel frequent to different tremendous footwear, the SuperComp Elite does provide outstanding consolation not present in its counterparts. For those who’re searching for a cushioned and speedy plated race day shoe for a half-marathon and past, the SuperComp Elite must be your new working mate.
New Steadiness Gas Cell SuperComp Elite v4 Specs
The midsole consists of New Steadiness’s proprietary FuelCell PEBA foam wrapped round a skinny carbon plate.
New Steadiness dubbed the combo of the carbon plate, foam, and geometric midsole design the Power Arc, which appears like one thing from a comic book e-book film…however is alleged to ship a excessive quantity of vitality return whereas offering an aesthetic trip.
Bear in mind after I talked about the footwear rubber outsole?
One sudden impediment surfaced through the race at just a few of the help station zones as there have been pockets of cups, gatorade, and water blanketing the streets. The unbelievable volunteers had been hustling to half the ocean nevertheless it was SLIPPERY. The outsole and the shoe’s grip had been each excellent as I maneuvered by means of these areas unscathed with out ever shedding traction.
The SuperComp Elite has my vote of confidence in moist situations!
SuperComp Elite v4 Match
Once you’re buying racing footwear for a half-marathon or longer distance, I extremely suggest bumping up a half-size. Our toes are inclined to swell throughout longer races, so having slightly further room can spare your toes a little bit of ache throughout and after (and perhaps save a toenail or two).
That being mentioned, I usually put on a dimension 11 however opted for an 11.5 within the SuperComp Elite. From my expertise, this shoe runs true to dimension.
I discovered the match of the SuperComp Elite to be a contact on the broader aspect. And the mixture of the shoe’s width and durable higher introduced an sudden, however reassuring stability ingredient to the match.
Earlier, I discussed the shoe’s beneficiant toe field, however I wish to add that I felt safe within the midfoot and higher, and locked down within the heel collar. I skilled zero points with hotspots or my toes slipping. As somebody with extra slender toes, the shoe carried out brilliantly for me.
One small nitpick I’ve is with the laces themselves, that are rounded and tremendous skinny. I’m speaking, attempt tying your shoe with cooked spaghetti noodles skinny. Nevertheless, they’re an acceptable size and I didn’t run into any hassle with them coming untied.
Really feel
The few classes I had within the SuperComp Elite forward of the NYC Marathon had been implausible. The shoe felt quick, cushioned, and responsive. After working my method again from an damage on the finish of the summer season, I used to be seeking to get pleasure from a relaxed effort, with an choice to take slightly chew out of the Huge Apple over the past 10K if I used to be feeling good.
Palms downs, this was my most comfy expertise carrying a plated tremendous shoe in a marathon.
In races previous after I’ve worn different carbon-plated tremendous footwear (notably the Saucony Endorphin Elite and the Nike Alphafly 2) and skilled foot discomfort within the later phases of the races (largely from mile 20 and after) the place each footwear felt agency and unforgiving. The bounce and reasonable consolation they displayed within the first few miles had been lengthy gone.
I solely level this out as a result of my expertise with the SuperComp Elite was the precise reverse from what I simply described: easy crusing from the Begin to the End Line.
The shoe encompasses a delicate rocker form that gives a comfortable touchdown and mild ahead propulsion. Whether or not you’re a heel striker, midfoot runner, or forefoot flyer, it delivers consolation in each stride.
The arch of the carbon plate helps create ahead momentum, by giving your heel that little little bit of carry.
The NYC Marathon course options quite a lot of challenges, together with a number of bridges (views galore), loads of climbing and quick descents, genuine New York Metropolis potholes, and a jaunt by means of Central Park. And I’m completely happy to say, the SuperComp Elite swiftly conquered every considered one of these challenges.
I took within the majority of the race at my endurance tempo, which is round 8:20/mile and skilled ZERO foot discomfort. I surged just a few instances on a depend of the raucous crowds (Brooklyn and Queens are my faves) and located the shoe transitioned seamlessly to quicker paces (I maxed out at 7:12/mile).
For as soon as, I caught to my race plan, had loads within the tank for the ultimate miles, and crossed the end line feeling bulletproof. The SuperComp Elite was the proper match for me on the New York Metropolis Marathon.
Sadly, the SuperComp Elite’s standout characteristic comes with just a few strings hooked up.
That cushioning is phenomenal, however the tradeoff is that the shoe lacks vitality return and the snappy really feel we’ve come to count on in plated supershoes. It’s the quickest NB shoe so far however it’s nowhere close to the speediest racer available on the market.
SuperComp Elite v4 vs SuperComp Elite v3
I haven’t logged many miles within the earlier model of the SuperComp Elite however right here’s a breakdown of how the v3 and v4 evaluate.
- v4 is barely heavier at 8.1 oz vs v3 at 7.7 oz
- New Steadiness resigned the higher, choosing a supportive, mesh higher in v4 departing from the bootie development higher of v3.
- The midsole foam of v4 is manufactured from Peba foam, which is firmer than the blended foam featured in v3, however produces higher vitality return.
- The texture of v4 is barely firmer and quicker, with v3 feeling extra plush and spongy.
The v4 does have extra of a bouncy racing shoe really feel, however maintains sufficient of the consolation that made v3 a hit. For those who had been a fan of v3, I’ve a good suggestion what your subsequent buy goes to be.
Plated Racers Much like the New Steadiness Gas Cell SuperComp Elite
Trying to see what could be much like resolve if that is the best match for you. Listed here are some we’d checklist:
And when you’re searching for extra, checkout out our Greatest Carbon Plated Operating Footwear >>
Who Will Not Like The SuperComp Elite
- Runners in search of a sub 3:40:00 marathon.
- Entrance of the packers seeking to faucet into speeds quicker than their half marathon tempo
- These searching for an aggressive plated tremendous shoe with a quick really feel and powerful ahead propulsion.
- Runners in search of the quickest of quick racing footwear
And that’s our official New Steadiness FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 evaluation!
We’d love to listen to your suggestions. Have you ever run on this or different NB footwear? Drop a remark under. All of it helps different runners who’re deciding what shoe to attempt subsequent.