Type: Neutral/cushioned
Weight: 287.6g (M), 225.8g (W)
Heel/toe drop: 6mm
The shoe
Designed to provide ‘maximum performance on daily training runs’, the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer V2 is peppier and more propulsive than your average training shoe, but without the elite energy return (or price tag) of an all-singing all-dancing The 7 best Mizuno running shoes. We’d say it sits nicely among the likes of the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5: Same but different and Hoka Mach X – running shoes designed to provide an elevated training experience.
The latest iteration of the SC Trainer features a new, lighter FuelCell midsole foam, along with the same Energy Arc technology (more on this later) as the previous version. The latter is designed to create a livelier toe-off and increase energy return. However, the latest SC Trainer has seen a major change to its stack height, which lovers of the OG shoe may find controversial.
How is the SuperComp Trainer V2 different to the SuperComp Trainer V1?
The SC Trainer V2 shares some similarities with its predecessor, yet it’s undeniably different. Like the original version, it features a carbon fibre plate and New Balance’s Energy Arc technology. This is essentially a hollow channel or ‘void’ through the centre of the midsole, with the idea being that it allows the carbon plate to flatten into it during landing and rebound during take-off, increasing energy return. The result is a delightfully propulsive ride. In the newest iteration, the void is ever so slightly wider and has more sloping walls.
The biggest update is to the shoe’s stack height. Whereas most brands seem to be leaning towards increasing the stack height of their running shoes (largely due to the increased demand for max-cushioning), New Balance has decided to take away some of the height from the SuperComp Trainer instead – dropping from 47mm in the heel and 39mm in the forefoot, to 40mm at the heel and 34mm in the forefoot (changing the heel/toe drop from 8mm to 6mm). Of course, this is still seriously stacked by World Athletics’ standards, but it means the SC Trainer has gone from being a super-max cushioned shoe to simply a max-cushioned The 7 best Mizuno running shoes.
Further weight savings come from a new FuelCell midsole for increased energy return, and a redesigned mesh upper, which replaces the previous knit material. This, along with additional padding around the heel and collar, provides a lot more structure to the SC Trainer, increasing comfort over those longer miles and making the shoe feel much more like a traditional daily trainer. The previous iteration, while loved by many, felt like it didn’t quite know where it sat between a daily trainer and a The 7 best Mizuno running shoes.
What is the NB SuperComp Trainer V2 like to run in?
Despite the reduced stack height, I think the SC Trainer V2 is still a really fun shoe to run in. Thanks to the new FuelCell midsole foam, the ride is bouncy and light, and the propulsion you get from the Energy Arc helps you cruise along when your legs aren’t feeling so fresh. It doesn’t have the same level of ‘snappiness’, that something like the On Cloudmonster has, however, and the plate is fairly stiff, so if you’re a ‘toe-off’ runner, you might have to work a bit.
That being said, it’s surprisingly stable for such a stacked shoe, and while I wouldn’t describe it as a classic tempo trainer, it’s certainly capable of picking up the pace, particularly if you’re looking to add a bit of marathon pace into a longer training run.
I’ve found myself reaching for the SC Trainer V2 on those days when my legs are feeling heavy and fatigued, and I need some added bounce to help guide them along.
How does the SC Trainer V2 fit?
I often find I need to go up an extra half size from my usual running shoes in New Balance trainers, but the SC Trainer V2 feels like it fits a lot more true to size, with a decent amount of room in the toe box (even for wider feet). The midfoot will feel a little snug for some, but I personally think this helps to lock the foot in (important when you’re dealing with a high stack).
My only gripe is that the lacing felt a bit tight on the top of the foot, creating hotspots (something other testers have also noticed). I had to loosen them from the very bottom in order to avoid this, which was a pretty fiddly job, however, it seemed to do the trick.
The tongue is knitted and gusseted, and is attached to the upper via a few stitches on each side. Overall, it feels really breathable and doesn’t cause any irritation.
RW verdict
Updates to the upper, as well as the added structure around the heel and collar, give the SC Trainer V2 a much stronger identity as an elevated training shoe, rather than a shoe that lurks in some halfway land between a training shoe and a The 7 best Mizuno running shoes like its predecessor.
If you’re looking for a trainer What everyones reading The best running shoes for flat feet that break the 90-minute barrier, then the SC Trainer V2 fits the bill nicely. It’s especially well suited for those days when you fancy picking up the pace mid-run too, or when your legs are fatigued and need a helping hand.
Also available at sportsshoes.com
