New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2 vs v1 Comparison Running Shoe Review
The main difference between the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2 and the first New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer is the re-imagined midsole, with the latest New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 on a lower stack height and featuring less aggressive carbon-plated engineering.
Sportitude Running shoe expert Josh Willoughby reviews this new ‘super shoe’ that stays honest to the purpose of the New Balance SuperComp Trainer family – a versatile ride for easy runs, to shift the pace up a gear or even to compete on race day.
The outsoles are similar in their minimalist designs, but the engineered mesh upper has been tweaked with strategically placed ventilation channels and a lighter weight in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 running shoes. The trade off for weight savings is typically reduced support. However, New Balance complement the lighter weight with a longer lacing system to make it easy to personalise the pressure and gain a precise, locked-in fit.
Where the most dramatic change comes into play is the midsole. The stack height has been reduced by 7mm – creating a responsive and more close-to-ground feel. The soft FuelCell technology is on a wider base from heel to forefoot, boosting stability and durability while protecting heel strikers when landing first in this high-impact zone.
The new engineering of the Energy Arc carbon plate creates a more traditional feel without sacrifice to the springy rebound effect. When paired with the lower stack height, it offers a more accessible 'super shoe' to cater to a wider spectrum of runners.
Check out the review with full transcript below.
Hey guys, Josh here from Sportitude Running. It is shoe review time today and I have the very exciting New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2 running shoes, which came from the reputable and popular New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer running shoes.
New Balance had great success with this running shoe in the back half of 2022 and in the front half of 2023. A lot of runners took this up and have thoroughly enjoyed what this running shoe has been all about.
New Balance have taken that experience and rolled it into the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 and made some significant improvements.
In today's review we're going to talk about the big differences between the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 from the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 to give you all the information that you need at home to potentially make this your next shoe purchase. Without further ado, let's get stuck in.
Who Is The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2 For?
First things first, let's talk about why the New Balance SuperComp Trainer running shoes even exists in the first place.
Off the back of the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1, New Balance executed a running shoe that was going to be so versatile. It was running shoe that a lot of runners gravitated towards for easy days out on the roads. Some runners were also looking to offload that forefoot with the aggressive rocker and the carbon plate that had been executed inside the midsole.
It’s also for runners that are stuck between a few running shoes. They might want a running shoe to do a couple of things for them like easy days or picking up the pace. I know some runners that even grabbed the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 for racing as well.
These triathletes couldn't tolerate the lightweight or the lack of stability in true pure performance racing shoes, but wanted that push and pop in their transition, and the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 gave them exactly that.
It is a versatile shoe which has made it very successful in this ‘super trainer’ category. Let's start talking about the differences between the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 and version 1.
Outsole
The concept is the same with the a relatively minimalistic outsole. With the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 we have a vertical decoupled line which is a cutaway into the midsole where you can see the carbon plate positioning. An outsole pod sits on the carbon plate to provide an element of protection the plate needs, so you're not going to get any unnecessary wear.
It’s the exact same thing regarding the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2. However, the compounded rubber has slightly changed to complement the midsole changes in this running shoe.
The execution is pretty similar, filling in that lateral border with a durable, hard-wearing foam and that vertical decoupled line cutaway in the midsole. It highlights that carbon plate or that Energy Arc technology which New Balance have executed in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 and the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1.
Upper
Jumping to the upper of this running shoe, the material that New Balance have used in the upper execution is exactly the same with an engineered mesh.
However, you can see visually there are changes regarding where the ventilation channels and overlays are in the lateral side, forefoot and medial side.
When a brand is addressing an upper change, they want to make sure that if they've executed a really good one which they did in the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v1, they don't want to tweak things too much.
The biggest change regarding the execution of the upper is actually the weight. They've used the same technology, but the upper itself is a lighter construction in the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2. If you have a lighter upper construction and you use the same lacing configuration and the same heel counter configuration, you're probably going to lose support.
The laces actually come further down the foot in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 in comparison to the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1. The latter had an anatomical lace configuration to get that conformed fit on top of the arch.
Considering it was on a higher stack, they had to really dial in that anatomical fit with the laces to make sure that the arch stayed on top of the platform. New Balance could take a little bit more of a relaxed approach with the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2. I use the term 'relax' tongue-in-cheek as they certainly didn't get lazy on this upper configuration.
However, by having a lighter construction they executed a slightly longer lace gauge which provided a more secure saddle fit in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2.
The other significant change comes in the execution of the heel counter and heel collar. The heel counter in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 was internal and it was the same thing in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2. We have an internal heel counter that's almost the exact same configuration and the same amount of support around the back of your heel.
However, in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 we had that almost inverted tilt towards the back of your Achilles insertion and there's a lot of soft padding at the back.
In the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 we get the same angular tilt towards the back of that Achilles insertion into your calcaneus, but then we also have that Achilles flare.
Therefore, it looks like it's deeper but it is not. The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 just has that Achilles flare to provide an element of comfort, minimising the amount of friction on that vertical line for your heel and how it sits inside the running shoe.
They also had what I’m going to call a 'collar cage' in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 where the upper came up a little bit higher around the running shoe. It wasn't for support, it was more just for comfort and potentially trying to get a conformed fit around the top of that that foot underneath the ankle bones.
In the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2, it’s more of a traditional fit regarding the heel collar and the amount of padding they have used for the overall comfort.
The other thing I like about the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 is the tongue. It's thinner than what I found with the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1. Previously, the overall fit in construction was a bit more of a bootie-like setup with a bit more elasticity in the tongue.
It was a nice conformed fit, but what we have found with the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 is you get the gusseted construction, but the tongue is a little bit thinner. You can use the appropriate amount of laces to personalise the pressure and the support on top.
There’s a little bit more flexibility on offer regarding getting the dialled in fit that you prefer with your upper in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2.
Midsole
Let's get to the fun part of this review and talk all things midsole. While there's been change in the outsole and significant change in the upper, a lot of the changes come to how New Balance have executed that midsole with this running shoe.
It's a big risk because they wanted to maintain the momentum with the success of the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v1. With what they have done with New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2, I can confidently say I like what this running shoe represents.
Let's talk about the statistics of both midsoles. We have an 8mm heel-to-toe offset in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 and that was through a 47mm heel and a 39mm forefoot.
The new New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 has a 6mm offset, so we're going a little bit lower in the heel-to-toe pitch and we're going a lot closer to the ground. We now have 40mm in the heel and 34mm in the forefoot, so the overall stack height has changed by 7mm - that is a lot of change.
However, New Balance have identified what they needed to do with the next iteration of this running shoe and they have absolutely nailed it.
There’s FuelCell technology on offer in both the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 and the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1. They executed it in a slightly different format regarding the overall geometry of the positioning of this foam.
It’s a little bit wider in the heel base, so therefore it's going to be more compliant for heel strikers. They've flared out the medial side of the outsole and provided more real estate for the midsole. As you're coming through to the forefoot it is a slightly broader platform as well.
While we have come closer to the ground with stack height, they've actually increased the surface area so you get more of a wider geometry setup which I think is a fantastic play by New Balance.
That was probably the only criticism we found with the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1. It was really nice high stack and a really effortless roll through the midstance to toe-off phase. Having a higher stack height can get quite aggressive with a carbon plate or the Energy Arc positioning.
What I found interesting was that the carbon plate in the version 1 starts a little bit closer to the ground underneath the heel. It comes up towards your midfoot and that allows it, with the amount of stack height we have on offer, to get relatively aggressive regarding the dip of the carbon plate through to the forefoot.
That was a good thing because it provided a really snappy, easy roll through the front half of the gait cycle of this running shoe. A lot of runners really liked that and really enjoyed it.
Some runners found it a bit too aggressive. When you get a bit aggressive with that rocker, a percentage of runners will re-supinate out of the gait cycle because they want control and they use their first metatarsal to restabilise their forefoot.
That was probably one small criticism of this running shoe where they didn't absolutely nail the execution of that carbon plate for all the masses. However, the majority of people loved what that midsole did and what it did for performance for them on their runs.
Going to the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2, being a lower stack height brands need to get quite creative with providing a similar amount of compression, cushioning, stability and response through the forefoot. That is what New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 running shoes had made their name on.
It's a very cushioned and honest roll through to the forefoot, but New Balance addressed that they wanted to come a little bit closer to the ground with the stack height. Therefore, they increased the surface area of that midsole, providing a nice broad platform to offer a really stable ride.
The FuelCell technology is a really soft fibre underneath the body. The carbon plate starts a bit closer to the ground. It’s a little bit more of a traditional setup with the carbon plate to what we've been used to in the last 5 years.
The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 was very unique in its design, engineering and execution. However, in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 is a bit more traditional regarding what they have done with the carbon plate, but I like what New Balance have done with the execution.
The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 midsole is very soft and when you're making a soft shoe, it can bottom out quickly if you don't have too much structure and integrity within that midsole. By lowering the stack height and repositioning that carbon plate, you're potentially going to get a little bit more durability out of this running shoe than what we did last year.
I say potentially because I haven't done enough kilometres inside the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 to justify my statement, however the overall performance is what we're looking at, and this shoe performs very well.
It provides a fantastic entry, is really stable through midstance and I like the amount of response that the running shoe provides on toe-off which is absolutely fantastic.
Summary
That’s a lot of information to take in with reference to what New Balance have done from the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer to the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2.
We have really good coverage from the overall outsole execution. Looking at that medial and lateral border on the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 from version 1, they've executed a similar concept.
The vertical decoupled line which is taking out components of the midsole is a little bit narrower in New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 than in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2. That's why the forefoot pod is a little bit more elongated in its design, so it covers more surface area of that carbon plate, showing off what New Balance have been renowned for with the Energy Arc technology.
Coming to the midsole, that's probably where most of the changes occurred. The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 is lower in stack height with a 40mm heel and 34mm forefoot for that offset of 6mm.
Last year it was 47mm in the heel and 39mm in the forefoot for a variance of 8mm, so there's a significant change regarding the overall stack height. There’s FuelCell technology on play and a carbon plate from heel to forefoot in both running shoes.
However, being on a lower stack height, the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 offers a slightly more smoother transition through the forefoot with reference to last year. The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 was quite aggressive in the angle of approach through to the front half of this running shoe.
The upper is the same technology with engineered mesh, however executed in slightly different ways. The lacing construction comes a bit further down in the forefoot and the little Achilles flare provides a really nice conformed, comfortable fit around the back of the heel in comparison to what they had last year.
Josh's Subjective Opinion
For a quick summary on the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2, I am a big fan. I liked the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer, but I love the version 2. I know a Iot of runners out there will be some people who won't like the version 2 as much as the version 1.
That is totally fine and that is perfectly normal. When brands make changes, it doesn't mean everyone's going to love it, but I certainly feel by lowering the stack height what New Balance have been able to execute is a lighter shoe.
The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 running shoe is versatile. It's designed to go out on the road for easy days, to pick the pace up and to race in for some runners as well.
It is almost 50 grams lighter than it was last year in the men's size 9.5. The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 weighs 275 grams in the men's size 9.5 and the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 weighed 320 grams in a men's size 9.5. That's 45 grams of variance which is significant for a size 9.5.
Do the math as you go up to size 10, 11, 12 and so on. That number will grow in the variance in weight from the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 to the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2.
The weight of the women’s model has also undergone a significant change, with 226 grams in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 compared to the 265 grams in the previous version.
That's a good thing because the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1 was absolutely fantastic, but it was a little bit on the heavy side and that was probably the overall criticism of that running shoe.
It was fantastic for easy days, it's great to pick the pace up and obviously racing in for some people, but it was on the heavier side of running shoe weight.
By dropping the weight, lowering that stack height and executing a nice conformed upper, I think New Balance absolutely nailed the brief in the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2.
I am extremely confident a lot of runners will enjoy this running shoe and it’s actually a little bit more accessible because it is a slightly lower stack height.
Having a 47mm stack height like last year's model, for someone getting into that running shoe for the first time it was significantly different than probably where they have come from with a traditional mileage shoe.
By making the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 more accessible by lowering the stack height to 40mm and having a 6mm offset, a lot of runners will be able to transition into this shoe with more ease than the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1.
The Wrap Up
That is my take on the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2. If you have any comments, questions or theories about this running shoe, please contact our Sportitude shoe experts.
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FEATURES
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2
- Support: Neutral
- Upper: Mesh
- Midsole: New Balance FuelCell
- Heel Height: 40mm
- Forefoot Height: 34mm
- Offset / Drop: 6mm
Men
- Weight: 275g / 9.7oz (US 9)
- Width: D (standard)
Women
- Weight: 226g / 8oz
- Width: B (standard)
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer
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