New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 Introduction

New Balance is very good at classifying their running shoes.

• The Fresh Foam series which consists of shoes such as the 1080, 880, Balos and More is for slow training.
• The FuelCell series which consists of shoes such as the Rebel, SC Elite, SC Trainer, and SC Pacer are for fast training and racing.
• If it has SC (SuperComp) in its name, it has a carbon plate in it.

This makes it easy for runners who are not familiar with New Balance to pick the right shoe.

The FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 is a versatile, maximalist shoe for racing or training. Running Warehouse says that the SuperComp Trainer is a super shoe built to deliver race day performance to everyday training.

The SuperComp Trainer is essentially the training companion to the SuperComp Elite, which is New Balance’s flagship long-distance racer.

I put more mileage on last year’s SuperComp Trainer v2 than any other speed trainer I own. I really enjoyed how much deep cushioning it provided and how stable its ride was. l used it for steady-paced and long runs when I was craving a soft ride but I also wanted energy return.

This year’s SC Trainer has a listed weight of 9.6 oz (271 g) for a men’s US 9. My pair weighs 9.4 oz (266 g). This is 0.2 oz (6 g) less than version 2. The stack heights remain the same at 40mm/34mm (6 mm drop) as does its price at $180.

From a design perspective, it’s difficult to tell this year’s FuelCell range apart. From a distance, it’s almost impossible to tell if it’s the New Balance Rebel v4, SC Elite v4 or SC Trainer v3 because they all have the same midsole shape and their colourways follow the same theme.

In the past, this strategy has worked well for brands like Saucony with their Endorphin Speed and Pro.

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 First Impressions

My first run in the SC Trainer v3 was a 35 kilometre Saturday long run. The first part of that run was at threshold pace while the second part was easy. V3 was comfortable for the entire run: smooth, stable and abundantly cushioned.

The ride was slightly firmer than last year’s version but I don’t mind a firmer ride for a speed trainer because it makes it feel faster. The forefoot also felt stiffer than v2 due to the new forefoot design.

It reminded me of a slightly heavier ASICS Superblast 2 but with a softer ride. The Superblast has more relaxed transitions as it has no plate and its forefoot can flex.

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 Upper

The SC Trainer v3’s upper feels thinner and more breathable than version 2. It has ventilation holes on the top of the toe-box, and the side panels are thinner for increased air flow.

The gusseted tongue is surprisingly more padded than v2 so there’s more comfort on the top of your feel. A loop on the tongue for the laces to pass through prevents any tongue slide. I find overall foot lockdown to be excellent.

It fits true to size but the forefoot and toe-box are very narrow. Some recommend going up a half size but I like my foot to be over the rocker and not behind it so true to size felt perfect for me. I do not recommend this for wide-footed runners.

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 Sole Unit

A good training companion should feel very similar to its racing counterpart- if it does, the designers have done a good job. Some of the other training companions feel nothing like their racing companions: the Saucony Endorphin Speed and Nike Zoom Fly come to mind. My first thought when I ran in the SC Trainer v3 was that it feels remarkably similar to the SC Elite v4.

In the midsole of the SC Trainer v3, the FuelCell foam isn’t fully PEBA (like in the SC Elite v4) but it’s a PEBA-EVA blend. This makes it more durable but heavier and not as bouncy. Compared to last year’s version, v3 is firmer, with a more prominent forefoot rocker.

The SC Trainer v3 feels like the fastest version to date. It’s less squishy than its predecessors so when you load it, it doesn’t take as long to decompress.

I enjoy using the SC Trainer v3 for all types of runs but I think its speciality is long runs. I’m currently in the depths of marathon training so I’m doing a lot of medium and long-distance runs.

The SC Trainer v3 is perfect for these types of steady paced training runs because it’s well-cushioned, very stable and efficient. It also has the ability to pick up the pace at the drop of a hat. During recovery and easy runs, it feels alright but not very special.

The central channel that runs underneath the shoe is only in the rearfoot and midfoot. In previous versions, it extended into the forefoot. This means that in v3, there’s more foam in the forefoot- it’s stiffer and the cushioning feels more substantial.

The main reason version 3 is my favourite version to date is that it feels faster. The firmer ride makes it easier to pick up the pace, so it now feels more like a speed trainer and less like a do-it-all daily trainer. Tempo runs, intervals and threshold runs are all more enjoyable in the v3.

Outsole traction is an improvement over version 2. There is more contact with the ground, so it feels grippier. I wore it in the rain once and traction was good. It also feels more stable than previous versions because the outsole design is flatter.

There’s rubber coverage on the high wear areas of the outsole so the SC Trainer v3 won’t wear out prematurely. On my pair, some of the rubber in certain areas has smoothened but that’s normal for my running style.

New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 Conclusions

Version 3 of the SC Trainer is an excellent update and it’s better than v2 in almost every way: it’s lighter, faster and more stable. The upper is also thinner and more breathable. V2 had a softer ride but the increase in midsole firmness is the main reason v3 feels faster.

While its PEBA-EVA blend midsole doesn’t deliver the most energy return on the market, the combination of the plate, the rocker and the foam make it very easy to pick up the pace. The SC Trainer v3 is a fun shoe that I look forward to running in every time.

New Balance could improve it further by reducing its weight. 9.4 oz is heavier than the Endorphin Speed 4, Magic Speed 4, Deviate Nitro 3 and Boston 12.

Version 3 feels less comfortable during easy runs than predecessors and it’s now more speed oriented. It will stay in my rotation as it’s perfect for uptempo long runs. This would be a great budget marathon racer for a midpack runner.

If you can’t get the Superblast 2 due to stock shortages, the SC Trainer v3 is a great alternative and is $20 cheaper.

It’s a little bit heavier but it has more top end speed than the Superblast 2 because of its carbon plate.