The New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer is one of the most requested shoes on the blog. Why? It’s a brand new shoe performance racing shoe. In the next few months, New Balance will be coming out with:
- New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer: the max cushioned trainer.
- New Balance FuelCell Elite Racer: Designed for racing.
- New Balance FuelCell Supercomp: Designed for speed work.
The closest shoe I’ve found to the NB FuelCell Supercomp Trainer is the Hoka Bondi X. It is Interesting the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer replaces the Fuelcell TC, which was one of my favorite shoes. It feels like a million years ago, but it still came out during the pandemic. I digress.
Compared to the Fuelcell TC, the NB FuelCell Supercomp Trainer has a wider base, making it more stable. New Balance also claims the NB FuelCell Supercomp Trainer can store and return 40% more energy than the Fuelcell TC.
New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer Quick Facts:
Weight: 10.2 oz
Heel to Toe Drop: 8 mm
Cost: $179.99
New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer Introduction:
Brand new models can be hit and miss. Some are great like the Saucony Tempus…others are just ok or even mediocre. It’s always interesting to try new models and that is just what the New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Trainer is. Just picking up the NB FuelCell Supercomp Trainer, you can’t look past how heavy this shoe looks. It’s a chonk. It’s not a lightweight shoe. Even compared to other maximalist trainers, the NB FuelCell Supercomp Trainer is heavy.
New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer Fit:
The FuelCell Supercomp Trainer is constructed with a light, breathable upper. It’s amazing how heavy the midsole is, yet how light and airy the upper is. The toe box has a large mentalization hole, and the entire upper is rough. It kind of reminds me of the Asics Metaspeed Edge.
The tongue wraps around your midfoot and keeps your foot secure. I always believe the best running shoe uppers disappear off your foot and the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer does just that. There are no hot spots or weird areas. Another thing to remember, and maybe why the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer has been so popular, is that it’s available in wide. Before now, there hasn’t been a wide carbon plated shoe, and now there is!
In running shoes, I typically wear between a size 10-11 wide. The FuelCell Supercomp Trainer in size 10.5 fits the best.
New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer Ride:
A lot is happening in the FuelCell Supercomp Trainer, and they all seem to mesh well. I wasn’t really sure what to expect because it’s a lot of shoe and it’s hard to picture running fast in them.
There is a deep decoupled groove underneath the FuelCell Supercomp Trainer which helps give it an energetic ride. Your foot sinks into the foam and the groove contracts and propels you forward. This makes it more flexible than the Fuelcell TC and RC Elite v2.
What about the carbon plate? The carbon plate is one of the most flexible out there but it also has a unique shape. It curves outward, and once the carbon plate flattens, it snaps back into shape. Together the outsole groove and carbon plate work to return energy. New Balance has coined this the “EnergyArc.”
Durability and Traction: The bottom of the FuelCell Supercomp Trainer has a rubber covering on the forefoot and two vertical strips that protect the rear foot. There is an exposed midsole, which means the shoe will wear down faster and not provide as much traction. The New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer is already a heavy shoe, and more rubber makes it more serious, but we do not need more shoes with exposed rubber. Anyway, I’ve put about 100 miles on the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer and noticed it’s wearing down reasonably quickly. I predict I’ll get 200-250 miles out of it. It’s not my favorite shoe for inclement weather due to the exposed rubber. It’s “fine” but not my favorite, and there are other shoes that perform better.
I was unsure of where the FuelCell Supercomp Trainer would fit into my rotation. The Fuelcell TC was a great trainer for faster-paced work. I used it for longer runs where I wanted to go fast (not race pace but faster than usual). I’ve found the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer to be similar. It’s easier to pick up the pace, but they are too bulky for a racing shoe. I like the ride and mostly use them for longer, faster days.
Warning:
Finally, this is important. If you are racing in the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer, it isn’t allowed to be used if you expect/anticipate to place in a race. The stack height is too high, and it is easy to get disqualified. Honestly, I don’t know many people who would want to race in the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer just based on how heavy it is. But keep it in mind.
New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer Conclusion:
In all, I’m a fan of the FuelCell Supercomp Trainer. I appreciate all of the cushion and how soft it is. While expensive, I’m not entirely sure if the NB FuelCell Supercomp Trainer “is worth it.” Why? You can’t use it in World Athletics Races, but the durability isn’t as good as other shoes at that price. But it’s an excellent option for the 200-250 miles you get life out of it.
My Current Shoe Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs: New Balance 1080v12, Diadora Mythos Blushield Volo, Saucony Triumph 19, Brooks Launch 9,
Speed Work: Brooks Hyperion Elite 3, Altra Vanish Carbon, 361 Flame, Nike Tempo Next%, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike ZoomX Streakfly, Reebok Floatride Energy X
Long Runs: NB Fuelcell Supercomp Trainer, Saucony Freedom 4, Hoka Clifton Edge,
Trail Running/Hiking: Brooks Caldera 6, Saucony Peregrine 12, Hoka Torrent 2, Hoka Zinal Shoe, Speedland SL: PDX,
Races: Nike ZoomX Streakfly, Asics Metaspeed Sky, Hoka One One Rocket X, adidas Adizero Pro, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Saucony Endorphin Pro 2, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
Have you tried the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Trainer?
What is your favorite running shoe?