New Balance SuperComp Elite v6

The New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 is the Boston brand's racing shoe and, at last, the first in the line to truly stand among the best super shoes on the market. After several generations in which the SC Elite sat halfway between a lightweight trainer and a racer, New Balance has made the definitive leap: the v6 is a shoe for running fast, no ifs or buts.

As for what is new compared with the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5, the most important change is in the midsole, which drops the PEBA FuelCell foam for the new Infinion, a lighter and much more responsive supercritical compound that debuted in the 1080 v15. The FantomFit mesh upper is even thinner and more translucent, and the heel loses its rigid heel counter, good news for those with a sensitive Achilles. The fit is true to size, with a more generous forefoot than usual in a racing shoe, although the tongue is not gusseted and you need to make sure it does not fold when putting the shoe on.

Pushing the legal limits with 40 mm at the heel and 32 mm at the forefoot (an 8 mm drop), the geometry stays the same, but the Energy Arc carbon plate has been redesigned: thicker and stiffer in the forefoot, and visible in the middle of the outsole through a fairly generous cut-out. As for the outsole, it is typical of this kind of shoe: it seems to wear down if you just look at it, so better keep it for special occasions, because at its price it is not one for popping out to buy bread. Ideal for neutral runners looking for a racer for distances from 5K to the marathon.