The New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 is designed to run fast. It features a full-length carbon fiber plate, Fuelcell foam for a propulsive feel, and a rocker shape that helps the foot roll forward as you run.

The Elite V3 is a new version of the Fuelcell RC and is New Balance's long distance racing shoe in the brand's Supercomp series. The series also includes the Supercomp Trainer, a maximum cushion training shoe, and the Supercomp Pacer, a flatter, shorter distance running shoe.

But how do they compare to the best carbon fiber shoes on the market? To find out, I have been running in the New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 for the past few weeks. I ran about 50 miles in these shoes with a mix of long runs, tempo runs, and fast sessions on the track. For more information, read my review of the New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3.

The New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 is priced at $229/£220, which is standard for a carbon fiber racing shoe. For example, the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2 is $250/230 lbs. and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 is $225/210 lbs.

The shoes range in size from US 7 to US 14 for men and US 5 to US 12 for women, and the shoes come in two colorways--winning blue and white, pixel green and bright mint. New Balance also released a bright red colorway to commemorate the New York City Marathon.

The shoes are available now directly from New Balance and from other retailers.

The New Balance Fuel Cell Super Comp Elite V3 is designed to go fast - the shoe features a bootie upper and a two-layer midsole with New Balance "Energy Arc" technology (which refers primarily to carbon fiber plates). Being a lightweight racer is also evident in the shoe's design.

As for fit, they are true to New Balance sizes. I usually size up in New Balance, as the shoes can run smaller than other brands. However, unlike everyday running shoes like the New Balance 1080v12, I want my racing shoes to fit my feet well, so I went with a UK5 for these shoes. There was not much room in the toe box of these shoes. If you are in between sizes, I always recommend sizing up. If you are not sure. Here's how the running shoes fit.

Upper

The upper of the SC Elite V3 is bootie-style, a single piece of sock-like material that wraps around your foot and holds it in place during the race. It is thicker than Nike's Vaporfly or the Endorphin Pro 3 from Succaneer. I enjoyed the locked-in feel of these shoes and had no problem getting my feet moving, even after a long 8-mile tempo session on the track.

My only complaint with the upper is that the collar sits fairly high on the ankle and can rub a bit uncomfortably at first. I found that I needed to wear thicker, taller socks with the shoes to prevent this, but it could be 2-3 mm shorter for a more comfortable fit.

Midsole

The midsole of this shoe is where the magic happens. The carbon fiber plate sits between two layers of foam and is designed to feel soft and resilient underfoot. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, as the Fuelcell RC felt a bit spongy when running and a bit unstable in the corners. While I liked them for training, I didn't feel responsive enough to reach for these shoes on race day.

That said, they are by no means too firm, and have the plush cushioning you'd expect from a racing shoe; the 4mm drop feels fast, but if you're looking for dramatic rocker, you won't find it here - no aggressive toe spring here, no other They feel more relaxed than other carbon fiber racing shoes.

Outsole

The outsole of this shoe is definitely designed for concrete. The grip is not very high, concentrated on the heel and toe. That said, I wore these shoes on a completely icy running track and wet sidewalks during testing and did not experience any slippage issues.

I enjoyed running in the SC Elite V3 and would go as far as to say that this is New Balance's best carbon fiber running shoe to date. it has more pop than the RC Elite and is more stable cornering. It also feels similar to the Supercomp Trainer, without the huge (illegal) stack height. The ride is forgiving and has enough cushion for long runs. I found that running in these on the track, I was able to pick up the pace with ease.

That said, the New Balance still needs a bit more tweaking to make me choose this over the Vaporfly Next% and Endorphin Pro 3 for my next marathon. The shoe has a gentler rocker, making it a bit more relaxed than other super shoes on the market.

The New Balance Fuelcell Supercomp Elite V3 is an excellent running shoe and is a big improvement over last year's version. It would be easy to run a marathon in these shoes. They are stable, have just the right amount of snap, and feel bouncy underfoot. Nevertheless, the upper will not be for everyone, and the rocker is more relaxed than other carbon fiber shoes on the market. [If you are looking for a shoe that will allow you to run faster on race day, the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2 and the "Saucony Endorphin Pro 3" are the most popular carbon fiber shoes on the market, both in the same price range.

If you don't plan to be on the podium on race day, but want a little more resilience on your long runs, the New Balance Super Comp Trainer is also worth a look. If you are looking for an everyday shoe, we do not recommend the carbon fiber plate, as it is not as durable. Check out our guide to the best running shoes on the market.