New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3 Review
By Nathan Brown, Matthew Klein, Andrea Myers, & David Salas
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3Price: $179.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.2oz, 261g (men's size 9.5), 7.3oz, 209g (women's size 7)
Stack Height: 40 mm / 34 mm
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Max Cushion Plated Training Shoe
Pros: Cushioned ride, responds well to varying paces, balanced, paired well with in-brand racing shoes
Cons: Fit considerations, mildly clunky at recovery paces
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The third version of the New Balance SuperComp Trainer has undergone another sequence of changes. Primary changes include a new geometry that removes the toe spring seen in version 2 but maintains a forefoot rocker. The cushioning is also updated to a PEBA/EVA blend with overall greater cushioning that feels slightly firmer and more responsive. The new geometry also is paired with a new curved plate that provides some rigidity, but does allow for some flex in the forefoot. This shoe is for those looking for a high mileage and workout shoe to pair with a racing flat, and may function as a racing shoe for some.
SIMILAR SHOES: On Cloudmonster Hyper, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, Puma Deviate Nitro 3
PAST MODEL: New Balance FuelCell SC Trainer v2
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Nathan: Over the past two years I've been having difficulty finding the correct fit in the New Balance FuelCell line-up, particularly for the SC Trainer, Rebel, and SC Trial. Therefore, I decided to get a half size up from my typical size and got a men's size 9.5. I couldn't have been happier with the decision regarding forefoot volume and width. Being a half size up gives enough breathing room for splay on both sides and I do not feel any encroachment from the upper near the toes. Additionally, I still can lock down the midfoot just fine and do not experience any slippage in the heel. The only issue could be that it fits slightly long (little more than a thumb's width). However, the tradeoffs for me are worth it as the upper has given me no issues on long runs or workouts, proving that it is secure and has ample room. The upper itself is a thing engineered mesh with only mild stretch, which is another reason why sizing up was helpful. The tongue and heel counter have mild to moderate padding, and I've had no irritation throughout the upper.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 9
Shoes that have fit Nathan well: Topo Phantom 3, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, ASICS Novablast 4
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Mach 6, Puma Deviate 3, New Balance Rebel v3
Shoes that have fit large: Saucony Triumph 22, Brooks Launch 9 (length)
Andrea: The New Balance Fuel Cell SC Trainer v3 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5, however the low volume toe box did cause some pain in both big toe nails. I'm not sure that going up half size would help with this problem, although Nathan's experience suggests that it could. I like the thin mesh upper and found the shoe to have sufficient width in the toe box, but it could have used a little more volume. For fit comparison, I found the SC Trainer v1 to fit perfectly in my usual size and v2 to have a lower volume toe box that also caused some big toenail discomfort. The midfoot fits slightly loose and I did have to crank down the laces in this area to get a secure fit. The rearfoot is normal width and has a semi rigid heel counter with mild padding internally. The thin, gusseted tongue stays securely in place thanks both to the gusset and a lace loop. The flat laces do not stretch and stay securely tied. I didn't find myself messing with the laces much once I got the midfoot locked down.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: New Balance Beacon v3, Brooks Hyperion Max, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, Altra Via Olympus 2
Shoes that have fit snug: Saucony Kinvara 14 (length and toe box width), Altra FWD Experience (length and width), Hoka Cielo Road (toe box width), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-3 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
David: The New Balance SC Trainer fit true to size in my Men's 9.5. The mesh material is decently comfortable and provides plenty of space for swelling accommodation. The width is normal to slightly wide through the heel, midfoot, and forefoot. I will say the distal aspect of the forefoot does taper a little bit quickly, so despite some of the width, some people might still get some pressure on the toes medially or laterally. The lockdown through the laces is really good and takes care of some of that extra room without effecting comfort. Those who like maximum cushioned shoes and need a little more space for the foot will definitely find that here. The tongue is lightly padded and has a little stretch to it. The thickness is just enough to prevent biting from the laces. The heel collar has a decent amount of padding and is coupled with a stiff heel counter. The upper security is great and I had no issues with foot translation or slippage. The upper of the SC Trainer 3 is actually one of my favorite this year, and I'm not sure there is much I'd like to see changed.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Somewhat
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mildly
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds:
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Nathan: Of all the iterations of this shoe, this is the one that performed best for me. In short, this shoe was at its best for long runs and mild workouts. I have done 90 minute runs, 20 minute tempos, and a fartlek in these shoes. The shoe doesn't perform best at recovery paces for me as the firmer ride and sculpted geometry lead to some clunkiness, but once I put even a small effort in, it smoothens out. That's why I like it for workouts. It is comfortable enough for warm-up and cool-down, and then shines during the workout portion. For my longer efforts at daily pace, the cushioning felt great and the geometry matched my stride.
The new PEBA/EVA blend midsole is on the firmer end of soft, and carries a really nice responsive feel and pop during workouts. I did find that since I went half sized up, the length limited my ability to push into my fastest paces, but for anything 10K pace and up, it was fine (think around 6:45/mile). The rocker is not overly aggressive, and the plate allows some flexibility, which is what makes it function well at daily training paces. However, as I mentioned before, the stiffness is a bit awkward at recovery mileage. This is quite different from version 1, which was a recovery run shoe for me. The listed drop is 6mm, and I'd say it feels as such with the rocker and compliance of the foam.
Andrea: The New Balance SC Trainer v3 feels like a completely different shoe as compared to the previous two versions. I loved v1 for slow recovery runs, but found its higher weight to be too much for anything faster than recovery pace. Version 2 was a great improvement in weight (1 oz lighter), but the early forefoot rocker did not work for my mechanics and big toenail pain from the lower volume upper kept me from doing any further running in it after testing. Version 3 is an improvement for me over version 2 in terms of the geometry, because the forefoot rocker starts later and the toe spring is not as pronounced. The upper does feel like it is stretching a bit over the dorsum of my big toe, so hopefully with additional miles I will have less pressure and be able to take the shoe longer distances.
Currently, I have been limited to runs of 8 miles or less due to toenail pain. I have found it to perform best for uptempo runs and less suited to recovery pace. The shoe feels like a training version of a super shoe, which is what it is advertised to be - a training version of the SC Elite v4. When I say this, I mean that at easy paces it feels too stiff and like I am not putting enough force into the shoe to get anything out of it. I can run easy in it, but it does not feel like the optimal pace for the shoe. Once I got around 1 minute slower than marathon pace or faster, the shoe started to respond better and provided just enough compliance and plenty of pop to feel like a super trainer. The shoe felt the most responsive at marathon pace or slightly faster. I did not test it in any workouts faster than this because the toenail pain was a limiter. I suspect it would perform well down to 10k pace for me, and then I would likely want something a little lighter and lower to the ground.
The shoe feels like its stated 6mm drop and feels well designed for midfoot strikers. I had zero awareness of the rearfoot of the shoe, even at easy paces. There is moderate sole flare that runs the length of the shoe, and is more prominent on the lateral aspect than the medial aspect. This works well for me as I benefit from assistance in loading my medial forefoot. The high amount of rubber outsole coverage provided excellent traction on wet roads. I have 25 miles on my pair and there is minimal visible wear, even on the areas of exposed midsole. I got 300+ miles out of SC Trainer v1, and I would expect similar or better durability from v3.
David: The New Balance SC Trainer has always been a shoe that I have struggled with. The shoe traditionally has been very high up and a bit heavy. The second iteration made it lighter, but not as stable. This third version however... really agrees with me. The SC trainer cleaned up some of those instabilities without making it too heavy and provides a smooth rockered experience. The shoe has a decently sized heel bevel and toe spring to give you a rockered experience. The Fuel Cell midsole is decently compliant without feeling mushy soft. The plate placement feels more prominent and firms up the softer foam some as well. The shoe feels like what I would expect out of a "super trainer". It keeps your legs feeling a little more fresh throughout the effort while giving it some bounce with the advanced footwear technology. The wider base underfoot, deep midline groove, and gentle sidewalls do give you some guidance as well. The outsole has plenty to burn through and does give pretty good traction underfoot as well. The SC Trainer shines best at daily paces for me, but it can pick the pace up some if asked to. I find it to be really great for long runs and time on feet. I do have one 19 mile effort on it where I feel it really helped with staving off some fatigue in the latter sections of the run. The transitions are smooth throughout with a noticeable, but not overly dramatic rocker. I do think the heel bevel could be cleaned up some and have a slight posterior and lateral bias. There is enough stabilization mechanisms in this shoe to allow for a quicker and smoother initial contact. Otherwise this is one of my favorite shoes to beat up those daily miles.
For a comparison of the SC Trainer v3 vs. v2, watch Matt's video review here.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Nathan: For such a high stacked and cushioned shoe, New Balance did a nice job making this a solid neutral trainer. It could almost be considered stable neutral given the wider base and midsole center cutout, but the cushioning and compliance of the foam prevents it from being squarely in that category. The compliance combined with my strike pattern (posterolateral heel) makes this feel slightly laterally biased at slow paces, but flattens out at increased speed. So in all, this is a solid neutral trainer, and would be on the more stable side when compared to racing flats, making it a distance racing option for those who aren't able to handle some of the more narrow racing platforms.
Andrea: The New Balance SC Trainer v3 is a neutral shoe with several guidance elements. The well-designed heel bevel and forefoot rocker provide smooth forward guidance without being intrusive, as I found the more aggressively rocker v2 to be. The wide base and large central groove help to center the foot regardless of landing pattern. The sole flare is wider on the lateral aspect of the shoe, particularly in the forefoot, which helps runners like myself who have difficulty loading the medial forefoot. This feature may not work as well for those who have medial forefoot stability needs. I agree with Nathan that the compliance and resilience of the foam keep the shoe from falling into the stable neutral category, because runners will need sufficient muscular strength and control to handle the propulsive ride at faster paces.
David: The New Balance SC Trainer v3 is certainly a neutral shoe, but does do some things pretty well in the stability realm. The shoe gives you some gentle guidance throughout the platform, thanks to the deep midline groove, balanced rocker, sole flaring of the midsole, and sidewalls throughout. The shoe can feel like it is a lot of "shoe", despite how light it is. Those extra components do make for a more stable and enjoyable experience though. The Fuel Cell midsole is on the softer side and although the plate stabilizes it some, that inherently does come with some instability. Upper security is great as well and I had no issues in that realm. 
Thoughts as a DPT: Black Toenails and Shoe Design
By Andrea Myers
Black toenails are one of the more common problems that distance runners experience. Previous studies have found that up to 14% of runners report injuries to their toenails after a marathon. The medical term for a black toenail is subungual hematoma, which means a collection of blood underneath the toenail. This most commonly occurs in the big toenail, but can occur in the lesser toenails as well.
There are a few fit and shoe geometry factors that can contribute to the development of black toenails. The most common contributing factor is a shoe that is too short in length. A good guideline is that you should have a half to full thumb's width between the front of your longest toe and the front of the shoe. You may need a different size running shoe as compared to your casual shoes, or you may be a different size depending on the brand or specific model of shoe. It is always advised to go to a local running store (if possible) and have your feet measured, remembering that it is common to have one foot that is longer than the other. Buy shoes based on fit, not the size on the box.
The second potential contributing factor is wearing a shoe with a toe box that is too low in volume, meaning that it is not high enough off the dorsum of the toenail to avoid repetitive compression. This is the issue I had with the SC Trainer v3, although it is possible the upper will stretch with additional miles and no longer compress my big toe nail.
A third potential contributing factor is toe spring, which refers to the upward curvature of the sole of the forefoot. This design effectively places the toenails closer to the upper and makes it more likely that there will be toenail compression. Shoes with toe spring need to have an upper with enough volume to avoid causing black toenails.
A fourth contributing factor related to fit is that you should be able to lock down your foot sufficiently with the laces that your foot does not slide forward, particularly when running downhill. If you know you will be doing a lot of downhill running in a particular race, you should test your planned race day shoe on similar downhill grades to make sure your feet do not translate forward in the shoe.
Lastly, it is important for runners to keep their nails cut straight and close to the skin to reduce the risk of toenail compression by the upper. The most important takeaway message here is that black toenails, while somewhat common in runners, are not normal, and there are steps you can take to avoid them.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Nathan: Has the SC Trainer finally found its identity? I sure hope so. I think this combination of rocker stiffness, weight, and cushioning helps this shoe be a great training companion for those working on performance. However, if New Balance wants this shoe to be more suited for recovery runs and easy miles (which I think they already have shoes in this space like the More v5 or 1080), then the heel bevel may need to be changed to help with smoothing out the landing at slower paces.
Andrea: While the SC Trainer v1 remains my favorite version of this shoe, I think v3 actually fits the profile of a super trainer better than v1 because it a more versatile training companion to the SC Elite v4. I hope that the upper continues to stretch out because I really enjoy the ride of the shoe for uptempo long runs and marathon pace work. My main recommendation would be for New Balance to increase the volume of the toe box to get the upper away from the toenails a bit more. Otherwise, this is a huge improvement on the geometry and ride of v2 and I like the direction New Balance has taken the shoe.
David: The New Balance SC Trainer knocked it out of the park this year with performance across multiple categories. I think if I had one major recommendation, it would be to play with the heel geometry some. With how much sole flaring and general "shoe" there is, there is a higher likelihood of someone indirectly landing or pushing there forces into a wedge like structure. The bevel is pretty good as is, but biasing it laterally may take away some of that potential for jarring forces.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Nathan: The SC Trainer v3 is for runners who want a shoe to handle long runs and workouts within a rotation that includes a racing shoe and a more traditional trainer. This shoe puts itself squarely in the mix with some other favorite performance trainers such as the Puma Deviate 3 and Saucony Endorphin Speed 4. Compared to those, it is firmer than the Deviate and softer than the Speed. Additionally, I find it sits between those two shoes in the ability to run fast workouts, with the Speed having the highest speed ceiling. It is also competitive with these shoes cost-wise, making it worth a look.
Andrea: The New Balance FuelCell SC Trainer v3 is a performance training companion to the SC Elite v4. For runners who want to save their racing shoes for race day, but still want the rocker geometry and bounce of a super shoe for workouts and long runs, the SC Trainer v3 is a great option. The one caveat is the lower volume toe box 100% prevents me from taking the shoe on runs longer than an hour after putting 25 miles in the shoe. If the upper stretches more and the pressure dissipates, I will certainly take it on longer runs and write an update to this review. At $180, it is similarly priced to other super trainers and will likely have better than average durability based on my previous experiences with the SC Elite v3 and SC Trainer v1.
David: The New Balance SC Trainer 3 is a super trainer for those looking to have maximum cushion with a touch of guidance and stability. The shoe uses advanced footwear technology and does give you some "super" elements that I do find noticeable. The shoe is on the heavier side for a performance focused shoe, so I feel it does lean more in the daily training and long run category, but it does have some responsiveness that can still carry over some into workouts.
GRADES
Nathan
Fit: B- (Sized up to get a good fit. With half size up for me, grade would be B+)
Performance: A- (Solid at performance, not fully versatile at slower paces)
Stability: B (Avoids being unstable thanks to flaring of the sole and cutouts)
Value: B+ (In line with other shoes in this realm. Though I want shoes to be <150 regularly)
Personal: A- (My current choice for long runs and workouts)
Overall Design: B
Andrea
Fit: B- (Low volume toe box caused big toenail pain and limited shoe to runs <1 hour. Otherwise, I enjoyed the thin mesh upper and secure fit.)
Performance: B (More versatile in pace range as compared to v1, but a shoe that is only comfortable around marathon pace is somewhat limited in versatility. Fit also impacted performance for me. Geometry changes welcome as compared to v2)
Stability [neutral]: B (well designed rockers, wide base, and sole flare worked well for my mechanics.)
Value: B+ ($180 price tag is comparable to other super trainers. Expect higher than average durability based on other Fuel Cell shoes)
Personal: B-/B (Toenail pain dealbreaker even though I enjoy the ride otherwise. If the upper stretches more, I would bump this up to B+ or A- depending how it performs for long runs.)
Overall Design: B
David
Fit: A- (The forefoot does taper a little bit distally which can put some pressure on the toes. Otherwise a very nice and comfortable upper with good swelling accommodation and security.)
Performance: B+ (For the weight a very nice stable neutral ride with new generation materials. The shoe is rhythmic and smooth for long runs and daily efforts. I would like a touch more responsiveness or weight reduction for it to be in "training companion" category. Heel bevel can be cleaned up some.)
Stability [neutral]: A- (The wide base, sole flaring, gentle sidewalls all did great. Heel bevel could be cleaned up a tad to lessen a "wedge" feeling on landing.)
Value: A (Price is comparable to shoes that use their top technology and I think this shoe will last under mileage just fine for some time to come.)
Personal: A (This has gradually become one of my go to's when my legs are tired or if I have time on feet long runs.)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORNew Balance FuelCell SC Trainer v3Price: $179.95 at Running Warehouse
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