New Steadiness FuellCell SuperComp Elite v3 Introduction
New Steadiness has a very complicated naming system on the subject of their flagship trainers and racers.
The RC Elite v2 was the title of final 12 months’s model however this 12 months’s New Steadiness flagship racer is named the SuperComp (SC) Elite v3. New Steadiness needs to offer all their carbon-plated footwear the title SuperComp this 12 months.
Final 12 months, after I examined the RC Elite v2, I discovered that it had a extremely nice, clean and energetic journey however I discovered it just a little too mushy/mushy to race in. It didn’t present as a lot velocity help as different tremendous footwear and I felt velocity was misplaced within the spongy midsole foam. I used my pair for principally uptempo coaching runs over the previous 12 months.
The brand new SuperComp Elite v3 weighs 8 oz (228 g) and is heavier than v2 which was 7.7 oz (218 g). It now has a 4 mm drop in comparison with 8 mm final 12 months and its value has additionally gone up by $25 which is now according to the Vaporfly Subsequent% 2, Adios Professional 3, and Hyperion Elite 3.
That is the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon® version which has particular branding on the insole, heel pull tab, tongue and medial midfoot. It’s very uncommon {that a} model has a large launch launch in a marathon particular version mannequin.
New Steadiness FuellCell SuperComp Elite v3 First Impressions
Once I noticed pictures of the unreleased Elite v3, I used to be shocked that they’d modified the higher to a bootie building. I’m not a fan of bootie constructions on racing footwear. The Hoka Carbon X3 additionally had a bootie building which I hated.
The very first thing I observed after I put the Elite v3 on was that I couldn’t get a superb heel lockdown because of there being no double first row eyelets. Regardless of how tight I tied the laces, my heel nonetheless felt unfastened.
It felt ever so barely firmer than final 12 months’s RC Elite v2 however I needed to be carrying final 12 months’s model on one foot and this 12 months’s model on the opposite foot to note a distinction.
My first run was a power exercise which consisted of three x 3.2 km. What stood out was the additional power return that I felt, particularly within the rearfoot and midfoot of the shoe. It felt much like the SuperComp Coach however the Elite v3 a lot nimbler and nippier.
Transitions had been clean and the journey felt softer than a lot of the tremendous footwear I’ve examined this 12 months however the Elite v3 didn’t really feel as propulsive. The rocker felt gentler and never as aggressive so toe-offs felt much less highly effective.
New Steadiness FuellCell SuperComp Elite v3 Higher
I’m unsure why New Steadiness determined to go along with a bootie building higher but it surely was a really, very dangerous concept. Bootie building uppers belong on informal life-style sneakers, not on flagship carbon-plated racers.
As a result of stiffness of the plate, foot lockdown is extraordinarily necessary in a racer and the SC Elite v3 fails to offer a superb heel lockdown as a result of it’s inconceivable to tie a runner’s knot. That is the SC Elite’s greatest weak point.
I discover the skinny higher materials rather less breathable in comparison with final 12 months’s model which had massive air flow holes within the toe field so v3 runs just a little hotter than v2. All the higher is one piece so the tongue is connected and there’s no tongue slide.
I discovered the collar stiff and intrusive. Generally after I’m operating on an angled floor, I can really feel the collar poking into my ankles which is annoying. I by no means had this downside with the earlier variations as a result of they by no means had bootie constructions so there was more room between my ankle and the collar.
The SC Elite v3 has a real to measurement match and the relaxed higher is stretchy so it’s very accommodating. It looks like a coaching shoe higher relatively than a racing one and wide-footed runners should not have any issues nevertheless if in case you have excessive quantity ft, the collar may poke into your ankles and irritate.
New Steadiness FuellCell SuperComp Elite v3 Sole Unit
The SuperComp Elite v3 has a journey which may be very mild in your ft and legs. This is because of 2 fundamental causes: firstly, the FuelCell compound which makes up its midsole is tremendous mushy and secondly, its carbon plate is comparatively versatile for a marathon racer.
The mild, forgiving journey is ideal for lengthy runs, at marathon tempo. For shorter, quicker exercises I crave one thing just a little stiffer and with extra outstanding rockered transitions. For this reason I don’t advocate the SuperComp Elite v3 for races shorter than 25 kilometres.
The carbon plate within the SC Elite v3 has an arc design, in different phrases, it’s cambered and never flat. You may truly really feel that the plate isn’t flat when strolling and operating in it. When you’re loading the plate, it flattens and snaps again to put when launched.
Along with the cambered plate, the SC Elite v3 additionally has a big, deep canal or void on its underside which permits the complete midsole to splay upon impression after which return the power upwards. That is additionally a characteristic of the SC Coach and it’s not a gimmick- you may actually really feel the additional power return within the rearfoot and midfoot.
The drop has been modified from 8 mm within the earlier model, to 4 mm however I can’t say that I observed a distinction with the decrease drop. It nonetheless feels just like the shoe is easing you thru transitions from heel to toe because of its vast transition void beneath it regardless that the drop has halved.
What I did discover was the improved stability. The SC Elite v3 feels prefer it has a much less curved final which is extra evenly balanced than earlier variations. Earlier variations had lateral flares that tended to push me over onto my medial aspect.
On the outsole of the SC Elite v3, there may be rubber protection on solely the important, excessive put on areas. There are 2 separate items of rubber on the lateral and medial sides of the rearfoot, in addition to one U-shaped piece of rubber on the forefoot. The entrance of the carbon plate additionally has a rubber piece glued onto it as a result of it’s bottom-loaded and desires safety from the bottom.
Grip is common and acceptable for a racer. I miss the spiky forefoot of v1 which continues to be among the finest gripping outsoles I’ve ever skilled on a operating shoe.
So far as sturdiness goes, the SC Elite v3 has decrease sturdiness than the typical carbon-plated tremendous shoe. The principle cause for that is that its FuelCell foam is so mushy that it scuffs very simply when uncovered to tough surfaces.
I’ve observed a number of put on on the uncovered lips of the canal underneath the rearfoot after simply 80 kilometres of testing. There are additionally small holes the place sharp stones have pierced the mushy midsole.
New Steadiness FuellCell SuperComp Elite v3 Conclusions
I used the SC Elite v3 in the direction of the tail finish of my marathon coaching block and it was within the operating for race day nevertheless I made a decision to not go along with it.
I like the brand new design of the midsole/outsole however I hate the brand new higher. Model 2 had a a lot better higher which was extra snug and supplied a safer lockdown.
The SuperComp Elite v3 has a extra energetic journey and it feels barely firmer and quicker than final 12 months’s model. The brand new, cambered plate and Vitality Arc make the shoe really feel extra dynamic, extra bouncy.
It’s versatile but it surely performs higher on the slower paces. From straightforward paces all the best way as much as marathon tempo are fulfilling however something quicker and it feels a bit inefficient because of its plush journey.
It nonetheless isn’t S tier for me. I don’t discover it as propulsive or environment friendly as a few of the different tremendous footwear, primarily because of its mild rocker and its mushy journey.
I believe New Steadiness nonetheless must agency up the midsole foam a tad and to make the toe-spring increased/extra aggressive to be able to make it extra aggressive with the market leaders.
