New Balance
FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2 Running Shoe – Men's
$122.39
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The Grivet Take
The SuperComp Trainer v2 is New Balance's accessible carbon-plated daily trainer: a tall 40 mm heel stack, FuelCell foam tuned for bounce at any pace, and an Energy Arc carbon plate that gives the shoe a directed feel without the harshness of a race-day super shoe. The v2 fixed almost everything customers asked New Balance to fix on the v1, lower stack, lower drop, softer rocker, redesigned heel collar, lighter weight, and the result is a high-mileage trainer that handles easy miles, long runs, and tempo workouts in the same pair. Two trade-offs to flag: the soft FuelCell foam at 40 mm stack can feel unstable for runners new to high-stack plated shoes, and the carbon plate adds enough stiffness that the shoe is not the right pick for runners who want a flexible forefoot. Runners who liked the v1 for its taller, more aggressive feel may find the v2 too relaxed.
Fit & Feel snapshot
Fit
LengthHow the shoe fits compared with true-to-size expectations.
True to size
Toe box widthHow much side-to-side room the shoe has across the front of the foot.2 of 5
NarrowWide
Toe box volumeHow much vertical room the shoe has above the toes.2 of 5
LowHigh
MidfootHow snug or roomy the shoe feels through the arch and laces.3 of 5
SnugRoomy
Heel holdHow securely the back of the shoe holds the heel.4 of 5
LooseLocked
Ride
CushionHow much material sits underfoot. This is about amount of cushioning, not how soft it feels.5 of 5
MinimalMaximal
SoftnessHow soft or firm the cushioning feels underfoot.2 of 5
FirmPlush
RockerHow much the shoe's shape rolls you forward through the step.3 of 5
FlatAggressive
ResponsivenessHow much pop or energy return the shoe feels like it gives back.4 of 5
DeadBouncy
Support
Support TypeSupport Type describes how much built-in guidance the shoe has. Neutral shoes do not add support structure. Stability shoes use geometry, rails, firmer foam, or frame designs to create a more guided feel. Motion control shoes are the maximum-support category and are rare in modern running.
Neutral
Stability
Motion Control
Neutral shoe with a wider, steadier base
PlatformPlatform describes the width and shape of the shoe's base underfoot. A wider platform can feel steadier even when the shoe is neutral. This is separate from Support Type.
Wider, steadier base
How it fits
Length runs true to size for most runners. The toe box is roomy with full toe splay and good vertical volume; the midfoot is relaxed and generous rather than locked-down race-shoe snug. Heel hold is sturdy thanks to the redesigned padded collar that fixed the v1's known rigidity issue. The wider 5 mm-broader heel platform compared with v1 makes the high-stack shoe feel planted underfoot rather than perched. Men's sizing is offered in D (standard) and 2E (wide), which is broader than most carbon-plated trainers.
How it feels
The reworked FuelCell foam reads soft and bouncy rather than firm, with the Energy Arc carbon plate snapping the foot through transitions without forcing an aggressive rocker. The 40/34 mm stack absorbs impact across the gait and the wider heel platform keeps the high stack feeling stable rather than wobbly. The rocker is softer than the v1, which makes the shoe genuinely friendly at easy paces, and the carbon plate engages at tempo without dominating the feel at slower paces. The shoe is genuinely versatile: easy miles, long runs at conversational pace, and tempo workouts all work in the same pair. Wet-pavement grip is adequate; rubber coverage is moderate to save weight via the Energy Arc cutout.
Quick specs
- Category
- Marathon racer
- Surface
- Pavement · Treadmill
- Heel stackHow much shoe sits between your foot and the ground.
- 40.0 mm
- Forefoot stack
- 34.0 mm
- DropThe difference between heel height and forefoot height, measured in millimeters.
- 6.0 mm
- Weight (men's 9)
- 9.5 oz · 270 g
- CushionHow much material sits underfoot. This is about amount of cushioning, not how soft it feels.
- 5 / 5
- Support TypeSupport Type describes how much built-in guidance the shoe has. Neutral shoes do not add support structure. Stability shoes use geometry, rails, firmer foam, or frame designs to create a more guided feel. Motion control shoes are the maximum-support category and are rare in modern running.
- Neutral
- PlatformPlatform describes the width and shape of the shoe's base underfoot. A wider platform can feel steadier even when the shoe is neutral. This is separate from Support Type.
- Wider, steadier base
- Midsole
- FuelCell PEBA/EVA blend
- Outsole
- Dynaride rubber
- PlateA stiff layer, usually carbon, nylon, or TPU, built into some shoes to add structure, snap, or propulsion.
- Energy Arc carbon fiber plate
- WidthsThe width options this shoe is made in. Actual availability depends on current inventory.
- D · 2E
Tech, translated
FuelCell foam in the v2 was reformulated to roughly a third less dense than the v1 at the same firmness, which is how the shoe shed about an ounce of weight while keeping the same characteristic bounce. The foam is TPU-based and tuned for energy return rather than plush cushion.
The Energy Arc carbon plate is a curved carbon fiber plate with a broadened central cavity that runs through the midsole. The cavity does two things: it lightens the shoe by removing foam from a low-load area, and it allows the plate to flex slightly in the center while still snapping the foot forward at toe-off. The result is a carbon-plate feel that engages at tempo without the locked-in stiffness of a race-day super shoe.
The outsole uses rubber coverage on the forefoot and lateral heel with foam exposed in the Energy Arc cutout. There is no separate rock plate; the carbon plate provides the structural element.
What changed from the previous version
The v2 retired the v1's 46/38 mm stack in favor of 40/34 mm, dropped to 6 mm from 8 mm, lowered the FuelCell foam density by about a third for a lighter and bouncier feel at the same firmness, widened the heel platform by 5 mm for added stability, softened the rocker, and redesigned the heel collar to fix the v1's known rigidity complaint. The Energy Arc carbon plate carried over with a slightly broadened central cavity. The shoe is more accessible and easier to run slow in than the v1, while still offering the carbon-plate snap at tempo and marathon paces.
Frequently asked
Does the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 run true to size?
The SuperComp Trainer v2 runs true to size in length for most runners. The toe box is roomy with full toe splay and good vertical volume, and the midfoot is relaxed and generous rather than locked-down race-shoe snug. Heel hold is sturdy thanks to a redesigned padded collar that fixed the v1's known rigidity complaint. Men's sizing is offered in D (standard) and 2E (wide), which is broader than most carbon-plated trainers.
How does the SuperComp Trainer v2 compare to the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4?
Both are accessible plated daily trainers built for high-mileage training and racing at marathon paces. The SuperComp Trainer v2 has more stack (40/34 mm vs Endorphin's 36/28 mm), a softer FuelCell midsole, and a stiffer carbon plate that engages directly at tempo. The Endorphin Speed 4 is lighter, more nimble, and uses a flexible nylon S-Curve plate that adapts more naturally to varied paces. Pick the SuperComp Trainer v2 for cushion and carbon-plate snap; pick the Endorphin Speed 4 for a lighter, more pace-adaptable plated trainer.
Is the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 firm or soft underfoot?
The SuperComp Trainer v2 lands on the soft and bouncy side rather than firm. The reformulated FuelCell foam is roughly a third less dense than the v1 at the same firmness, which delivers a softer step-in feel without sacrificing the responsive bounce. The Energy Arc carbon plate adds structural snap underneath without firming up the cushion above. Runners looking for a firmer, more directly responsive carbon-plated trainer should consider the Adidas Adizero Boston 13.
Is the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 good for wide feet?
Yes. Men's sizing is offered in D (standard) and 2E (wide), which is broader than most carbon-plated trainers. The standard D-width toe box is itself roomy with good vertical volume, so many medium-to-wide forefeet are comfortable without going up to 2E. Runners with very wide forefeet who need 4E or wider should consider a different model.
What changed from the SuperComp Trainer v1 to the v2?
The v2 reformulated the FuelCell foam to be about a third less dense (same firmness, lighter weight), lowered the stack from 46/38 mm to 40/34 mm and the drop from 8 mm to 6 mm, widened the heel platform by 5 mm for added stability, redesigned the heel collar to fix the v1's known rigidity complaint, and softened the rocker. The Energy Arc carbon plate carried over with a slightly broadened central cavity. Net effect: a more accessible high-mileage plated trainer that runs slower paces better than the v1 while still snapping at tempo; runners who liked the v1's taller, more aggressive feel may find the v2 more relaxed.
Is the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2 good for treadmill running?
Yes. The wide stable platform, bouncy FuelCell foam, and Energy Arc carbon plate work well for the steady cadence of treadmill sessions, especially for tempo and marathon-pace efforts. The rubber outsole grips belt surfaces reliably. The carbon plate's snap makes the shoe more interesting for treadmill speed work than a foam-only daily trainer; for purely easy efforts, a less plated shoe may feel more relaxed.
Compare it toSimilar shoes or common alternatives, with the key fit and ride differences called out.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
Choose the SuperComp Trainer v2 for more stack, a softer FuelCell foam, and a stiffer carbon plate. Choose the Endorphin Speed 4 for a lighter, more nimble nylon-plated feel at faster paces.
Compare Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 →
Adidas Adizero Boston 13
Choose the SuperComp Trainer v2 for more cushion and a softer carbon-plated ride. Choose the Boston 13 for a firmer, more directly responsive Lightstrike Pro stack.
Compare Adidas Adizero Boston 13 →
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5
Choose the SuperComp Trainer v2 for a carbon-plated daily that snaps at tempo and protects on long efforts. Choose the Rebel v5 for a foam-only daily trainer in the same brand with a softer, more flexible forefoot.
Compare New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 →
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14
Choose the SuperComp Trainer v2 for a carbon-plated daily that engages at tempo. Choose the 1080v14 for a foam-only max-cushion daily that prioritizes plush comfort over snap.
Compare New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14 →
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