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The New Balance SC Elite v5 is a very different shoe to the SC Elite v4, with a lighter, nimbler and faster design. It’s the best carbon plate running shoe New Balance has made thanks to the changes, though lacks the accessibility of the more stable SC Elite v4.
While it can compete with any carbon racer on performance, there are others we still prefer to the SC Elite v5. The Puma Fast-R 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris are both lighter and more aggressive, while the Nike Alphafly 3 and Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 have a bit more bounce. The SC Elite v5 is a great shoe, but risks getting lost in the carbon crowd.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £260/$250
- Weight: 210g/7.4oz (men’s UK 9 / US 9.5)
- Drop: 8mm
- Upper: Lightweight mesh
- Midsole: FuelCell PEBA foam with Energy Arc carbon plate
- Outsole: Rubber covering forefoot and sides of heel
New Balance SC Elite v5 review
How’s The Fit
Nick tested the SC Elite v5 for our review and found that it fit well for length in his normal size, but it has a narrower fit than the SC Elite v4. New Balance usually has wide options available for its racing shoes, so if you liked the roomy fit of the SC Elite v4 you might need to look at those.
The SC Elite v4 had an unfortunate habit of cutting heels, but the collar design has been improved on the SC Elite v5 and it no longer rubbed during our testing, even on longer runs.
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The Run Test: Likes
The lighter, narrower design of the SC Elite v5 immediately makes it feel like a better racing shoe than the SC Elite v4, and it has a faster transition and more punch off the toes thanks to the stiffer forefoot on the carbon plate.
It’s much better suited to shorter events now, and combines the best features of the SC Elite v4 and SC Pacer v2. It’s even lighter than the Pacer v2 while having the high stack of the SC Elite v4, making it faster over short distances but still comfortable enough for marathons.
The grip of the shoe also impressed during our testing, on both the road and a running track. The shallow triangular lugs on the forefoot deliver good traction at toe-off, and although the rubber is thin there’s no sign of any wear and tear after 40 miles of running.
The Run Test: Dislikes
By reducing the weight and width, and increasing the drop of the shoe compared with the SC Elite v4, the SC Elite v5 is a very different shoe and unlikely to appeal to those who loved the SC Elite v4.
It’s less stable, with a much narrower mid foot in particular, and it’s not as cushy and comfortable under the forefoot. While we found the SC Elite v4 a bit too big to be a great racing option, it was a super-shoe that suited many newer and heavier runners well, and the SC Elite v5 loses that.
Verdict And Alternatives
The New Balance SC Elite v5 is a good update to the line in that it is a faster racing shoe than the SC Elite v4, for events of any distance. However, it’s unlikely to appeal to those who loved the SC Elite v4, and it’s now much more like other racing shoes.
That’s not a problem per se, because opting for the kind of design that has made the best running shoes for racing successful has made the SC Elite v5 a great super-shoe. However, it’s now more directly comparable to rival racers, and there are a few we prefer overall.
Our top racing shoes overall are the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris (with a nod to the upcoming Metaspeed Ray and Tokyo series), which are lighter than the New Balance, as is the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4, which is also a littler springier.
The Nike Alphafly 3 and Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 are two other shoes we’d give the nod over the New Balance SC Elite v5 because of their bouncier and more propulsive rides. A lot of this is personal taste and the SC Elite v5 is not going to let you down at all on race day, but it doesn’t quite hit the heights of our favourite carbon racers.
New Balance SC Elite v5 vs New Balance SC Elite v4
The SC Elite v5 is a lighter, nimbler and faster shoe than the SC Elite v4, and would be our pick for races of any length but especially from 5K to the half marathon. The older shoe is more comfortable and stable though, thanks to its wider base, and is a more accommodating racer for new or heavier runners, and a good marathon option in particular.