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The New Balance SC Elite V6 is the latest version of New Balance’s flagship carbon racing shoe, aimed at runners chasing fast times over everything from short road races to the marathon. Updates include a reworked midsole foam and an updated carbon plate system.
Rather than trying to out-bounce the very top of the carbon racer market, the V6 goes for a more measured, controlled ride, one that leans on reliability and protection as much as outright propulsion. Throughout testing we found ourselves comparing it to shoes including the Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 and the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0.
Find out how the New Balance SC Elite V6 compares to our best running shoes here.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £230 (UK) / $275 (US)
- Weight: 181g/6.4oz (men’s UK 8)
- Drop: 8mm (40mm/32mm)
- Midsole: Infinion foam (aliphatic TPU) with New Balance’s Energy Arc carbon fibre plate system
- Upper: Lightweight translucent mesh with Phantom Fit construction
- Outsole: Thin layer of rubber
New Balance SC Elite V6 Review
How’s The Fit?
Two of us found the SC Elite V6 ran slightly small so went up half a size. This allowed for plenty of room in the toe box without losing the secure, locked-in feel through the midfoot and heel that you want from a race shoe.
We did, however, feel that the shoe was slightly narrower through the midfoot than earlier versions, especially compared with the V4. So, if you’ve got wider feet, it’s worth keeping in mind before you buy.
One thing everyone agreed on was the heel padding, there’s more presence in the collar than you’ll find on a lot of minimal race shoes, which adds a touch of weight but pays off in comfort on longer efforts. Across the board, nobody reported any rubbing or slipping once they’d found the right size.
The Run Test: Likes
The standout improvement across testing was the liveliness of the new Infinion foam and reworked plate combination. We found the ride more dynamic than the V5, while still smooth and controlled, with one of us rating it as the best version of the SC Elite series so far thanks to the added pop and energy return.
Comfort and protection over distance sessions was another consistent highlight. The shoe performed well across a 15-mile long run with hard efforts, a 1:45 half marathon test and multiple threshold and progression sessions. We found it provided good fatigue resistance under the forefoot and heel across those longer efforts.
The shoe also provided a good level of versatility, providing a consistently enjoyale ride across paces from marathon effort up through 10K and 5K races. We also found it was well suited to being brought into everyday training sessions rather than being reserved purely for race day.
Pricing is also a genuine strength in the UK, with the shoe considered one of the more competitively priced carbon racers currently on the market.
The Run Test: Dislikes
Durability of the outsole was flagged as a significant concern. Two of us found that the outsole rubber detached after a small number of runs, including within roughly 3km of use in one case, with the issue recurring after being glued back down.
Fit was also inconsistent depending on foot shape. The shoe was found to run narrower through the midfoot than earlier versions in the range. It’s likely that if you have wider feet you should expect a snugger fit than some rival carbon racers.
At faster paces, closer to 5K effort, we felt the ride lost some of its snap and propulsion compared with more aggressive racers on the market. The Infinion foam is less compressive and less explosive than rivals such as the Puma Fast-R 3 or the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo.
Pricing is also less competitive in the US than in the UK.
Verdict And Alternatives
The New Balance SC Elite V6 is a clear step up over the V5, with a livelier ride thanks to the switch to Infinion foam and the reworked Energy Arc plate. It’s a shoe that performs well across the full range of race and training paces, with a particular sweet spot around half marathon and marathon effort. It also offers good protection and comfort over longer distances.
It isn’t, however, considered among the very top tier of carbon racers currently available. We place it in the same bracket as the Brooks Hyperion Elite 6: a strong, reliable shoe that offers assistance without excessive aggression, rather than the most propulsive or efficient option on the market.
For runners chasing outright performance, we’d still suggest shoes such as the Puma Fast-R 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky and Edge Tokyo. Runners after a bouncier, more standout ride were pointed towards the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 or Hoka Cielo X1 3.0.
Where the SC Elite V6 does stand out is value and versatility. At £230 in the UK, it undercuts many rivals while still delivering genuine carbon-plate racing performance, and its more controlled, less aggressive ride may suit runners who want a shoe capable of both structured training and race day, particularly over the marathon and half marathon distances.
Outsole durability is worth keeping an eye on, but for runners wanting a dependable, well-priced racing shoe that will look after them from the start of a marathon through to the closing miles, the SC Elite V6 is a strong option that has some solid updates.