The New Balance SC Trainer V2 is one of the best daily trainers on the market, but is it deserving of the “super trainer” accolade?

• FuelCell Midsole Foam
• EnergyArc Carbon Fiber Plate
• 6mm Drop
• 287.6g

Recently, the words “super trainer” have been circling around the running community. There’s no formal definition, and perhaps this is merely a marketing ploy to encourage people to spend more on their daily trainers. Typically, a super trainer will share some similarities with race-day “super shoes”, utilising ‘super foam’, carbon or nylon plates, and the type of geometry that encourages quick turnover. But, similarly to a typical daily trainer, they’re likely to have an increased stack height, a supportive, stable base, and an upper that prioritises comfort at the expense of weight.

A number of shoes fit the description. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 or Adidas Boston 12, for example. But the two shoes most frequently labelled “super trainers” are the Asics Superblast and the New Balance SC Trainer. I recently purchased the latter after New Balance slashed prices. V3 is expected in Q2 2024, so New Balance are presumably trying to shift old stock. The SC Trainer V2 retails for an astonishingly high £209. I picked up a pair for £147 – a still high but more swallowable price.

The question is, are they good enough to justify the price tag? Here’s our review of the SC Trainer V2.

Hive Mind Opinion of the SC Trainer V2

Before purchasing, I’d read mixed reviews of the SC Trainer V2. For some, they were too different from their predecessor. The general sentiment was that New Balance had removed most of the fun elements of V1. I haven’t had the opportunity to try V1, so this isn’t something I can comment on.

Additionally, comparisons were continually made with the Asics Superblast. At recommended retail (at least in the UK), both shoes sell for roughly the same price. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Superblast, and when presented with the choice, people were typically in favour of the Asics.

I’m fortunate to have a pair of Superblast on the way, so will make my own comparison when they arrive. But from what I’ve read, the Superblast is considered the better all-rounder, capable of easy runs, tempo runs, long runs, and even races. The best summary I’ve seen is, “it’s 85% effective at 100% of the jobs you ask of them”.

I’ve owned the SC Trainer V2 for a little over a month, putting 69.75 kms on them. This feels an adequate distance to fully understand the shoe and be able to provide an in-depth review.

First Impressions of the SC Trainer V2

Well, to put it simply, having tried a plethora of different shoes (many of those coming highly recommended in online running forums), I have to say – the New Balance SC Trainer V2 is without doubt the best training shoe I’ve worn.

I’m currently one-third of the way through marathon training, each week hitting new distance PBs. This week, I ran my first 15kms, hitting at an average pace of 5:34/km. In two week’s time, I’m expected to run my first half marathon. While I’m sure the muscles in my legs are adapting to the frequency, intensity, and duration of long runs, I’m surprised by how fresh my legs feel. I’d previously heard people talking about a shoe’s ability to keep the legs fresh. To be honest, I was hesitant to believe this could be true. I can understand how better foams and technology such as carbon plates can make you expend less energy. But fresh legs after 10, 13.1, or even 26.2 miles? Surely not.

I can honestly say, my experience with the SC Trainer V2 has been exactly that. The day after my 15km long run, my legs felt the same as they would have done had I not been for a run. More than that, I’m positive I could have gone out the next day and ran the same distance. I’ve never experienced this level of ‘leg-freshness’ following a long run. I’m astonished at the difference these shoes make. The SC Trainer V2 are quite simply incredible.

If you’ve read any of my earlier posts, you’ll know that I recently had a spinal fusion surgery. Consequently, a shoe’s ability to a protect and preserve my body is high on the list of priorities. In this regard, the SC Trainer is an absolute gem. But what’s really interesting with the SC Trainer, is they seem to be capable of balancing protection with pace. I’m able to maintain what I consider a respectable pace with a reasonably low RPE (rate of perceived exertion).

There’s not the propulsion or bounce of a super shoe like the Hoka Cielo-X1, but the amalgamation of an EnergyArc plate and FuelCell midsole foam, while perhaps subtle, is clearly contributing to the fresh leg feeling. I feel as though I could run for an indefinite period of time with these bad boys on my feet, though I’m sure the marathon will reveal whether this is really the case.

Criticisms of the SC Trainer V2

One of the criticisms the SC Trainer receives, at least in some of the reviews I’ve read, is that despite their ability to excel in long and recovery runs, they’re not ideal for speed workouts. This stands in opposition to New Balance’s own claims, who write that the SuperComp Trainer V2 is “designed for speed”.

Personally, I’m not convinced by this criticism, and I think it’s important to recognise that “fast” is completely subjective. As I write this post, I’m wondering which shoes to choose for this week’s speed session. When your legs feel as fresh as they do with the SC Trainers, it’s hard not to choose them – even when more appropriate, specialist options are available.

Technical Specs and Sizing

The SC Trainer V2 packs FuelCell midsole foam in tandem with Energy Arc technology, “designed to increase stored energy to deliver a higher amount of total energy returned”. There’s a 6mm drop, and the shoe weighs in at approximately 287.6g in UK size 8. This is heavier than many shoes in this category such as the Boston 12s (260g), Endorphin Speed 3s (229g) and Asics Superblasts (256g).

While the difference in weight on the feet is noticeable, it isn’t remotely noticeable when running. I will caveat this by saying, I’m not a particularly fast runner. Maybe the weight would be noticeable at quicker paces, but for where I’m at right now, the SC Trainers are perfect.

In terms of fit, I’ve found the shoe runs a little small. I thankfully sized up half a size from street shoe size, and while there’s sufficient room in the toe box, I don’t think it would have been detrimental to go a full size up. This is one of only a few complaints about the SC Trainer. So take note.

The other complaint is lace bite. I’ve found that pulling the laces even slightly leads to slight pain on the top of my foot. Additionally, I’ve had the tongue slip on a long run, which increases this top of the foot pain. Your mileage may vary.

The SC Trainer V2 is likely going to see some heavy discounts in the coming months as New Balance gear up to release the SC Trainer V3. I’m really excited to try V3, as well as a few others in their lineup. There’s some exciting shoes to come from New Balance, including the Balos, Rebel V4, and of course the Elite V4.

Conclusion

So, would I recommend this shoe? I think by now it’s obvious that I’m a huge fan of the SC Trainer V2. There seems to be a huge divide online about this iteration of the SuperComp Trainer. In a way, I’m thankful I’ve not tried V1.

The shoe works perfectly for my current pace (around 5:30/km) and build (approximately 67kg), and I’m considering running my April marathon in them for maximum comfort (though, I may opt for a faster shoe, like the Hoka Cielo-X1!) I personally think this shoe works wonderfully for anyone who needs that extra bit of protection but doesn’t want to totally sacrifice speed.

The furthest I’ve now ran in this shoe is 18 kilometres, and again my legs felt remarkably fresh. For anyone considering a do-it-all shoe, I’d highly recommend the SC Trainer V2. It’s high on the list of potential marathon shoes, and I’m excited to see how it performs at 32 kilometres in training.

Before running in the SC Trainer, there’s no way I’d have dropped full retail (£209) on them. Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure any running shoe could justify such a steep price tag. All I can say is, I’m so glad New Balance discounted them. These shoes have injected fun, energy, and security into my running. They’ve helped keep my legs fresh on longer days, and actually make me look forward to each run.

The one aspect I can’t comment on right now is durability. With the foam being as soft as it is, these are likely not going to come close to the type of miles you could put on a typical daily trainer. Nonetheless, provided the shoes don’t fail after a ridiculously small number of miles, I’d be more than happy to splash out full retail for a shoe that, quite frankly, does it all.

If our review of the New Balance SC Trainer V2 has inspired you to purchase a pair, there’s a number of different colourways available here.

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