Here’s What Makes the New Balance SuperComp Trail v2 Ready for Race Day

Introduction to the New Balance SuperComp Trail v2

MELISSA: I’ve always had a soft spot for New Balance, even going back to my road running days. They’ve consistently made shoes that just work for me, especially when it comes to balancing comfort and performance. Plus, I love that many New Balance shoes have a D width option for women. More recently, the New Balance Hierro v9 has become my go-to trail shoe and honestly might be my top pick for a 100 miler. It’s dependable, comfortable, durable, and can handle more technical trails.

The FuelCell SuperComp Trail v2, or SC Trail v2, sits at the other end of the spectrum. If the Hierro is the Jeep 4×4 that can crawl over anything and go forever, the SC Trail v2 is the fast dirt bike. It’s lighter, more aggressive, more playful, and designed to move quickly. This is not a shoe that gives caution to the trail or gives you all-day security. It’s speedy, energetic, and will give you momentum on race day.

RENEE: If you’re in the camp of trail runners who say “just give us a road shoe with a Vibram outsole,” here you go. Be careful what you ask for.

Every time I ran in this shoe, my opinion changed. I went from thinking this was a “best of” category shoe to questioning its purpose, to really enjoying it, and the cycle continued. You might be tempted to remind me that I’m at an age when my mind changes by the second and my thoughts are an uncontrollable emotional rollercoaster. You aren’t wrong, but don’t say this to my face, okay?

I know dramatically good or bad reviews get a lot of attention, but it’s not reality. Just accept it. How good a shoe is depends on the individual runner and the terrain. And that’s the SC Trail v2 in a nutshell. Some runners will love it, and others will see no purpose in it whatsoever.

What we like about the New Balance SuperComp Trail v2

MELISSA: The first thing you notice in this shoe is the ride. The FuelCell midsole has a ton of bounce, and combined with the carbon-fiber plate, it creates a really energetic experience. Every stride has this noticeable little pop that encourages you to keep pushing the pace. On smooth dirt, buffed-out singletrack, fire roads, and rolling terrain, this shoe absolutely comes alive.

Some trail supershoes can feel awkward, but New Balance did a nice job making this one feel fun. There’s enough cushioning to keep the ride comfortable, but it still feels responsive and fast. When you’re moving well, the shoe rewards you.

I also think that New Balance nailed the aesthetic here. This is a great-looking trail shoe, almost like a performance road shoe with tread added. It has a sleek, fast appearance that matches the ride, and honestly, I find myself reaching for it simply because it looks good.

Another thing I appreciate is how capable it feels at faster paces. Some trail shoes feel great at a slow pace, but become clunky once you try to pick up the pace. The Fuelcell SuperComp v2 does the opposite. The faster you run, the more the design starts making sense. It lives for that forward momentum.

It actually reminds me a bit of the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra conceptually, but greatly toned down. You still get the bounce and aggressive feel, but without completely overlapping with the Agravic Speed Ultra.

RENEE: I really like the underfoot ride of FuelCell in New Balance road shoes, so it wasn’t a surprise that this shoe felt great immediately. An aggressive plate in a trail shoe can be counterproductive for my paces on uneven terrain. The SC Trail v2 doesn’t have an aggressive ride, especially compared to two other plated trail racers I’ve run in recently (the Agravic Speed Ultra 2 and Kipsummit Race).

The midsole is flexible and works with my natural stride, similar to one of my favorite all-time shoes, the Rebel. I’m now very curious about the Rebel Trail shoe because in my mind, the SC Trail v2 feels like what I expected from a Rebel Trail. Regrettably, I never ran in the Venym.

The upper is basically a road shoe upper with a decent toe bumper that is more protective than it looks. The heel hold was great for me as someone with narrow heels. I have low-volume feet and was able to secure the upper well enough for moderate terrain while being comfortable.

On gravel and moderate trails, the shoe completely disappears on foot. Isn’t that what we all want? I’ll discuss the cons of the plated ride later. For now, I’ll say I ran faster than my perceived effort, i.e., the goal of a racer, and this was a shoe I wanted to run with day after day, at least when running moderate terrain.

The Vibram Litebase outsole is full coverage, and unlike the previous version, there are no cutouts to trap mud or rocks. The shoe’s 8mm drop feels right for its intended purpose, and if you told me it was 6mm, I’d believe you. In comparison, I find the On Cloudultra Pro a more versatile racer across terrain and paces. The Cloudultra Pro has an edge on more technical terrain, but it feels more tiring on runnable terrain than the SC Trail v2.

What we don’t like about the New Balance SuperComp Trail v2

MELISSA: The aggressive ride comes with tradeoffs. The biggest one is stability. The SC Trail V2 is not a shoe I’d recommend for runners who struggle with ankle stability (looking at you, Robbe) or who prefer a more grounded trail feel. The combination of soft foam, stack height, and design can feel a little precarious once the trail becomes uneven or technical. If your footing starts to get lazy late in a race, this shoe won’t compensate for it.

For me, it worked best when I stayed focused, quick, and deliberate with foot placement. On smoother terrain, little issue. Once things got rocky, off-camber, or unpredictable, I became much more aware of the shoe underneath me. I also should add that I am due for a second hip surgery, so any instability tends to be amplified.

The outsole was another mixed bag. Initially, I thought the traction would be versatile, especially being Vibram Megagrip, but some wet rocks changed my opinion. Dry dirt and runnable terrain felt totally fine, but stream crossings and slick rock exposed the limits pretty quickly. I learned the lesson the hard way after ending up in a stream during a crossing. I would’ve liked to see a denser lug pattern with slightly tighter spacing

The upper was also about average for me in terms of breathability. It never got unbearably hot, but for a premium trail racer, I’d expect a bit more airflow. And while the overall fit was secure, I personally would’ve liked a little more room in the toe box. Runners with a wider forefoot may notice this especially during longer efforts.

RENEE: If you told me the SC Trail v2 didn’t have a plate, I’d believe you. The midsole is clearly supercritical, but of all the carbon-plated trail shoes I have run in during the last five years, this plate feels the least aggressive. I have the SC Elite v5 and the Pacer v2, and the shoe feels more like the Rebel underfoot than those road racers.

In short, this shoe does not have the same snap as a New Balance road racing shoe. It feels more like a daily trainer. I’d say that is an asset for stability, but the upper doesn’t have the tightness to keep this shoe secure and fun on singletrack trails. The lugs feel more like 2 mm than 3.5 mm, so getting a good footing on declines with debris or loose gravel isn’t great.

I don’t see this shoe being useful for those who run primarily or entirely on technical single track. I think that’s obvious, though, so it’s not a surprise. The shoe works great on moderate trail and gravel, but the $220 price tag becomes a bit too much compared to other options.

On singletrack with constant switchbacks getting 200ft of gain per mile, the shoe is a bit too soft, and the upper isn’t as secure as I’d like. Those are assets on moderate terrain, just not great for technical trails. The first version was a high-drop shoe, but with a narrower fit and a tighter upper, it worked better on more technical trails than this version.

I wore a half size shorter in this shoe than the Rebel v5 and SC Elite v5, which I think helped with the upper security somewhat. I’m already between half sizes in most brands, so I’m not suggesting sizing down.

Some runners have issues with Fuelcell going flat at less than 100 miles, and I think this shoe might have the same problem. I have no idea what I weigh, but I’m guessing between 120 and 130 lbs. I have more than 200 miles in the Rebel, and it still feels good, albeit not as bouncy. I imagine the SC Trail will feel the same for me until about 200 miles. If you have had issues with FuelCell midsoles going flat early, you might expect the same here.

Final thoughts on the New Balance SuperComp Trail v2

MELISSA: The Fuelcell SuperComp Trail v2 feels like a trail shoe with a very specific purpose: fast, non-technical terrain. If the course is smooth, dry, and rewards momentum, this shoe is a blast. It feels energetic, quick, and exciting in a way that a lot of trail shoes don’t.

At the same time, I don’t see the SC Trail v2 as a do-everything mountain shoe or a long-haul ultra option. Personally, I’d probably top out around the 25k range before wanting something more stable and forgiving.

But for shorter races, fast long runs, or runnable race courses where you really want to let it rip? The SC Trail v2 absolutely has a place here. It’s the fastest bike in your garage — thrilling when conditions are right, but probably not the vehicle of choice for the rough and unpredictable terrain.

RENEE: For moderate or gravel running, the SC Trail v2 feels great, especially for someone like me who loves a light, flexible midsole. I hate comparing this shoe to the Rebel road shoe, given there’s now a trail version, but that’s one of my favorite shoes and the easiest way for me to describe the SC Trail: the Rebel with Vibram. So what will the Rebel Trail bring? I guess stay tuned for that review.

The SC Trail v2 won’t be for runners needing a technical trail option or for those wanting a fast, aggressive ride. As a $220 trail racing shoe, I’d like to feel more responsiveness in the plate, but the advantage is a more flexible underfoot ride. At 8.2 oz in a US W7.5, the shoe isn’t exactly super lightweight, but it runs much lighter.

If you like New Balance road shoes, you’ll like this shoe. Just don’t expect the trail version of SC Elite v5 here. If you stick to moderate terrain with some technical sections sprinkled in, you won’t be disappointed.

You can pick up the New Balance SC Trail v2 for $220 from Running Warehouse by using the buttons below.