New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 Women's Racing Shoes — Cream/Yellow
The New Balance SuperComp Elite v6 is New Balance's flagship marathon racer, built around a new supercritical Infinion midsole foam and a redesigned carbon-fibre Energy Arc plate. In Cream/Yellow, it's a genuine super shoe for runners chasing personal bests from the 10km up to the marathon.
Quick Technical Specifications
| Category |
Racing Shoe (Super Shoe) |
| Support |
Neutral |
| Surface |
Road |
| Weight |
155g / 5.5oz (Women's US7, manufacturer stated) |
| Heel Drop |
8mm |
| Stack Height |
40mm heel / 32mm forefoot |
| Midsole |
Infinion foam (supercritical TPEE) |
| Plate |
Carbon-fibre Energy Arc plate |
| Upper |
FantomFit lightweight mesh |
| Colour |
Cream/Yellow |
| Ride Feel |
Soft, energetic, propulsive |
| Best Use |
Racing — 10km through marathon, key workouts |
| Price Category |
Premium racing shoe |
Product Overview
The SuperComp Elite has been New Balance's flagship long-distance racer for several generations, and version 6 is the biggest change to the line yet. New Balance replaced the previous PEBA-based FuelCell foam with a new supercritical Infinion compound, and redesigned the carbon plate into what they call an Energy Arc — a stiffer, more curved plate with strategic midsole voids exposed at the midfoot, aimed at increasing stored and returned energy through the gait cycle.
The result is a noticeably lighter shoe than previous SC Elite versions, while keeping the same tall 40mm/32mm stack height and 8mm drop. The FantomFit upper is a minimal, lightweight mesh construction designed to disappear on foot, which matters over marathon distance when every gram and every seam counts.
Best suited to competitive and serious recreational runners racing 10km to marathon who want a genuine super shoe rather than an everyday trainer with a plate — this isn't a daily trainer; the race-tuned foam and narrower platform are built for race day and key workouts.
Technology Explained
Infinion Foam
What it is: New Balance's new supercritical TPEE midsole compound, replacing the PEBA-based FuelCell foam used in previous SC Elite versions.
Why it matters: This is the core reason the v6 is significantly lighter than its predecessor while maintaining the same tall stack height — the foam itself does more work per gram, chasing every possible edge on race day.
Energy Arc Carbon Plate
What it is: A redesigned carbon-fibre plate, thicker and stiffer through the forefoot, with strategic midsole voids that expose the plate medially, laterally and through the outsole.
Why it matters: A well-tuned plate reduces the muscular effort needed to maintain pace over race distance, delivering a propulsive, race-day-specific ride, which matters most in the closing kilometres of a marathon.
Ride Experience
Landing: Soft through the heel — some testers find it noticeably softer than expected given the plate, which some prefer for fatigue reduction on long efforts.
Transition & Toe Off: Smooth and forgiving through the Energy Arc plate, with a clear propulsive push forward.
Responsiveness: High — this is a genuine racing shoe built for energy return over distance, versatile across 10km, half marathon and marathon pace.
Stability: The platform is narrower through the heel and midfoot than some competitors, which some runners find less stable, particularly on tired legs late in a race.
Ideal Runner
-
Competitive Racers: Built specifically for chasing personal bests from 10km to marathon.
-
Marathon Runners: The tall, forgiving Infinion foam suits the demands of marathon distance well.
-
Runners Doing Key Workouts: Also suited to race-pace intervals and tempo sessions ahead of a goal race.
Who might want to look elsewhere: this is not a daily trainer — runners wanting an everyday shoe should look at the FuelCell Rebel v5 instead. Runners who prefer a more stable, wider racing platform may want to compare fit carefully in-store before committing.
Performance Ratings
| Responsiveness |
★★★★★ |
| Weight |
★★★★★ |
| Cushioning |
★★★★☆ |
| Stability |
★★★☆☆ |
| Racing (10km–Marathon) |
★★★★★ |
| Daily Training |
★★☆☆☆ |
| Overall Value |
★★★☆☆ |
Key Features
- Infinion supercritical TPEE midsole foam
- Redesigned carbon-fibre Energy Arc plate
- 8mm heel-to-toe drop
- 40mm heel / 32mm forefoot stack height
- FantomFit lightweight mesh upper
- Available in standard and wide fit
Durban Runner Expert Recommendation
The SC Elite v6 is a serious racing investment for runners with a specific goal race in mind — Comrades, Two Oceans, or a city marathon. Its soft, forgiving Infinion foam suits runners who want fatigue protection over long distances rather than the snappiest possible turnover. This isn't a shoe for daily training or for runners without race-specific goals; it's built to be brought out for race day and key workouts.
We'd strongly recommend a proper fitting first — the narrower platform suits some foot shapes and gait patterns better than others.
