The original New Balance Super Comp Trainer quickly became one of my favorite running shoes. Sure, it had monstrous stack height and was a bit unstable when turning corners, but it had great rebound and was a fun shoe to walk out the door on days when you didn't want to run long distances. The second version of this shoe, the New Balance Super Comptrainer V2, has a lower stack height, an improved upper, and is considerably lighter than the first version. But some of the magic was lost. [Plus, how does it compare to the best running shoes on the market and the best carbon fiber running shoes on the market? To find out more, I tested the shoes on a variety of runs, from easy mile runs and long runs to faster tempo sessions and speed work on the track. Read my review of the New Balance FuelCell Super Comptrainer V2.

The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer V2 is available now and can be purchased directly from New Balance or from third-party retailers such as Sportsshoes.com. The shoes are priced at £210/$179, which is the same price as the original version of the shoes released in October 2022.

The shoes are available in men's and women's sizes. The shoes are available in men's sizes from US 7 to US 14 and in standard and wide widths. At the time of writing, it comes in Ice Blue and Black colorways. The women's version is available in sizes US5-US12, also in standard and wide widths. Now it comes in neon red and black colorways. [The V2 still has FuelCell foam and a full-length carbon fiber plate, sandwiched between the layers of foam. According to New Balance, the shoe has "Energy Arc" technology, which is virtually a hollow channel through the middle of the shoe, designed to improve energy return.

Fit-wise, I was wearing my usual New Balance size - UK 5.5/US 7.5 - and found that I had plenty of room in the toe box of the shoe. It is worth noting that I typically go up a half size in New Balance compared to most of my other running shoes, which are UK 5/US 7, as I find New Balance generally come up short on the foot.

Upper

The upper of the SuperComp Trainer V2 is a change from the somewhat stiff, almost see-through upper of the first version and it is an improvement. The upper conforms nicely to the foot, and there were no issues with chafing or rubbing while wearing the shoes. The laces were able to wrap tightly around the foot and felt locked in place when running. The upper is similar to that used in the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V3, but slightly less performance-oriented. The Elite V3 is the brand's premium carbon fiber racing shoe and is designed for marathons.

New Balance is clearly focused on reducing the weight of its shoes. The first version weighed 11.3 ounces for men and 9.3 ounces for women; the V2 is slightly lighter at 10 ounces for men and 8 ounces for women.

Midsole

As shown above, the shoe's midsole contains New Balance's FuelCell midsole foam, the same used in the brand's faster shoes like the Elite V3. However, the FuelCell foam is soft and resilient, and it is not overly plush - you won't sink into this shoe, and there is still a firm base to spring off of, as the carbon plate sits fairly high in the shoe.

That said, it's not overly firm by any means, and has the kind of plush cushioning you'd expect from a shoe designed for training. The drop on this shoe is 4mm, but if you're looking for a dramatic rocker, this shoe doesn't have it - there is no aggressive toe spring, and it feels more relaxed than the previous SuperComp Trainer.

Outsole

The outsole of the Super Comp Trainer V2 is unchanged. It does not offer much grip, and the outsole has two rubber strips, one in the forefoot and one in the heel, placed around the midsole cutouts. I had no problems with the shoes slipping on wet concrete or tracks, but I still wouldn't reach for these shoes for many miles on the trail.

Compared to the first iteration of the shoe, the midsole has definitely lost some of its magic. It's certainly lighter, but it doesn't feel as exciting to run in and has lost some of its pop. For this reason, the shoe is better suited for easy or longer distances.

I still enjoyed running in this shoe - it is soft and resilient, and it makes running a little easier on tired feet. However, I don't like it as much as the first model. It's certainly more stable, but I don't think it's more versatile just because it's lower and lighter. I could run a tempo session in these shoes, but they are not a shoe I would reach for when trying to run fast on race day. I wore the original Super Comp Trainer in my half marathon race, and I definitely feel that the Super Comp Trainer V2 is a better training shoe. For example, the New Balance 1080v13 stands out. [but] these shoes are soft and cushioned underfoot and are a lot of fun to run in. If you are looking for a shoe that can handle most of your training distances, this shoe can handle easy distances, and the carbon plate allows you to pick up the pace when you want to.

[11] The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer V2 is a pretty big change, not quite as big, but still definitely in the camp of maximum cushion shoes. If you're training for a marathon and want a shoe that can handle easy runs, long runs, and speed sessions, this shoe can wear all those hats.

However, fans of first shoes may be a little disappointed. With a lower stack height and lighter midsole, this shoe is not as big and bouncy as it once was. They are more like training shoes than racing shoes. If you are looking for a cheap running shoe for everyday wear, the New Balance 1080v13 is an excellent choice with excellent cushioning. If you are looking for a racing shoe, I would choose the New Balance FuelCell Super Comp Elite V3 over the Super Comp Trainer V2.

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