New Balance SC Elite v4
New Balance's 2024 carbon-plated marathon racer with a soft PEBA FuelCell midsole, new angular geometry, and a low 4mm drop. Smooth and forgiving by super-shoe standards, favoring rhythm over aggressive snap. Runners wanting a firmer, more explosive plate feel may prefer rival racers, and it has since been superseded by the SC Elite v5 and v6.
Reach for the New Balance SC Elite v4 for race day. It's a neutral shoe, best for runners with an efficient stride who don't need pronation support. The tall, soft stack favors comfort over ground feel. That's great for high mileage and bigger runners, less so for racing snappiness.
- Comfortable, forgiving super shoe
- Stable for a marathon racer
- Proven podium-level platform
- Less aggressive than rival super shoes
- Two generations old as of mid-2026
| Shoe | Cushion | Support | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Alphafly 3 | Maximum | Neutral | $285 | Analyze |
| Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 | Maximum | Neutral | $250 | Analyze |
| ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo | Maximum | Neutral | $275 | Analyze |
| ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris | Maximum | Neutral | $250 | Analyze |
Ratings compare the current lineup. Price favors lower cost.
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