New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4
£230
UK RRP
Midsole to scale · mm · red dashes mark the 40mm road limit
- Weight
- 230 g
- men's US 9
- Stack
- 40 / 36 mm
- heel / forefoot · drawn above, against the 40mm line
- Drop
- 4 mm
- Plate
- carbon fibre
- Foam
- FuelCell PEBA
- Stability
- balanced
- Competitive life
- ~250 km
- before the foam stops giving it back
- Built for
- Half · Marathon
Verdict
The previous generation Elite, and still widely sold. World-class energy return on a broad, forgiving platform — the shoe that made New Balance a serious racing brand.
■ Caution
Heavy for a super shoe at 230g, and the v5 is lighter for similar money. Worth buying only at a genuine discount.
Straight answers
- Is the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 legal for road racing?
- Yes. The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 measures exactly 40mm — precisely on the World Athletics 40mm road limit, legal with no margin. The limit only binds Applicable Competitions (championship, elite and record-eligible fields); most club and local races apply no shoe rule at all.
- How much does the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 weigh?
- 230g in a men's US 9 (UK 8), by the manufacturer's stated figure. Weight moves roughly 3.5% per UK size step, so a UK 11 weighs materially more than the spec sheet says.
- What is the stack height and drop of the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4?
- 40mm at the heel and 36mm at the forefoot — a 4mm drop. A carbon-fibre plate runs through FuelCell PEBA.
- How long does the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 last?
- We estimate roughly 250km of competitive life — the point at which the foam has degraded enough that you are no longer getting the benefit you paid £230 for, not the point at which the shoe falls apart. Spread over race cycles, that is what the cost-per-race figure on this page is built from.
- Is the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 good for a marathon?
- Yes — the marathon is one of the distances it is built for (half marathon and marathon). The previous generation Elite, and still widely sold. World-class energy return on a broad, forgiving platform — the shoe that made New Balance a serious racing brand.
Legality by event
FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 at 40mm · every panel drawn to one scale
Road racing
40mm · 0.0 clear
Track events
20mm · 20.0 over
Field events
20mm · 20.0 over
Cross country (spiked shoes)
20mm · 20.0 over
Cross country (non-spiked)
40mm · 0.0 clear
Race walking
40mm · 0.0 clear
Mountain and trail
no limit
Drawn from the manufacturer’s stated stack height, which is not the measurement World Athletics takes — the rule is measured on a men’s US 8.5 sample, and larger sizes may legally exceed it. An indication, not a ruling. Limits bind Applicable Competitions; most club and local races apply no shoe rule at all. What that means in practice.
Reading — what would the FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 save you?
Time bought back
−2:32 – 3:53
Off 3:45:00, that lands you at 3:41:07 on the optimistic end.
- Per race
- £58
- ~3.9 races in the foam
- Per second
- £0.30
- whole-life basis
- Sticker
- £230
- UK recommended retail
Economy gain 3–4.2% v. a traditional flat, adjusted for pace and your current shoes. Full method.
Manufacturer-stated specs unless marked estimated · last reviewed 2026-09-04 · prices are UK RRP; check the retailer for the live figure.