If you’ve been waiting for a sign to invest in a pair of running shoes for your next race, this is it. Over the weekend, triathlete Laura Philipp raced the marathon portion of the (brutal) Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii wearing the New Balance SuperComp Elite v5—WH’s selection for best race-day running shoe. Turns out, she recorded the fastest marathon split in the women’s field. And it just so happens that those very shoes are a mega deal right now.
Now 40% Off
But let’s back up and pause for a moment of awe: Over the course of completing an Ironman triathlon, these athletes run a marathon, swim 2.4 miles, and then complete a 112-mile cycling leg, all in one event. My mind is totally blown.
Back to the shoes. Here’s the “sign” part: The New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 is currently discounted 51% ahead of the release of the next-generation model. What’s really interesting is that Philipp opted to race Ironman Kona in the v5 shoe instead of the forthcoming model.
The v5 introduced several notable updates from the v4. Its forefoot stack dropped from 36 millimeters to 32 mm, increasing the heel-to-toe drop from 4 mm to 8 mm. A stiffer carbon plate in the forefoot works with the PEBA midsole to create a more propulsive feel, according to New Balance. The shoe is also considerably lighter than the previous version, weighing around 187 grams, compared with around 207 g for the v4 in a U.S. size 10.5.
New Balance is known for making significant changes to its super shoe models from year to year, and the v6 is no exception. While the heel drop remained the same at 8 mm, the midsole was changed significantly in the new model, which came out in August. New Balance has shifted away from the FuelCell foam midsole to its Infinion Foam, which improves energy return according to the brand. The carbon plate was also tweaked for a smoother, less snappy transition, as was the heel counter, which is now an ultra thin mesh compared with the rigid heel counter of the v5. All of these changes, along with a reworked upper, brought the v6 down to around a featherlight 176g.
Shop the New Balance SuperComp Elite V5
But Philipp didn’t want to fix what clearly wasn’t broken for her, and she really trusts the New Balance SuperComp Elite v5. Our very own executive editor Abby Cuffey trusts them, too. Cuffey raced the London marathon this year wearing a pair of these race shoes, and she scored a PR in that race. She considers these kicks a “race day gem.”
Currently, models of the New Balance SuperComp Elite v5 are on sale for up to 51 percent off, depending on the colorway. If you’ve been wanting to invest in a pair of super shoes but have been put off by the price tag in the past, you can currently snag a pair for the price of a regular pair of running shoes.
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Natascha is an editor and writer covering health, fitness, and the ways people move through the world. She’s been a NASM-certified personal trainer for more than a decade, with a background in functional strength training, corrective exercise, nutrition, and behavior change. She has additional CES, CNC, BCS, and SFC certifications. She is also a level-2 certified Spinning instructor. Her work has appeared in Bicycling, Runner’s World, and other outlets, and her experience spans both editorial and hands-on work across the fitness industry. Whether she’s writing about training, health, or performance, she’s most interested in making complicated topics useful, approachable, and helpful.