New Balance SC Elite V6 First Run Review: A Serious Step Forward

Introduction

The New Balance SC Elite V6 costs £230 or $275, weighs 181 g (6.4 oz) for men in a size 8, and has an 8 mm drop. It is a carbon fiber racing shoe built for runners chasing fast times, whether over short road races or the marathon. After a first run, it is clear this is a major update rather than a minor refresh, and it finally puts the SC Elite line in the same conversation as the top carbon racers.

First Run: Fast Where It Counts

The performance centres on an Infinitum foam midsole, designed to deliver high energy return while keeping the shoe light so legs feel fresher over longer efforts. It is paired with New Balance’s energy arc system, which combines a carbon fiber plate with strategically shaped voids in the midsole to store and return more energy with each stride. The plate has a stiffer forefoot tuned for a more propulsive toe-off at faster paces.

On a fast 5K at roughly 3:45 per km pace, the shoe felt genuinely quick. The foam is noticeably softer than previous New Balance racing foams, landing near a sweet spot of bounce: not as soft as a Saucony Endorphin Elite, but soft, poppy and smooth. It feels comparable to the Hoka Cielo X1 3.0 in bounce and rolling action, though not as aggressive as the Puma Fast-R. At easy paces around 5:30 per km, it feels sappy and does not reward you the same way; this shoe comes alive when you push the pace into the 4:45 to 3:45 range.

Fit and Sizing: Size Up

The fit is a genuine race fit. In a usual UK size 8, there was very little space in front of the big toe. No rubbing or discomfort showed up over a 10K, but the shoe is tight across the midfoot, restrictive to get on, and a poor choice for wider feet. Going up half a size is a sensible move for most runners.

The upper is a very light, very breathable translucent mesh with Phantom Fit construction, giving a secure, glove-like feel without bulk, in the spirit of the lightest uppers from the fast Puma racing range.

Durability: A Cause for Caution

One concern emerged early: the rubber on the rear of both shoes came away during a 10K, and in one case a chunk of the underlying foam also pulled loose. Small rear rubber patches failing is common on race shoes, but foam coming loose is not, and it suggests the Infinitum foam may be somewhat delicate. That is worth watching over longer testing.

Stability remains decent. The SC Elite range has always been accessible and stable, and while this version loses a little of that, it still did not feel wobbly despite the thinner midsole over a 10K.

Buying Advice

This is a shoe for pace-focused runners: track sessions, 5K and 10K races, and potentially half marathon and marathon efforts. It suits runners who want a bouncy, smooth ride that actively encourages speed, and who run fast enough to keep the foam in its responsive zone. Wide-footed runners, or anyone wanting an easy-pace daily trainer, should look elsewhere. If you try it on, plan for a half size up.

Conclusion

The SC Elite V6 is a strong update. New Infinitum foam, a retuned plate geometry and a featherlight upper work together to produce a shoe that rides quicker and feels more performance-focused than the V5, and it now stands comparison with the best carbon racers available. Beyond the outsole and foam durability questions, the first-run verdict is very positive, with particular excitement about how it performs over 10K and half marathon distances.