New Balance SuperComp Trainer V2 Review: Soft Cushion for High-Mileage Days

Introduction

The New Balance SuperComp Trainer V2 is a neutral road running shoe built around a tall stack of FuelCell foam and an embedded Energy Arc plate. It comes in at 40 mm in the heel and 34 mm in the forefoot, placing it firmly in the maximalist trainer category. V2 also dropped nearly an ounce compared to the original version, which is a meaningful change for a shoe in this class.

The headline trade-off is the ride feel. The midsole is softer than before, which many runners will enjoy, but it comes at the cost of some of the snappy, propulsive push-off that defined the V1.

Who This Shoe Is For

This is a shoe for easy days and long runs. If you are building toward a spring marathon and logging peak volume, the deep cushioning earns its place. It is not a tempo-day or race-day tool, and it does not pretend to be.

The upper is one of the clear upgrades here. The V1 had a more restrictive booty-style collar; V2 opens that up with a design that wraps the ankle more comfortably and improves breathability noticeably, especially through the toebox. A semi-gusseted tongue keeps things tidy, and the overall eyestay layout is simple and fuss-free.

Main Strengths

The weight loss is the standout stat. Losing close to an ounce between versions is rare at this stack height, and it makes the shoe feel more manageable over long distances than the numbers suggest.

Underfoot, the durometer reading came in around 32 to 33, which is genuinely soft. For high-mileage days when your legs are tired, that soft landing is the whole point of the shoe. The Energy Arc plate is there to add some structure and stabilize the ride, and the deep heel groove adds a subtle trampoline-like effect at footstrike. A 28-mile long run in this shoe is proof the cushioning holds up across real distance.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The ride is softer, and by extension mushier, than the V1. The foam density appears to have been sacrificed a bit to achieve that softer landing and the lighter weight, and the result is less pop through the toe-off even with the plate inside. If you loved the firmer, more responsive feel of the original, temper your expectations.

Stability is a minor question too. The heel measured around 90 to 93 mm wide, slightly wider than V1, but the soft foam still produced a slightly unstable sensation on foot. It is not severe, and the plate helps, but runners who prioritize a locked-in platform should be aware.

Durability is the biggest caveat. The foam creases fairly quickly, and realistic lifespan looks closer to 250 to 300 miles, depending on the surfaces you run on. That is on the short side for a trainer at this price, which sits around $180. If you can still find a V1 pair and preferred that midsole, it is worth a look.

Buying Advice

At roughly $180, this is a specialty purchase rather than an everyday rotation shoe. The practical way to buy it is as a dedicated long-run and high-volume tool: once or twice a week, timed to the heaviest weeks of a marathon build, when a soft landing matters most.

Used that way, the price is much easier to justify than if you expect it to replace a daily trainer. Pair the V2 upper with your expectations for the V1 midsole and you will not be disappointed; expect race-day snap and you will be.

Conclusion

The SuperComp Trainer V2 is a genuinely good high-mileage cushioning shoe with a lighter, more breathable upper than its predecessor. The softer, less energetic ride and shorter lifespan are real trade-offs, but for tired legs on peak-volume training weeks, it does exactly the job it was built for.