New Balance SuperComp Trainer v3 Review: A Premium Marathon Trainer With One Big Catch

Introduction

New Balance has released the third generation of the SuperComp Trainer, and on paper it looks like a near-perfect do-everything premium trainer: good for long runs, good for easy days, and a realistic option for runners targeting a half marathon or marathon. There is, however, one significant issue that will put many people off, and we get into that below.

Every version of this shoe has changed considerably. Version one had a huge stack and a distinctive ride. Version two went with entirely different geometry, was superbly bouncy and ultra comfortable at all speeds, though a little unstable, and earned a place among the most comfortable shoes of its release year. Version three brings an updated upper, a slightly different midsole foam composition, and a more tapered toe box. It does not feel quite as bouncy as version two, but it is a lot more stable. It is also £20 more expensive in the UK, which is where things get complicated.

Key Specs and What’s New in Version 3

This is a shoe built for long runs and premium everyday mileage, aimed at people training for half marathons, marathons and potentially longer distances. Pricing depends heavily on where you live: in the UK it costs £230, roughly $300 at exchange rates, but buyers in the United States pay just $180. Australia pays AU$330 and Europe pays €250, meaning most of the world outside the US and Canada pays a large premium for the same shoe.

The stack sits at 40mm at the heel and 34mm at the forefoot for a 6mm drop. Our sample weighed 325g in a UK 11.5, and we would recommend going with your regular size rather than sizing down. The upper is a Phantom Fit engineered mesh with a gusseted tongue, the midsole is New Balance’s FuelCell, a soft PEBA and EVA blend with some bio-based content, and there is an Energy Arc carbon plate for added rigidity, stability and propulsion. A wide rubber outsole delivers surprisingly good grip, and in the US and Canada the shoe is offered in two widths.

Who This Product Is For

The SuperComp Trainer v3 is aimed at mid-pack runners training for a half marathon or marathon who prioritise comfort over outright speed. If you are heading out for three, four or five hours on training runs, and want a shoe you can trust for many hours on your feet during the race as well, this is squarely the target audience.

Main Strengths

The Phantom Fit upper is the first standout. It is genuinely breathable for something quite thick, with enough open structure to see your socks through it, and it handled hot summer running in London well. Heel lockdown is excellent thanks to generous padding, with no need for heel-lock lacing, and the gusseted tongue is well padded and properly sized, unlike the short, flimsy tongue on the SuperComp Elite. No hot spots, no blisters, just all-around comfort.

Second, it is a fantastic cruiser. At easy pace, marathon pace and even a little faster up to half marathon pace, it just works. The midsole has lost some of the spark version two had, but what it gives back is no-nonsense cushioning and real stability. This is a shoe you can trust not to roll an ankle; you go out, tick off the kilometres and get it done.

Third, comfort is there straight out of the box. Compared with a standard daily trainer in the £120-£140 bracket, you really feel the premium difference: nicely cushioned, with enough extra speed from the carbon plate to make a meaningful difference on long efforts.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The first drawback is versatility. This is not a shoe for all speeds. It is not responsive enough for fast 5K and 10K training paces, and it lacks the pop that made version two special. It is happiest cruising at marathon pace, easy pace and recovery pace. Version two had more speed range; version three is a little blander, a little less responsive, but noticeably more stable.

The second issue is pricing. At £230 in the UK it is genuinely hard to justify. The Rebel v4 at £140 and the More version 5 at £140 felt normal; this shoe is only £30 cheaper than the flagship SuperComp Elite, and only £9 more than the Nike Vaporfly 3, a full racing shoe. It should really be priced around £180 in the UK or €190.

There are alternatives worth considering. The Mizuno Neo Vista at £150 gives you a plate, high-end foam and comfort with similar versatility, and the Adidas Boston 12 at £140 offers a plate and premium foams at a much lower price. We have not yet run in the Boston 12 or the Hoka Skyward X, so we cannot personally recommend those two, but the pricing gap speaks for itself.

Buying Advice

Do we recommend this shoe? If you live in the USA or Canada, or are visiting soon, then yes, at $180 it is easy to recommend and worth picking up. At £230 in the UK, we could not possibly recommend it. Is it worth the upgrade from version two? Probably not, unless you specifically want a more stable ride, in which case version three is the better choice.

Conclusion

The New Balance SuperComp Trainer v3 is a comfortable, stable, premium marathon trainer with a well-executed upper and dependable cruising performance. For runners in the US and Canada it is a strong buy. For everyone else, the international pricing is the one big catch that makes cheaper plated alternatives hard to ignore.