The New Balance SC Pacer v2 and New Balance SC Elite v4 both received big updates in 2024, which increased stack heights and an all-new PEBA midsole. The Pacer is the lighter shoe aimed more at short distance events, while the Elite steers more towards the marathon, but both shoes are fast over any distance. Mike and Nick compare the two in this video, and say which might work best for different runners.
Check our our reviews of both shoes:
New Balance SC Elite v4 review:
New Balance SC Pact v2 review:
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00 – Intro
00:15 – Design & Key Stats
02:11 – How’s The Fit
05:30 – The Run Test
12:48 – Verdict
More ways to enjoy The Run Testers
Subscribe:
Follow Us:
Listen to The Run Testers Podcast:
Watch The Run Testers Shorts:
Hello and welcome to run testers my Name's Nick and in this video we're Going to be comparing the New Balance SC Elite V4 and New Balance SC Pacer V2 so the Pacer and the elite are both New carbon plate racing shoes from New Balance this year they are both Significant upgrades on the previous Models of the shoe thanks to a new peber Midsole in particular and they are both Pretty good racing shoes for any Distance but they have a very different Design and different feel on the run That might make them suitable to Different Runners and more applicable to Different distances the SD Elite V4 is a More expensive shoe it cost £260 or $250 Whereas the Pacer is £180 or $200 the Pacer is the lighter shoe at 216 G or £ 7.6 Oz whereas the SE Elite is 243 G or 8.6 o Pac has an 8 mm drop and the SE Elite V4 has a 4 mm drop you've also got A higher stack heite on the V4 which Hits 40 mm at the heel OB drops to 36 at The 4 but not exactly sure on the stack Height of the pace of V2 but it's Probably kind of low to mid-30s at the Hill which means you know could be under 30 mm at the 4ot which is a big Difference the stack height of the elite In that area of the shoe for sure both Shoes have got a fuel cell midell and It's the peber version of fuel cell New Balance tends to use different materials
And formulations in its fuel cell phones But this is the best version of fuel Cell the bounciest lightest peber foam You also got a carbon plate running Through both of the shoes which is new Balance's energy Arc setup we've got a Rocker and that big canyon underneath The big cutout on the bottom the shoe to Reduce weight and try and line your foot In the center of the shoe as well with The STL before you've got a mesh shupper With really minimal padding around the Back of the shoe there's really nothing At all at the back of the shoe and There's a little bit of an internal heel Counter there but not much it's still Quite flexible there and you've got Pretty good rubber coverage on the Bottom of the shoe it's quite a thick Layer of rubber the four is well covered You've got two big strips at the back There so should be okay for durability And grip got even more lightweight upper On the SC PAC of V2 it's a single layer Engineered mesh upper again absolutely No padding at all at the back of the Shoe or on the tongue and a very small Internal heel counter and then like the S you've got pretty good rubber coverage On the forefoot and back of the shoe and It is again quite a thick layer of Rubber given that these are racing shoes So it should be looking pretty good for Durability on that front with
Both so to of fit I've got Bas these Shoes in the UK size8 now that is my Typical running shoe size I wouldn't say Mye Spence has been identical in these Two shoes I would say I've had less Issues with the SE Elite V4 and that's Definitely felt more true to size for me I would say the super comp Pacer 2 has Definitely felt a little a bit snug for Me and I definitely would go half a size Up in this shoe which can be the case With New Balance shoes in terms of my Experience I'm usually playing going my Usual size or going slightly up or maybe Half a size up and I would say that is The case with the Pacer 2 I think in Terms of overall profiles and those General fits the Pacer 2 is a little bit More on the narrow side I would say the Super comp Elite V4 is a little bit Broader it's not massively wide but it Definitely does feel broader in Comparison to the Pacer 2 that makes Sense cuz ultimately this is a shoe that Is going to be one that you are going to Kind of ultimately it's a marathon shoe And one you're going to do long Distances in so that's ultimately what You're going to get in this design and That's kind of what I found in my Experience of running in the shoes now There are some similarities in terms of Some kind of you know areas in terms of The design the laces are pretty similar
I would say the laces are a bit short to Me on the super comp p 2 compared to the SC Elite V4 which just makes you know The the scope to kind of lock things Down a little bit easy to do in the SE Elite V4 they've got similar tongues It's kind of very skinny kind of um Tongues here which generally have stayed Put for me in terms of my time maybe the Occasion I've had to kind of play around With them but ultimately they've kind of Stayed put and then you get to kind of Hill colors and they are very similar as You can probably see and I'll kind of Zoom in in terms of having no padding Inside very little padding in general And I think ultimately those are going To cause some issues for people now on The SE Le before I did initially have You know issues with that but I played Around with the the kind of lacing and That became less of an issue and Obviously run a marathon in this shoe With this I have found it more prevalent For me that kind of Achilles kind of Aggravation for me on the super comp Pacer 2 um so that is something to be Aware of it's not going to be everyone's Issue but ultimately that is something I've seen and I do think ultimately That's something that new B needs to Look at going forward with these both of These shoes ultimately just maybe giving A little bit more padding in there just
To kind of prevent that kind of Irritation that that some people might Experience so yeah for me I would say Super comp Pac 2 I would go half size up Super comp Elite V4 I think you can go True to size and it should be generally Fine for most people it comes to fit I've got both of these shoes in a uk9 Which is a US 9.5 it's a size usually go For if you balance who are one of the Brands I would say that can be a little Bit different with their sizing so I Would say the se4 has a rier fit for Sure than the PAC of V2 in terms of Length and in terms of just the general Volume you have in the toebox so I was Very happy with the length in my normal Size on the S V4 but on the pace of V2 It's been a bit tight like it's okay I Would say for short distance races you Know sessions that kind of thing but if You're looking at using the PAC as a Marathon shoe might consider going half A size up both shoes have got Problematic heels I'll say it like that They can rub a bit I've not had any Really serious problems of either of Them I've he locked both of them to try And you minimize that risk but I'd say If you're looking at long runs in Particular do start to feel a little bit At the back of the shoe I have anyway Like anything over 10 miles just starts To feel like okay I'm starting to get a
Bit of rubbing there that might be a Problem in the full Marathon but nothing Too serious for me but they have broken The skin on other testers in the Run Testers and in general they are known For being a bit tricky those heels so Look out for them if you do pick up Either shoe So I've run around 60k in both of these Shoes and I'd say that they're both Pretty impressive carbon plate racing Shoes that get the job done I don't Think either are right up there amongst My absolute favorite carbon plate racing Shoes but they both do deliver an Effective and fast ride with a nice Bouncy foam in the mid soole the carbon Plate pretty lightweight designs you Know all the usual Keynotes you expect From a carbon shoe you definitely have a Different feel to the ride with these Two shoes the SE Elite before is just a Lot bigger it's softer it's bouncier It's really noticeable that the drop is Low and you've got a lot more uh kind of Stack under the the for foot in Particular and The Rocker feels much More pronounced as well with the pace of V2 you've got a more natural feel it Kind of snaps through a bit more Naturally with my stride pattern anyway You can feel a bit more of the ground Under that 4 foot for sure it's got more Direct ride and it rolls through quite
Nicely but you don't get as much bounce Or the softness that you get from the Elite V4 or as much protection under the Forefoot in particular so you can Definitely run fast over any distance in Both of these shoes like I've gone down To the track and and on the road and Done short reps in both kind of M reps K Reps even shorter than that and I've Done longer hard runs in both like I did I think a 22k run out of the box with The SD Elite before with a 8K pick up in The middle and with the Pacer I've done A hard 45 minute progression run like Moving down to the last 15 minutes being At 530 per mile pace and yeah they both Do deliver the goods they both have Efficient fast rise for sure and you Could look at either of these as a Marathon racing shoe obviously the SE Elite before looks much more like a Marathan racing shoe than the Pacer I do Think there's enough Comfort Under Foot With the Pacer to look at those longer Distances it's more whether the upper Would work for you and if you like that Slightly more direct and grounded feel You have here you have got a more Protective ride with the elite V4 and Especially under the 4ot where I think I Would get a little bit of discomfort if I pushed the full Marathon distance in The Pacer because it's got the higher Drop and the lower stack there and as a
Heel Striker I snap through a bit onto That with the elite before that there's No chance of discomfort it's a very Comfortable and accommodating shoe and I Think it's one that people who are new To marathons and looking at their first Carbon rating sh for that distance in Particular I think it is quite an Accommodating option apart from the Dodgy heel because it is so comfortable Underf foot so to test the shoes out More directly I took them both to the Track for a session running mile reps I Was doing six one mile reps at 520 per Mile I think I had a 60c break 9C break In between those reps and did the first Four reps in the pce V2 and the last two In the SD Elite V4 and I was really Looking forward actually to swapping Over to elite4 before I started the Workout I thinking it be a really Comfortable but really bouncy shoe I I Think it's the more impressive shoe i' Done a little run in both shoes at the Same time before i' done that session And I thought I it's going to be the More impressive shoe but actually I was Running really well in the Pacer really Ticking off those reps nicely felt very Fluid very controlled swapped to the Elite before and it was like bizar Unnatural how it felt compared to the Pacer on that first trip in particular Like so much more rocked so much bigger
So much more foam Under Foot under for Foot and bounce here and it actually Took a rep to adjust on the second rep You know I was running well in both of The Reps in this shoe and I enjoyed Running in it but it felt really Unnatural and I had to it felt like I Was adjusting my gate pattern more to Work with the shoe whereas the Pacer Felt like it fit with my running style a Bit more naturally and enjoyed it a bit More in that session so I did come out Of that session I bit surprised that I Did have a clear preference for the Pacer for that kind of run in it but Then when you move more towards cruy Efforts Tempo efforts like kind of long Run I did in in the SC Elite before with That 8K pick up in the middle I think That's where I prefer to use this shoe Just because of that extra comfort under The for foot and that kind of thing it Really does work well at a more cruisy Pace whereas I think the Pacer has that Little bit more Edge if you if you are Going to run fast so in terms of my Running experience with these two shoes They are slightly build differently the Super comp pce 2 is build as a kind of 5K 10K shoe the New Balance SC Elite V4 Is very much kind of New Balances Marathon shoe this is kind of its top Tier carbon racting shoe it's more Expensive ultimately and and this is a
Shoe that I've run a marathon in I've Done a lot of my marathon training in For London earlier this year we've had The super comp p 2 in more recently um I've kind of focused on doing those kind Of shorter distances in it but I have Gone and run longer in it and I've can Get b Beyond an hour kind I've got up to Kind of 9 10 miles in this shoe as well Too which I think ultimately you Couldn't really do with the original Super comp P now there's obviously some Clear kind of similarities in terms of That design you know you are getting That kind of fuel cell um midsole there So that P based midsole you are getting A kind of carbon plate in there you know All the kind of qualities that you see In your balances kind of faster Focus Shoes are kind of pretty much here in This shoe now the stack Heights are Different there's more kind of that foam Here and stack in the new B scite V4 now Technically the feel should be very Similar when you see that all the Ingredients are the same I wouldn't say It's exactly the same feeling for me you Know ultimately this is a shoe that Still keeps you quite low to the ground Despite having that extra stack of foam Compared to Super comp Pacer this kind Of you know you know compared to this Shoe particularly does kind of give you A little bit more off the ground you
Know maybe not so much against other Kind of Super Shoes but definitely does Elevate you a little bit more uh in Terms of that experience now I would say Those midols feel a little bit different For me I still think they're you know Enjoyable shoes in terms of those Overall rides and experiences I've kind Of thrown these back on kind of you know To kind of compare one them together I've worn them you know gone back out in The supercom elite V4 again and Ultimately what I would say the biggest Difference for me has been that this Feels a little bit on the bouncier side Compared to the super comp Pacer 2 I Think this is a little bit more Responsive a a little bit more Snappy And it you know it's a it's a design and Feel that kind of you know suits kind of Running shorter distances I ultim I've Just noticed there's a little bit more Of a pronounced bounce in the SC V Before compared to the super comp Pacer 2 I think you know while the the Foams Are supposed to be the same I do think There's a slightly softer feel to the SE Before maybe that's because it's just Spread over slightly broader kind of Base I think alate maybe that kind of Makes it feel a little less firm feeling Than the super comp Pacer 2 and it's not Overly fair but I do think compared to The super comp Elite V4 it just feels
Like there's a little bit more bounce a Little bit more forgiving in terms of That overall experience underf foot I Think compared to the super comp Pacer 2 Ultimately I still don't think this is a 5K 10K shoe this can do that as well too But this has felt more comfortable for Me running a little bit longer they're Both very stable shoes but I think and Very controlled ultimately but what I Found is when I've kind of you know Crept over longer distances over kind of 10K in the shoe which is where it's Supposed to max out I found like I've Wanted a little bit more that kind of Softer touch to the mid so and I feel Like you get that in the elite V4 for me And also I think you just get a more Kind of notable bounce it which I prefer Over those kind of longer distances and It just feels more comfortable over Longer runs ultimately I think in terms Of other things really the um the Outsoles are very similar I mean you're Getting a similar level in terms of that Design in terms of amount of rubber now You know what I found you know I've run A marathon in this year have done a lot Of marathon training the seeing some Kind of wear ultimate as i' expect to See but ultimately I think you're going To get a similar level of wearing these Shoes I still think you can use the Shoes for training and for racing I
Think ultimately this can work for short Distances as well too and I think this Could probably work for up to kind of Half marathon that's probably where I Would want to take It ultimately would I Want to take it further than that I Think ultimately I would be looking at The site 34 just because I think it just Feels a little bit more comfortable That's what I felt ultimately in my Experience so yeah for me I think the Super comp Pacer 2 and the elite V4 are Very good shoes very good shoes for you Know kind of running your faster Sessions in for training in ultimately And you know definitely feel like they Have more in their locker to work for Shorter and longer runs as well which One would I go for I'll get into that in The Verdict so my Verdi on with you go the New band super comp Pacer 2 or the super Comp Elite V4 now the first thing to Address here is that these r2s in two Different price categories you know the Super comp Elite V4 is by far the more Expensive shoe and ultimately sits like Kind a top tier carbon racing shoe Category super comp Pacer 2 is a lot Cheaper I would say ultimately is is Still very much a 5k 10K shoe but Definitely has the capability to go Longer in that and if you were looking For you know a more reasonably priced
New Balance shoe I think gives you Qualities of the SC Elite V4 I think From a nice weighted shoe I think from a Shoe that still feels very nice and Snappy to run faster in and I think can Work to Half Marathon distance and You're not looking to use a shoe for of Longer runs and ultimately I think you Know you can get a good shoe here in the Super comp Pacer too I think ultimately I would say about the site V4 this is Definitely a shoe that can work for Shorter distances I think will reward You better over longer distances I think It feels bouncier than the super comp Pce 2 and I think just feels a little Bit more comfortable over those longer Distances and I'd feel more confid Running longer in the shoe and have done Ultimately in my time and obviously You're going to have to pay for that Experience but I think you know that's The way I kind of look at it these are Two very good kind of fast new Balan Shoes with similar qualities similar Kind of experiences but I think for me I Had to pick one I would probably reach For the super comp Elite V4 based on my Experience for the same types of runs Where I think you know the shorter and You know slightly longer runs the super Comp pity will offer a very good Experience for less money but I think For me in terms of my experience this is
The shoe I preferred running in I think If you can afford to go for the elite V4 I think you're going to get a really Nice shoe but if you can't I think Absolutely have a look at the super comp Elite V4 if you're a fan of what new B Is doing with it shoes and you want it For a little bit less money uh then this Is worth looking at instead as comes to The verdict although I do think B Shoes Really would be fine for events of any Distance and it probably more tally up With your preference in ride field which You would go for the pace are just skew A bit more towards the short events Where you might value the more direct Ride the lighter feel the faster Turnover the kind of higher drop to the Shoe whereas the elite skews a bit more Towards longer events where the extra Protection under the forefoot will be Beneficial the bigger bounce a bit more Of a rocker that can maybe help you a Bit more when you're on tired legs but I Think probably the more telling Difference is what you kind of like from Your carbon plate racing shoe so if you Really want that massive exaggerated Bounce feeling the softness The Rocker Then the S Elite V4 is the one that Provides it like it to be a bit more Direct probably a bit more akin to the Early days of carbon Racing shoes Something like the vapor fly 4% you have
A bit more Road fill than that snap Through AIT more then the Pacer V2 Provides that obviously with either shoe Good look out for that heel and as I Mentioned I'm not 100% sold on either Shoe compared to the market at large CU You can look at something like the ax Metas speed shoes which are lighter than Both of these shoes but have a high Stack and kind of combine the best Elements of both but if you are going to Pick between them if you're someone Who's going to do a lot of training in The shoe and lining up long distances I'd say the El before is better for that In particular especially a lot of Training miles whereas if you are Predominantly doing shorter distances Want a shoe that you're going to use Mostly for short track sessions and then Those races the Pacer probably has the Slight Edge That's our comparison of new balan's two Top carbon plate racing shoes let us Know what you think in the comments Below please do like and subscribe ring The little bell and we'll see you next Time
