The New Balance SC Trainer v3 is a plated super-trainer designed mainly for marathon training, offering a comfortable but versatile ride thanks to the high stack of foam in the midsole and the carbon plate that runs through it. Kieran and Nick have been testing the shoe in recent weeks, here’s their New Balance SC Trainer v3 Review.
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00 – Intro
00:14 – Design & Key Stats
01:48 – How’s The Fit?
03:21 – The Run Test
10:07 – Verdict & Alternatives
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Hello welcome to run testers my name is Nick and this is our full review of the New Balance SC Trainer [Music] V3 so the SC Trainer V3 is the third Version of new balance's super comp Training shoe the shoe that's designed To be a training partner to its SC Elite Racing shoe it is a plated super trainer With an incredibly high price tag here In the UK where it's £230 and a more Reasonable and in line with other shoes Price in the US of $180 it weighs in at 278 G or 9.8 o in a uk9 it's got a 6 mm Drop from Hill to toe and the heel stack Heart Is 40 mm dropping to 34 at the 4T So it's the third generation of the FC Trainer and it sticks similar form Factor in terms of the drop and stack Height to the second version of the shoe But you now have a p/a blend midso with The S trainer V3 this is the same blend That we see in the New Balance Rebel V4 So I think it's 20% peber like that but Whatever the exact makeup you've got a Bouncier more responsive material in the Midsole here than you had with the Second version of the shoe even though That was also called fuel cell you also Got a carbon plate running through the Shoe as you can see from the bottom Through that cutout the energy AR carbon Plate that's now forked at the 4 foot Which reduces a little bit of weight and
You can also see now that whereas the Cutout on the SC Trainer V2 extended all The way to the 4ot and the plate Actually had a bit of rubber on it to Protect it from hitting the ground cut Out ends at the midfoot in the new shoe So you've got a thicker wedge of foam Under the 4 foot with the SC Trainer V3 You have a phantom fit mesh upper with a Little bit of padding around the heel And on the tongue but General quite a Lightweight upper and then you've got a Rubber out soole with quite a thick Layer and decent coverage in the key Impact areas obviously a lot of exposed Foam in the midfoot and that big cutout But where it counts you've got pretty Good rubber on this [Music] Shoe so then the New Balance team Recommended that I go half a size up in The SC Trainer V3 so that's exactly what I did I'd usually run in a UK and a half But for this test I went for a nine Generally I found the fit pretty much Spot on I like that you've got a lot of Room in the toe box I'm a big fan of Having ample wiggle room particularly in Shoes that are designed for the longer Runs that you're going to do but going That half a size up definitely makes for A baggier fit you might say there's sort Of a bit more volume overall all around The shoe from going half a size up I did
Have some minor slipping in the heels And I was to work a bit to get the laces Locked and to get sort of near to a sort Of dialed in heel hold you can largely Overcome it with a bit of lace pratting But if you're going to go half aze up I Would expect a generous fit here now Despite that the uppers feel pretty Secure across the mid foot that's one Area where it did feel nice and tight Once you had lock down and what you're Getting here is generally a good Disappear and comfortable fit that feels Airy and breathable with a good balance Of kind of light but plush upper Trimmings uh some people who go true to Size have struggled for length in the Shoe now having gone half a size up I'd Say that it's that's really the Preferable option here even with that Bagginess and that is what I would Recommend so the fit of the SC trer V3 Was all good for me in my normal running Shoe size I think there is some people Out there who found it a bit better Going up half a size and people have had Problems with the upper in general but Actually I had no problems at all with The upper it was really comfortable kind Of disappeared on the foot a little bit Of padding around the heel but nothing That I found too noticeable none of the Heel rub or anything that you get with The SC Pacer V2 and the SC Elite V4 so I
Was very happy with the fit in my normal Run issue [Music] Sides now this is my first ever outing In a New Balance SC Trainer so I don't Have comparisons to draw on from the First two generations but in testing I've clocked around 20 mil in the V3 Including a 5 Mile progression run that Moved from Easy up to close to 5K pace For me all of that has been on the road And I've also thrown in the other miles I've thrown in the kind of usual mix of Paces from slow through to fast Generally speaking I really like what I See from this shoe the stepping comfort In a shoe that's half a size up is great It feels instantly like it belongs on my Foot a comfortable disappearing you know Just an easy shooter run all the good Things that you really want from that First moment you Lac up it's also Surprisingly light considering the General kind heft of the shoe the size Of it not just on the scales but I think It runs light on the foot too in part That's down to some of the Goldilocks Padding you've got here and the heels And tongues that provide for that kind Of long ha Comfort without adding too Much weight I'd say it's kind of Comfortable overall without swaddling Like some shoes can really feel like They're sort of holding and swaddling
Now if New Balance was shooting for an All round more versatile shoe I think It's nailed it here provided you like a Bigger stack these have a good range I Really like the smooth energetic ease There's a calm energy to the ride it's Not boisterous and wild or overly Aggressive like I found the hoker Skyward X which was just a bit out of Control I noticed the bounce of the mids Phone more than any kind of pronounced Sort of spring or propulsion from the Carbon plate but there's a measure of Control here that I also really like the Comparatively lower stack compared to Some rivals in this space means that you Keep some ground F I mean it's not a Ground contact shoe but it's more than Some of those other big stack shoes There's a wide 4ft base here as well That I think creates reliable Landings It's not as precise as some shoes that You might choose in place of these for Faster efforts but I think it still Works I find the shoe eases me through My transitions rather than firing me Again I like that there's energy but It's not aggressive another thing I like Of the shoe I enjoy the stiffish ride From the plate and foam combo but then I'm not really a fan of shoes that are Too soft and too cushiony and two Pillowy even for my recovery ones some May want more softness in a slow day
Shoe but I'd happily use the SC Trainer V3 for my slower plots I can run slowly In a shoe like this there's a bit more Shoe here than I think some will Runners Will want for faster efforts too or for The fastest training miles that you Might do for the fastest training miles I do I tend to reach for something a bit More strip back and agile think of the So endorphin speed 4 when I'm pushing Faster interval Paces you know those Kind of things I want something that's a Bit less shoot but this is excellent for Cruising and it will happily eat the Majority of your marathon training miles In a marathon training block sparing Your legs while it's at it now I'm going To put it out there as well I think some Runners particularly maybe if you're a Heavier Runner or you're looking at four Plus hours for a marathon four to five Hours on feet you might actually get a Lot of joy out of racing a marathon in These shoes they've definitely got some Super shoe Vibes but in a more Controlled way easier to run in and even If they're not as all out or as Lightweight as the top options in that Kind of race shoe bracket I do think That some Runners could find these a Good shoe to do the kind of training and Racing for a marathon in quite happily Now I definitely consider the New Balance SC Trainer be 3 for a road Ultra
Like the Berlin w 100 or even the Comrades Marathon for that exact reason And like the similar expensive oncloud Monster hyper that might be the only Case where I think you can really Justify the price using this to train And race for 100 mile ultra but more on The price later one other note the big Energy Arc Groove that you've got here Has kind of stone catcher Vibes it's Really deep I've not caught any yet but It feels like it's just a matter of time Before something gets locked in there Onto the run test then and the St Trainer V3 is quite different to its Predecessors and for me that is a good Thing like the first version of the shoe Was this Mega stack you know higher than 40 mm stack heite shoe that was really Bouncy but I found just a bit too big And heavy and I didn't really love using It for long runs just because it was a Bit too big but it was very bouncy the Second shoe was tamed down a lot and I Just didn't really like that shoe full Stop they uh midell wasn't very Responsive it didn't feel very versatile Or that fun to run long in either third Version of the shoe however I do really Like I've done a lot of running in the Shoe now I'm up to about 110 km using it During marathon training where I think It does really Excel and I really Enjoyed it come to like it a lot more
Than I did after the first rum I thought It was fine but actually it's become you Know a really enjoyable shoe to use for Long sessions in particular I think it Has broken in a little bit which Certainly helps you've got a little bit More bounce from the shoe after about of 20 or 30k slightly less stiff as well But all around it's just a really well Setup shoe I like this pe/ EVA foam you Have in this shoe and the rebel it's not Really sinking and Squishy and bouncy And all that but it just gives you a Nice blend of comfort and response with The plate in there as well it does give The shoe just a really good ride and a Versatile ride for those who are doing a Lot of long miles I've done a real mix Of runs in the shoe I've done a few Progression runs I've done including a 15 mile progression run from easy to Steady I've done a couple of longer Sessions like I've done one where I did Four times 4K around 340 a k Pace you Know not Flatout Pace but you long reps And then I used it for both runs on a Double day last week where I did 10times 1K at 330 and then a 8K at 335 a k Pace In the afternoon and yeah it's really Felt good for all of those runs and I Think the key there is that there's lots Of easy running lots of steady running And then the sessions are done at you Know a fast Pace but you know not any
Kind of race pace for me except maybe Marathon pace on some of those K reps But in general it's very controlled fast Efforts that you will do a lot of during Marathon training rather than Necessarily going on flat out you know Long runs with long hard sections and That's exactly where the shoe excels Like it really does give you that level Of Bounce and controlled response that You want for those longer runs it gives You comfort as well protects the leg so You can bounce back the next day or even In the afternoon and it doesn't Necessarily feel like it's going to be Flat out quick but for that kind of Speed workk it's really really good and Then it can hover up a lot of easy Mileage as well if you don't mind doing That in a plated shoe I'd probably Prefer to use a non-plated shoe myself For that overall I'd say the ride feels Quite normal and understated in a good Way though so like compared to some of The shoes out that have much more bounc Like the Mauna Neo Vista or a really Fast notably fast ride like the hok max 2 the super comp trainer V3 feels like a Good daily trainer and that's kind of What you want like it's a comfortable Shoe it's protect Sho you get a little Bit of Bounce you can notice the bounce But in general it just feels like a Really reliable option that rises to
Match whatever you're doing in that run So it can feel nice and relaxed on easy Runs and it does have a bit more pop When you are moving faster up to a point I think when you hit Flatout Paces on The rare occasions I've done them in the Shoe that's where I think it doesn't Feel as good as you know a Flatout Racing shoe or a light Nimble shoe or Some of the best super trainers I've Used this year like the Mac X2 or the Endorphin speed 4 which just have a bit More top end Pace I think like if I was Lining up a session of like 10times 1K At 320 instead of 330 for example think The shoe could do it it'll be okay for That but I'd prefer to be in aight Nimbler shoe shoe that's built more for That kind of speed rather than this Which feels a bit more cruisy it Definitely feels like a shoe that's Geared up for long runs faster efforts Over long runs not really hitting the Kind of race Pace you do in shorter Events like 5K to half [Music] Marathon it comes the verdict I've Really enjoyed using the SC Trainer V3 I Think it's a cracking shoe especially For marathon training which is what I'm Doing right now it really does feel like A great option to have available to Hoover up a lot of the mileage you'll be Doing especially kind of easy runs
Steady runs those longer sessions like I've talked about I think it's pretty Verstile in that kind of area if you're Someone who focuses more on short Distance events and doing speed work Related to that then I think you will Get a bit more versatility from other Shoes that have more top end Pace but as A general trainer that can hoover up a Lot of miles and move pretty fast it Does a fantastic job in the US the price Is pretty good as well like it's Competitive with what you expect for a Super trainer and it's something you Could certainly look at if you are Marathon training as one of the better Options out there as a versatile trainer In the UK the price is is it's just a Bit silly isn't it like I don't really Know what's happened there but I think It's priced out of the market at 2 130 Like it's going up against you know Proper Super Shoes and it's 50 Quid more Expensive than you know other amazing Super which I probably like a little bit More like the Endorphin speed 4 or the Mac X2 so you see it in a sale that's When we start talking about the SE Trainer again in the UK but that price Like I say it's just is not really right And if you're comparing it to the other Really good super trainers I do think The speed 4 and the max2 are a little Bit Superior in terms of their top end
Pace and that gives them you know a Really nice level of Versatility if you Are looking for a far shoe in particular I think the S tr3 is a bit more Comfortable for cruising around a long Distances the upper a bit more Comfortable than the Mac the rid's a bit More comfortable than that of the speed 4 with a bit more foam under the 4 foot In particular so Like I said it leans very much towards That marathon training efforts but you Can do all those in the max2 and the Speed 4 as well I think there still Shoes I look at getting ahead of this But if you're prioritizing comfort in Your super trainer but still want to be Able to do those longer sessions it is a Fantastic option a few other shoes might Compare it to so the Muno NE Vista is a Fair bit cheaper as another really Cushion super trainer it's a lot Bouncier and softer than the SC Trainer V3 has a really great fun ride for easy Runs and long runs I think personally I'd lean a little bit more towards the SC Trainer V3 for the ride field just Because it has a slightly firmer field More responsive feel which I prefer for Faster efforts and even for long runs Really but Muno is fantastic like it's So fun to bounce around in that shoe so If you're looking for a shoe that's more Geared up for easy mileage I say that's
A better shoe a lot cheaper as well in The UK super plus 2 is a better shoe as Well and cheaper remarkably in the UK And especially as it's not plated I Think a lot of people might prefer to Use that for all of the same kind of Runs that I'd use the SC Trainer V3 for The super blast is also a really good Versatile shoe for doing easy and steady Paces and those longer sessions at kind Of slower race Paces in it as well you Know you've got the plate in here which Probably gives you some kind of Performance boost but didn't feel it That much superlast is a lighter Sho Both really good options and superlast Is somehow cheaper in the UK so you know That's another option for sure and if You're looking within the New Balance Range there is obviously the BOS and the Rebel as well which are both really good Shoes that are very versatile Trends as Well without plates the rebel obviously Has this foam and a lower stack with no Plate it's you know I used it again this Week to remind myself of how much I like The rebel I think it feels like a higher Stack shoe than it is I do find it Comfortable I love cruising for easy to Steady runs in that shoe as well you do Get more pop from the plate in the new Balance and it has more protection and You know support for longer runs in Particular so again with that marathon
Training idea in mind I think it Probably has a little bit more Versatility as an allround daily trainer But the rebel is a lot cheaper a shoe I'd use for loads of the same runs and If you are more focused on shorter Events and want a fast training shoe I Think it would serve you just as well at A lower price and the ballos is you know Similar price again a bit cheaper in the UK but somehow more expensive in the US And it's that's a great fun shoe as well It's bit like the Neo vistor in terms of Just being a shoe that I love running in Because it's so fun to run in really Soft and bouncy great for easy runs long Runs like think you can get a higher Level of performance from the train of V3 for fast runs especially holding fast Paces over long runs because it's got The plate in there the more resilient Foam in general the Ballance feels Fantastic it's very soft and bouncy just Probably veers a little bit too soft it Gets that slight bottoming out feeling If you are holding a fast pace in it for Very long stretches which is something You don't get with the FC trainer V3 for Sure because it has that more resilient Phone but again looking at easy runs That kind of thing the ballos is a lot Of fun to run in and again no plate Which some people might prefer all round Definitely a shoe I've enjoyed running
In a lot like that's why I've done so Many miles in it and i' happily keep Using it for marathon training like the Look of it as well UK price is you know Complete no no but sure it will be Popping up in sales uh quite soon and if It comes down to more like the price of Things like the Mac X2 the speed 4 it's A competitive shoe that I think very Much is most competitive when it comes To marathon training as a you know Really good super trainer that does Handle long runs and long sessions very Well verdict then I really like this Shoe I think it's a very accomplished Daily training with a decent level of Cushioning that's not too soft plus Plenty of controlled energy that you Getting back from that medol foam great For eating up miles on longer runs There's a lots of Versatility here too And I think it would be a good weapon in Anyone's marathon training lineup Targeting most of the sessions that you Would do for a Marathon block however if You live in the UK it's really hard to Shake the fact this shoe is Extraordinarily pricey at £230 is a lot of money for a training Shoe even a super trainer now I get There's premium Foams carbon plate Tech In this shoe and yes there's an argument That some Runners might even be able to Train and race in the SC Trainer V3 so
There is versatility and arguably kind Of package value in that for some Runners but regardless of whether or There's that Tech in the shoe I do feel Like that's you know it's asking a lot To to Shell out that money for this shoe Now if I ask myself whether this shoe Offers that much more for its intended Purpose than rival shoes I'm not 100% Convinced I don't think it offers more Marathon training versatility than Cheaper shoes that can do the same job Likes the socon Endorphin speed 4 you Know to a certain extent even the hok ma X2 might be a shoe that some people Could use for that and I would say if There is a limit to this it's definitely At the faster end of things and if you Like your recovery shoes at the really Softer side you know you're not going to Get that from this shoe you might still Have to invest in another recovery shoe As well to cover that base now it's a Totally different story in the US where I'd argue actually because of the price It's pretty good value for the Versatility you're getting and I would Say if you're in the US it's a cracking Option for a marathon utility shoe if it Was £180 in the UK I'd probably highly Recommend it here too in fact I like Pretty much everything about the shoe Apart from the price in the UK makes it Hard to recommend in the US so I'd say
Go give it a [Music] Go that's our review of the New Balance SC Trainer V3 let us know what you think In the comments below please do like Subscribe ring the little bell and we'll See you next time
