The plated New Balance definitely made me feel faster. I still ended up giving them away.
It’s the foam
I don’t like the foam. It isn’t soft and it isn’t bouncy. It’s the same feeling I have about the Alphafly, and I’ll say the same thing here I say in that review: once I switched to the Metaspeed I couldn’t go back. The Metaspeed is soft and it springs. The SC Elite is stiff and fast and that’s it.
Fast is not enough
I race a lot and I want the shoe to be comfortable at mile 20, not just quick at mile 2. The SC Elite was quick. It wasn’t comfortable like the ASICS are. So it went to someone who’ll use it.
Would I buy it again
No. If you like a firmer plated shoe, and plenty of people do, it’s a good one. I want bounce.
What I wore
| Brand | Piece | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Balance | FuelCell SC Elite | 8 | gave them away |
All my measurements and every size I wear are on the sizing page.
Questions I get
Is the New Balance SC Elite fast?
Yes. The plate does what plates do and I felt faster in them. I still gave them away, because fast isn't the only thing I want from a race shoe.
New Balance SC Elite or ASICS Metaspeed Sky?
Metaspeed, and it's not close for me. The Metaspeed is soft and bouncy. The SC Elite isn't, and neither is the Alphafly, and once I'd raced in the Metaspeed I couldn't go back to either.
