Over the years, New Balance has experimented quite a bit with its top-tier racing model, the SC Elite. In recent years, it has sacrificed some of that raw racer feel to appeal to a broader audience. The result has been a more comfort-oriented and protective racing experience.
With the SC Elite v6, New Balance takes a different approach. It introduces a new foam compound in a lighter, more streamlined package. That shift is obvious from the first glance, and the specs back it up.
Competing with the fastest racing shoes inevitably requires some compromises. But has New Balance taken things too far this time?
Let’s find out.
Upper and Fit of the New Balance SC Elite v6
What works for me
Let me start by saying I really like what New Balance has done visually with the SC lineup. This applies to both the new SC Rebel and SC Elite v6. Both share a thin, skeleton-like translucent upper with internal overlays, which New Balance calls FantomFit.
The thin upper also brings some clear performance benefits. It offers excellent breathability while helping shed around 20 grams from its predecessor. That weight reduction is very much appreciated on a dedicated racing shoe. Even more impressive, New Balance has managed to retain a fairly padded and sturdy heel counter despite the significant weight reduction.
The SC Elite v6 runs very true to size lengthwise. I would definitely stick with your usual size.
What doesn’t work for me
Oddly enough, the fit differs significantly between the two models. The SC Rebel has a perfectly snug fit from heel to toe, while the SC Elite v6 feels considerably broader throughout.
For my taste, it is simply too broad for a dedicated racing shoe. I like my race shoes to feel racy, with a tighter fit around the entire foot. However, runners with broader feet might see this as one of the shoe’s biggest selling points.
Looking back at the franchise, the fit is much more similar to the even broader SC Elite v4. The SC Elite v5, however, had perhaps the best race shoe fit I have ever experienced. It featured a slimmer heel and midfoot, further supported by a midfoot band that kept everything firmly in place.
Unfortunately, I never really managed to get comfortable with the SC Elite v6’s fit. The airy upper certainly does not help in this regard. It provides excellent breathability, but feels slightly too loose for this type of shoe.
I am sure many runners will enjoy this effortless, ‘put it on and forget it’ upper. Personally, I prefer a firmer grip when picking up the pace or attacking sharp corners.
Ultimately, the fit will come down to foot anatomy and personal preference. Thicker socks and a heel lock can solve most of these issues. Still, those are compromises I would rather avoid in a dedicated race shoe.
Midsole and Ride of the New Balance SC Elite v6
What works for me
With the SC Elite v6, New Balance has moved from PEBA foam in v5 to A-TPU in the latest version. New Balance calls this new compound Infinion. It is a direction we are seeing from several competitors as well.
A-TPU is generally considered more springy and snappy, while PEBA typically delivers a softer and more bouncy feel. A-TPU is also generally regarded as the more durable of the two compounds.
However, it is not quite that simple. The foam formulation, geometry, and nitrogen-infusion process all influence how the shoe ultimately feels. In this case, New Balance has gone all-in, creating a ride that feels dramatically different from v5.
What we get now is noticeably more ground feel, or perhaps more accurately, more plate feel. The result is a much snappier ride that encourages faster leg turnover. I can easily imagine elite runners appreciating this more direct and aggressive profile.
For us mere mortals, however, this could prove particularly interesting for shorter efforts. Think intervals, 5K races, and 10K races where feeling fast matters more than maximum protection.
The trade-off is that you sacrifice some stability and overall protection compared with the previous version.
What doesn’t work for me
This might sound a little harsh, because I appreciate that New Balance has tried to compete more directly with the top-tier racing shoes. Their clear focus on shaving serious weight is particularly impressive. At the same time, I also appreciate brands catering to a broader audience. I like having options. The SC Elite v5 might be the most comfortable, protective, and versatile supershoe I have ever worn. I also know many runners saw it as a trustworthy marathon companion. It worked particularly well for debut marathoners or anyone wanting a comfortable, forgiving supershoe experience. Unfortunately, I no longer feel the same about version 6. In some ways, I think that is a shame. For the full marathon distance, I would no longer consider it an option. For many runners, I would even question its suitability for the half marathon.
The main issue is the lack of protection and cushioning depth. I am a very light midfoot striker with a high cadence. I put relatively little force into each stride, yet I feel the plate constantly throughout the run. Now imagine a heavier, more powerful runner putting significantly more force into the midsole. I can only imagine how quickly that runner could bottom out the foam. This time around, I think New Balance might simply have gone too far with how soft they made the Infinion foam. I experienced something similar with the latest 1080, which also uses this compound. There, the extreme softness created too little structure and considerable instability. The SC Elite v6 suffers from the same issue, with constant plate feel added as an unwanted bonus.
The ride does feel snappy to some extent, largely because of this direct plate interaction. However, the extreme softness works against the shoe in other ways. It almost completely mutes the rocker geometry, while the foam takes longer to compress and rebound. The result feels somewhat delayed rather than immediately responsive. Overall, I don’t find the cushioning adequate for longer distances. The foam bottoms out too easily, while stability is almost nonexistent despite the broader platform and solid heel counter. Ultimately, I believe the issue comes down to how New Balance has tuned this particular version of Infinion. I really hope the next SC Elite finds a better balance between speed, protection, and stability.
Outsole of the New Balance SC Elite v6
Grip and Traction
I’d make the contrast with v5 clearer and sharpen the point about whether the weight savings are worth the trade-offs.
The outsole is another area where it is clear that New Balance has focused heavily on saving weight. The CPU rubber used here is significantly thinner and lighter than on v5. That version had a much thicker layer of more traditional rubber that felt almost indestructible while offering excellent grip.
I expect the CPU rubber itself to be reasonably durable, even considering how much thinner it is. However, I am already seeing significant wear around the exposed foam ridges, which are getting quite chewed up.
Grip is decent, but nothing spectacular. Once again, I am not convinced the benefits of the weight reduction outweigh the sacrifices made elsewhere.
Durability
I feel I am still too early into the lifespan of the SC Elite v6 to draw any firm conclusions about durability. That would be the fairest assessment, but I do have some concerns.
I expect the reinforced FantomFit upper to hold up well despite its impressive thinness. My bigger concern is the midsole compound. I have a feeling this extremely airy foam could lose its structure prematurely, especially under heavier runners.
Hopefully, I will be proven wrong. A-TPU compounds usually have a surprisingly long lifespan, much like TPEE. Whether this particular formulation can maintain its structure with such a high level of expansion remains to be seen.
I am also slightly concerned about the exposed foam. Some areas are already showing wear, and I wonder whether the peeling will continue at the same rate over time.
Conclusion
Value for Money
The price of the NB SC Elite v6 sits in the same ballpark as most of its competitors. If you appreciate the looks, weight reduction, and broader fit, it could be worth every penny. It also makes sense for runners seeking an interval or 5K/10K option. The more old-school ground feel might appeal to some runners too. If none of that sounds particularly appealing, I can clearly see better options out there. And probably even within this rather niche category nowadays.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
I am sure the very elite, like Alex Yee, will do very well in the SC Elite v6 over the full marathon distance. However, for the majority of runners, I think it is better suited to shorter distances and interval sessions. It might be especially well suited to track workouts, where the softer compound can work better with the increased plate feel.
Final Verdict
It might not come as a surprise that the New Balance SC Elite v6 is difficult for me to recommend to most runners. At least not as the dedicated long-distance racing shoe it is intended to be.
It is a decent option for shorter races and interval sessions, and I certainly appreciate the weight reduction. The upper will probably be a hit or miss depending on personal preferences and foot shape.
For me, however, the biggest letdown is the new midsole compound. It lacks structure, creating an unstable ride and, even more importantly, a noticeable feeling of bottoming out. On top of that, there is a constant sensation of the carbon plate underfoot.
Some runners might prefer this more connected and direct ride, even in 2026. However, I suspect most runners will want more protection and cushioning for longer distances.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
New Balance SC Elite v6 vs. New Balance SC Elite v5
Like day and night. The SC Elite v5 delivers a more stable, protective, and cushioned ride than v6. The v6 is lighter, snappier, and offers a more direct, connected feel. The v5 features a more structured upper and outsole, complementing its more substantial overall character.
New Balance SC Elite v6 vs. Brooks Hyperion Elite 6
While both sit in roughly the same weight class, the Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 feels like the more polished shoe. It offers significantly deeper cushioning, better stability, and a smoother rocker sensation than the SC Elite v6. Both feature very lightweight uppers, but the Hyperion Elite 6 has a more structured, refined fit.
New Balance SC Elite v6 vs. On Cloudboom Strike 2
While the SC Elite v6 is almost too aggressive, the opposite is true for the On Cloudboom Strike 2. For track intervals, I would pick the SC Elite v6 every day of the week. Meanwhile, I almost consider the latest Cloudboom Strike an uptempo daily trainer. It offers tons of softness combined with a surprisingly stable platform. In many ways, it has the versatility of the good old SC Elite v5.
