Nike Vaporfly 4 vs New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5:
Which to Choose

Start with what they share: both are low-stability (2/6), neutral shoes with no pronation support, both pair a 100% PEBA foam with a full-length carbon plate, and both score maxed-out for pace and responsiveness with high-but-firm, racing-tuned cushioning rather than pillowy softness. Both also turn tippy and vague at jogging speed and only truly come alive when you're moving — these are race-day tools, not daily trainers. The real differences are geometry, weight, and range. The Vaporfly 4 is noticeably the lighter shoe, at roughly 167g in a men's US 9 versus 198g for the Elite v5, and it sits lower in the heel: both share a 29mm forefoot, but the Vaporfly stacks 35mm at the heel against the Elite v5's 39mm, which gives New Balance a taller rear and a slightly higher drop (around 8mm on the Vaporfly versus roughly 10mm on the Elite v5). That extra rear stack is why the Elite v5 feels more grounded and better cushioned over long miles, while the lighter, lower Vaporfly feels snappier and more eager to change pace. It shows up in their range, too: the Vaporfly is rated across 5K, 10K, half, and marathon with its sweet spot in the 10K-to-half window, whereas the Elite v5 is dialed specifically for the half and marathon, with the marathon as its true home. The Elite v5 also brings New Balance's Energy Arc — a concave plate with midsole voids for extra rebound — and a roomier, semi-gusseted woven upper, versus the Vaporfly's thinner, more minimal engineered mesh that trades some durability and toebox room for lower weight.