New Balance SC Trainer v2 After 100 Miles

The SC Trainer v2 was one of my favorite max cushion shoes of 2023. It’s a shoe that can do a little bit of it all. In this video, I'll talk about how this shoe has held up over the miles, and I'll update my pairing recommendations, buying guide, and potential alternatives.

0:00 intro
0:52 disclosures
1:27 how I've been using them
2:41 how they've been holding up
4:39 pairing options
5:35 buying guide and alternatives

disclosures: New Balance provided these shoes for review, so I did not have to pay for them. No one is paying me to make this video or to include their shoe in this video. No one will get a chance to preview any of my footage or my thoughts before this video goes up on YouTube.

Thanks for watching! Leave a comment to let me know you stopped by!

Running footage shot on:
DJI Osmo Action 4 (paid link)

GoPro Hero 12 (paid link)

Disclosure: It's 2024, so I think we all know how affiliate links work at this point, but for regulatory compliance or affiliate program purposes, I must state that affiliate links do not increase cost to you, but:
"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Also, you do not need to use these links. You can also search for these same items in amazon or on any search engine/shopping site of your choice and buy/research them that way.
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subscriber count at time of upload: 174,274

end card music:
Jim Yosef - Checkered

[HM-qepd]

I’m at 260km and there is considerable wear on the outsole. I’m a hybrid athlete but will definitely buy another pair, great for heavier runners!

[kevinclark]

I still run in my sc elite v2. Its a very underated shoe at training paces. Does get soft for me at 10k and under pace but threshold and tempo its still as good as anything ive tried out of latest releases.

[MrFreakout]

Loved the V1 the V2 are definitely a little harsher at slower speeds. The v1 did not care what you were doing.

[johnatnip]

I am 6'6 250 and these are the best I have ever had!

[caseysmith]

Yup, my current rotation is SC Trainer V2 for slower long runs and the Boston 12 for my faster runs when I want to pick up the pace.

[nathanlangfitt]

Had the exact same experience with the foam losing some magic - I loved wearing this shoe for a while but it’s been replaced by a discounted pair of Endorphin Speed 3s. Great review as always!

[DZero_Aperture]

Got 130 miles on mine. I haven't noticed the degradation in foam feeling but maybe I'm not paying enough attention to it so something I'll look out for. Def one of my favorite shoes at the moment.

Also totally agree about the plate. It doesn't feel like a racing plate it feels like a stability plate given how squirrelly the fuel cell v2 foam can be like with my rebel v3s

[Klian]

OH yeah baby I love my pair, put about 230 miles on them and they still got some life in them ;)

[Ghimlioak]

I had the V1 and now I run in the Boston 12. I think it’s a great shoe. I mix them with the Ghost Max for my easy runs. I possessed the V1 of the primex strung but I blessed my ankle with them so I retreat them and try to sell them.

[NickJBower]

How would you compare the fit of the this shoe to the elite v4? I’ve been enjoying my trainer v2 for a little over 100 miles and am starting to look for a racer. Between the elite v4 and saucony pro 3
Thanks Ko!

[movdqa]

New Balance had these around $120 for the orange colorway back in January for about a week and I went back and forth over it as I've never run with a plate and but so many people have said that it's a fun shoe. I am somewhat more interested in the Balos (probably not the right spelling) that is coming out later this year as it should be available in 4E (I'd have to size up 1/2 or 1 for the Fuelcell line) and should be fun though it doesn't have a plate. I have generally not seen the breakdown that you've seen in the Fresh Foam models yet. I will revisit this model if the price gets back down to $120. I really wanted to try the v1 just for the extra height.

[andrewlink-oubt]

I have over 500 miles on mine now. It's been a beast of a shoe and I'll be buying another pair before V4.

Not a massive or noticeable difference to be honest. I'm light weight, so the foam hasn't taken as much pounding.

The only issue is the rubber outsole has worn through towards the heel on the lateral side - I get this with most shoes as I'm a high-cadence shuffler and tend to scuff my feet if my form drops.

I'm using the 'rotation' seen on the vid - SCT V2, Rebel V4, SC Elite V4 - with 1080v13 for really easy/recovery runs. This was more by accident than design - but also have Adios Pro 3 for races too.

[sergiovjr]

I put 150 miles in them and I just could not wear them anymore. I’m now wearing the 1080v13 and at 300mi they still feel great

[andriekal]

have both the Boston 12 and these and use them the same way, long runs, great shoes

[anthonycova]

hit 320 miles today on my v2 (orange variant) during a long run. It definitely felt like they bottomed out in the latter miles (14-17). Time to recycle em

[bsmoov]

I got the SC Trainer V2 for 145 on New Balance’s website. Seems like they have flash sales sometimes. Might be able to catch them there

[damodaraomalley]

Just got it today. Super plush, but my front foot ball leans inward a bit... Longest lasting shoe I have ever used is the Saucony triumph 20. At approximately 2, 000klm it still feels newish.
Q. When is the sc trainer v3 coming to Australia?

[luked]

SC trainer V1 has over 1, 000km and still feels ok (80kg)

[raymart]

Paired my V2’s with the Nimbus 25, but I’m an older slower +4hr marathoner. Considering a race day/long run shoe for spring races. I’ve got 260mi on this pair so I need to start looking for a replacement.

[revelationgritz]

If you want to know what it's like wearing these shoes, try this: stand barefoot, but lift all your toes off the ground . Imagine running like this. Now imagine trying to go down stairs or an uneven trail like this. In addition, there is extra foam around the heel area making it difficult to maneuver stairs since the shoe sticks out beyond your foot shape. I keep seeing this design (upraised toes/curved front/super chunky foam that gets in the way) and I can't wait for it to go away.