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The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Pacer is like a tricked-out 1400.

The RW Takeaway: The Pacer marries what we loved about the 1400 with high-tech materials.

Price: $150 Type: Racing Flat Weight: 6.6 oz (M), 5.5 oz (W) Drop: 8.5 mm (M), 7.6 mm (W)

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The all-new Pacer from New Balance looks a lot like a 1400 for good reason: It’s a remake of that versatile racing flat—on steroids. But, is there a place for a 1400-type shoe in 2022, even if it leverages all of the latest high-tech materials?

Just a decade ago, the 1400 was a do-it-all shoe, capable of handling any road race distance or track workout you could throw at it. Heck, of the 77 different models I’ve raced in over the past 12 years, none has been employed more often (32 races) or at such a wide range of distances—a sub-5:00 road mile to a three-hour marathon, and even up the Mount Washington Auto Road. But the last time I toed a starting line wearing the 1400 was March 2017, a month before Nike announced the Vaporfly 4%, the first super shoe. Nowadays, you’ll most likely find me in a thick carbon-plated racer not only at marathons but at 5Ks, too. That’s true for many of us, because such racing shoes are more comfortable than thin flats yet still feel lively and fast at short distances—plus they don’t weigh much more than traditional flats.

Clearly, though, some folks want “less shoe” for shorter distances, especially if you’re the type to dash in circles wearing track spikes. Nike recently rolled out the ZoomX Streakfly. With a lightweight, springy foam, but without a carbon-fiber plate, it’s best suited for 5K races. The Pacer, too, is that ’tweener shoe, meant for distances between track contests and marathons.

When you sacrifice the thick stacks of foam that we’ve seen on marathon racers, you end up with a really firm shoe by comparison. “This is definitely a little bit of a snappier, harsher ride from what people are used to after a few years in a higher, thicker shoe,” one New Balance product manager told me. Their PR staff was quick to correct the characterization as “harsh,” but that’s the exact term RW wear-testers used to describe the Pacer.

So, why would you want a “harsh” shoe? In this setup, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some runners don’t want to experience that sinking feeling you get from thick, soft foam. They want the shoe to let their foot react the moment the sole strikes the pavement. Take, for example, Emma Coburn, who told me she regularly switches shoes in the middle of a workout. “Gotta learn to tie our shoes fast!” There are days when she’ll lace up the Pacer for efforts at 3K pace, then change into spikes for faster reps or the RC Elite for longer, slower intervals.

The Pacer delivers a snappy performance, but feels considerably softer than the old 1400 and thin racing flats in part because of what New Balance calls “Energy Arc.” They’ve placed a carbon-fiber plate that’s curved like an arch between two layers of compression-molded EVA foam. But the bottom layer has been hollowed out, so there’s a void that the plate sinks into, boosting the cushioning power from the thin sole. The effect is kind of like a trampoline: The curved plate flattens and then snaps back to shape, returning energy to the runner—without the void, the plate wouldn’t be able to flatten.

For what it’s worth, Avia used a similar construction 40 years ago, albeit without carbon fiber and magical foams. Avia’s heel construction was shaped similarly, and the void, combined with foam at the edges, was designed to dissipate shock better than the foams used at that time.

Our testers found that the Pacer performs best if you have just a slight heel strike—our midfoot- and forefoot-strikers didn’t perceive the shoe to roll as softly.

Dannah J. | Age: 21 Average Pace: 7:30/mile Footstrike: Forefoot

“I really enjoy these shoes. I used to run track races in New Balance racing flats, which I liked, but the FuelCell SuperComp Pacer is much lighter and has higher energy return. I like the carbon fiber—it feels like the shoe helps push my foot off the ground, leading me to run faster and have quicker turnover! My old New Balance racing flats lacked carbon fiber and I can definitely feel the difference. But, compared to the other carbon fiber-plated shoes I have worn (Saucony Endorphin Pro and Nike Vaporfly), these have less cushioning. While these are still pretty soft for a racing flat and provide much more cushioning than a traditional non-carbon fiber racing flat, they provide less cushioning than other carbon fiber shoes on the market today.”