AS ANY RUNNER will know, the best runs aren’t the ones where you negative split the final kilometre or glance down at your watch every 400 metres to track your pace and heart rate. The best runs are the ones where your breathing finds a rhythm, you settle into autopilot and you stop thinking about running altogether. On those runs, you’re just moving, locked into a meditative flow state.
The problem is that those runs are few and far between. But the New Balance Ellipse is built around capturing that feeling – the simple pleasure of forgetting you’re running at all and losing track of time.
So, is the New Balance Ellipse really so supremely comfortable that it can capture that elusive feeling on demand? We put it to the test to find out.
The look
While many running shoes lean aggressively technical with minimal uppers, exposed plates and space-age foam geometries, the Ellipse softens its edges. The silhouette is rounded and fluid, with a sweeping midsole design that mirrors its name. The swirling gradient colourways really set it apart, and there’s a lifestyle sensibility here that’s clearly deliberate. The Ellipse is for runners who want their footwear to be able to pull double duty across run club and the coffee pit-stop afterwards.
The specs
The Ellipse is a brand new model, but it has some familiar qualities. For the last decade, most New Balance shoes have used Fresh Foam X midsoles. The New Balance 1080v15 was a departure from this formula, swapping Fresh Foam for Infinion Foam. The 1080v15 is still a great shoe, but those who miss Fresh Foam will be pleased that the Ellipse returns to it for its base.
The midsole is generously stacked without veering into unstable territory, delivering a plush, protective platform that absorbs impact without collapsing into mush. The overall weight is 274 grams in a men’s size 9.5. While that’s heavier than the 1080v15, it doesn’t veer into bulky max-cushioned territory. So it’s light enough to feel agile, yet substantial enough to feel durable.
Up top, the engineered mesh upper prioritises step-in comfort. There’s ample padding through the tongue and collar, and the fit walks that fine line between secure and forgiving.
Then there’s the price. The Ellipse undercuts the 1080v15 with an RRP of $240 compared to the 1080’s $280. But for that lower price point, you’re still getting a premium offering.
The test
I took the Ellipse out across a mix of easy 5Ks and a steadier 10km effort. The Fresh Foam X midsole delivers exactly what you want on an easy day: softness without sloppiness. There’s a gentle rebound that makes foot turnover feel natural, but, as opposed to something like the Rebel v5, it doesn’t feel like it’s trying to aggressively propel you forward. Instead, it settles you into a rhythm.
As the kilometres ticked by, the shoe started to disappear beneath me as I relaxed into my run. That is perhaps the highest compliment you can give to a comfort-first trainer. The shoe does genuinely feel like it’s encouraging you to switch off and cruise.
Push the pace into tempo territory and you will find its limits. The Ellipse isn’t as snappy as the 1080v15 or Rebel v5, but that’s not its purpose. This shoe isn’t built for threshold training, it’s for the 80 per cent of runs that should feel conversational and enjoyable.
Over longer efforts the cushioning holds up well and stability remains solid thanks to a well-balanced platform. For daily mileage, recovery days or simply getting out the door without overthinking it, the Ellipse performs exactly as intended.
The verdict
The New Balance Ellipse isn’t trying to reinvent running, it’s trying to restore something many runners have lost touch with in the era of data obsession and marginal gains: ease. By offering a smoother, more relaxed ride and landing at a more accessible price point, the Ellipse carves out a distinct space in New Balance’s lineup as the shoe you reach for when all you want is for running to be fun and easy.
If you want a daily trainer that doubles as a lifestyle sneaker, cushions generously without feeling cumbersome and encourages you to settle into a rhythm rather than chase splits, the Ellipse delivers. It might just help you rediscover those runs where you look down at your watch and realise you’ve drifted further than you planned.
