New Balance Ellipse Review: A Fresh Foam X Daily Trainer With an Old-School Soul

Introduction

The New Balance Ellipse looks like a 1080, weighs about the same as a 1080, and uses Fresh Foam X, the foam family that the 1080 line was built on for years. With the 1080 v15 having moved on to a new foam, the Ellipse reads almost like a nod to the way things were: a cushioned, versatile daily trainer for runners who never asked the flagship to change.

It is not a Goldilocks shoe that can truly do it all, but it offers a lot of versatility, a comfortable fit, and a price that undercuts most of its obvious rivals.

Specs and Design

On paper, the Ellipse brings some unusual numbers. The heel stack measures 37.9 mm with an 8 mm drop, putting the forefoot at 29.9 mm. Brands rarely quote stack heights in 0.1 mm increments, so these figures stand out.

The midsole uses Fresh Foam X, the compound New Balance applies to its everyday trainer lineup. The idea behind the label is an experience: softness and cushioning that still holds up for daily training, a shoe that can put in work while staying comfortable.

The outsole uses a familiar pattern to protect all that foam, with fingers of rubber across the forefoot and two skids of rubber plus a filled outline on the outer heel edge, an area where wear tends to be hardest. The upper is an engineered mesh with plenty of reflective accents and tape tracing the design, stretchy laces, a lightly padded tongue, and a heel cup with light to moderate padding that has some structure without feeling dense and firm.

Weight comes in at a measured 9.2 oz (262 g), straddling the line between a regular daily trainer and a max cushion shoe. Think cushioned daily trainer, or a grand touring version of one.

Who the New Balance Ellipse Is For

The Ellipse suits runners who want a pleasant, neutral daily trainer that is not too soft and not too firm, and who are happy doing most of their running at midfoot or heel strike. It also works well as a casual shoe: step-in comfort is exceptionally nice, it looks great, and it is comfortable enough to wear around all day while still being ready for a run.

If you have not been enjoying the direction modern running shoes have taken, with aggressive rockers and beveled geometry, the Ellipse may feel refreshingly old school.

Main Strengths

The stand-out quality is comfort. Step-in feel is excellent, the toe box is generous in both width and height, and going with your usual running shoe size should work well. The ride itself is pleasant: the Fresh Foam X absorbs impact from the road, feels soft yet responsive, and never hurts your feet.

The way the foam and geometry are shaped at the back of the shoe makes heel and midfoot landings feel genuinely nice, and at 262 g the shoe is light enough to reach for every day, whether it is a recovery run or an uptempo steady effort.

It also reminds us of the 1080 in a very good way, delivering similar sensations and use cases at a friendlier price.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main trade-off is geometry. During the heel-to-toe transition the shoe feels flat, and at very easy paces it can feel a bit blocky and slappy. It looks like it has camber, but we found ourselves wanting more of it, and earlier. The 8 mm drop, instead of the 6 mm that is standard across most Fresh Foam X shoes, helps, but the overall feel is more old school than modern.

There is also a question of cost to your body. Running faster in the Ellipse is possible, but it felt like our body was paying a bit more for that speed rather than the shoe absorbing the effort. The foam is nice, yet after a run the body notices the work in a way that better-insulated shoes do not always produce.

Finally, for forefoot strikers the shoe works, but it takes more effort to stay on the forefoot. Once you get there, the foam rewards you.

How the New Balance Ellipse Compares

Within New Balance, the closest comparisons are instructive. The 1080 v15 switched to a new foam and a more premium upper, with nicer inlays, embossed material, and better overlays than the sticker-like reflective tape on the Ellipse. At $170, up $5 from last year, we do not think it is $30 better than the Ellipse unless you are a devoted 1080 fan. If you do not care about those flourishes, the Ellipse saves you money.

The much closer call is the 1080 v14, the last 1080 with Fresh Foam X. It retailed at $165 and carries a denser, less collapsible version of the foam, a more premium upper, a 6 mm drop, and rocker geometry that makes it easier to live with at easy paces. Because it has been replaced by the v15, it can be found discounted to around $90, which is an opportunity that is hard to pass up. The Ellipse is lighter, a bit more agile, and slightly more speed-oriented, while the v14 is more chill and relaxed, with substantial overlap between the two.

The 880 v15 shares an almost identical outsole pattern, Fresh Foam X foam, and similar stack heights, though with a 6 mm drop. The 880 offers more padding and a nicer upper, but at $150 it feels expensive for what you get, and it changed dramatically from the low, flat workhorse of earlier versions. For 880 fans unhappy with that direction, the Ellipse is the obvious alternative.

The Rebel v5, a Fuel Cell shoe at $145, is a very different experience with distinct foam compression and decompression, but it was one of our favorite shoes of its year for versatility and styling. Between the two, we would lean Rebel, and together they represent the two best entry points to the New Balance lineup.

Outside the brand, the Nike Vomero 18 occupies a very similar slot in a rotation but works differently: it pushes toward max cushion with a puffy tongue, plush heel cup, and thicker upper, a 10 mm heel drop, and a much snugger fit. It launched at $165 and now sells for around $125. Choose by fit preference above all: the Vomero fits snug, while the Ellipse leans voluminous.

The Brooks Glycerin 23 matches the Ellipse’s stack height and heel drop exactly but goes the opposite direction on underfoot feel, insulating you from the road with dense foam, strong shock absorption, less pop, and a plush step-in experience. At $175, it costs significantly more. If you want a leaner, no-nonsense ride, the Ellipse; if you want extra comfort, the Glycerin.

Buying Advice

At $140, the Ellipse is a genuinely good price for what you get, and it stands as one of two great entry points to New Balance for runners new to the brand, alongside the Rebel v5. It launched for most of the world on March 5, with North America following two weeks later on March 19.

Our advice is simple: if you love the classic Fresh Foam X daily trainer feel and want it at a fair price, buy the Ellipse now. If you want the maximum flagship polish, weigh it against a discounted 1080 v14 while stock lasts, then move up to the Ellipse when you need a replacement. If a plusher, more insulated ride matters more to you, look at the Vomero 18 or Glycerin 23 instead.

Conclusion

The New Balance Ellipse is an accessible daily trainer that is big on style and backs it up with substance for everyday runs. Its flat, old-school geometry will not suit everyone, and easier paces can feel slightly blocky, but the comfortable fit, versatile Fresh Foam X ride, and $140 price make it one of the most sensible starting points in New Balance’s current lineup.