The New Balance Ellipse is a comfort-oriented daily trainer with a retro-inspired look that stands out more than its ride. New Balance put a lot of marketing behind the idea that this is the kind of shoe that feels so good you 'lose track of time' in it, even bringing in Action Bronson to praise its long run durability, but that promise doesn't really hold up in practice. Its moderately stacked Fresh Foam X midsole feels decently cushioned at first, yet it bottoms out fairly easily under the forefoot if you put down more force or take it out for longer runs, which limits how protective and enjoyable it feels once the miles add up. On the plus side, the upper is quite plush and padded, so if the throwback styling is your vibe, it can still have some appeal if you stick to shorter outings or want a shoe you can use for a mix of running and walking that feels stable.
Our Verdict
The New Balance Ellipse isn't designed as a marathon racing shoe. Its ride feels too relaxed and not sufficiently cushioned to hold up well over long distances. It's also quite heavy, so it doesn't feel agile or nimble. While the platform is very stable, it doesn't offer the efficiency and resilience you want for serious marathon efforts.
Stable, controlled platform.
Midsole tends to bottoms out under higher loads.
Ride feels sluggish at faster paces.
The New Balance Ellipse falls short as a 5K or 10K racing shoe. It weighs quite a lot, and the ride feels too sluggish and muted when you try to run fast. You can get through a 10K race in it, but it feels more like a casual trainer than something built to help you really optimize your performance.
Slight forefoot rebound.
Ride feels sluggish at faster paces.
The New Balance Ellipse has decent energy return for relaxed running, with a bit of bounce that keeps it from feeling completely flat at easy paces. The forefoot feels a bit livelier than the heel, so runners who land farther forward get a touch of rebound that adds some enjoyment to short daily runs. That said, because it isn't paired with a nimble build or performance-focused geometry, that bounce doesn't really turn into propulsion.
Slight forefoot rebound.
The heel feels much less energetic.
The New Balance Ellipse feels decently cushioned overall. Under lower forces, the midsole absorbs energy really well, so it works for easy jogging, short runs, and walking. However, if you're a more powerful runner or start pushing the pace, the lower-stack midsole compresses and bottoms out, especially under the forefoot. That makes the ride feel a lot harsher than its plush step-in feel suggests, which limits its appeal for harder efforts or longer runs.
Sufficiently cushioned for short, easy miles.
Midsole tends to bottoms out under higher loads.
The New Balance Ellipse has great lateral stability, which is especially impressive for a neutral trainer without dedicated support features. The firmer midsole, wide outsole platform, and moderate stack make it stay controlled and predictable. This makes the Ellipse an approachable option for casual mileage, though it isn't a true support shoe for runners who need pronounced guidance.
Stable, controlled platform.
The New Balance Ellipse fits true to size overall, so most runners should feel comfortable going with their usual running shoe size. Lengthwise, the fit is spot on. At the forefoot, there is enough room laterally, but not so much vertically. As a result, it should work well for most runners, but those who prefer a very roomy toe box will find it a bit more snug up front.
Fits true to size overall.
Toe box is a bit shallow.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated May 26, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.11, adding two new rocker measurements to the Design section, and three new responsiveness tests to the Performance section. The Energy Return usage score has been replaced with Responsiveness. Check out the details in our changelog.
- Updated Apr 15, 2026: Review published.
- Updated Apr 03, 2026: Early access published.
- Updated Mar 10, 2026: Our testers have started testing this product.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the New Balance Ellipse in men's U.S. size 9, as noted on the label for our pair. The color shown here is Afterglow with Lone Star Grey and Silver Metallic, but the shoe is available in a variety of additional colorways depending on your region. The Ellipse is available in a whole range of widths, from Standard (B for women, D for men) to Wide (D for women, 2E for men), as well as Extra Wide for men (4E). The design section applies only to the exact model we tested, but we expect other variants to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The New Balance Ellipse is a comfort-focused daily trainer that truly shines as a reliable shoe for shorter daily miles. It feels consistent and predictable from one run to the next, which gives it a dependable quality for runners who want something they can lace up day after day and know exactly what they're getting. That sets it apart from something like the adidas Adizero Evo SL, which feels much more at home at uptempo paces and can come across as a bit harsher on truly easy days. If you're looking for a shoe that's comfortable and cushioned at easy paces while still feeling efficient when you pick up the pace, check out the Saucony Endorphin Azura, though it's less stable than the Ellipse. If you're after a similar amount of cushioning and a similar weight but want a bouncier midsole, consider the PUMA Magnify NITRO 3.
Within New Balance's trainer lineup, though, the Ellipse struggles to shine. Now that the New Balance 1080v15 has moved to the new Infinion midsole, the Ellipse feels like a recycled Fresh Foam concept, landing somewhere between the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15 and older iterations of the 1080 without carving out a particularly clear role of its own. New Balance already has an already crowded daily trainer lineup, which also includes the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6, the New Balance Fresh Foam X Balos v1, and the lighter New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5, and they seem to have forgotten that sometimes less is more, as the Ellipse feels like another overlapping option in New Balance's lineup rather than a model that fills a truly distinct role.
If you're looking for more options, check out our recommendations for the best New Balance running shoes and the best running shoes overall.
The New Balance Ellipse and New Balance 1080v15 both sit in the cushioned daily trainer category, but they deliver that comfort in different ways. The 1080v15 uses a higher stack and a more premium Infinion midsole, giving it a more cushioned and protective ride, though it feels less stable overall. The Ellipse relies on a Fresh Foam midsole that offers a similar level of bounce, but with less overall cushioning and a more stable and grounded platform. In terms of fit, both are generally true to size, but the 1080 feels a bit snugger through the arch.
The New Balance Ellipse and adidas Adizero Evo SL are two popular shoes, but they serve different parts of a rotation. The New Balance is better suited for easy running, with a more comfort-focused ride, though it can feel a bit cumbersome and less agile when you try to pick up the pace. The adidas is much lighter and feels more efficient and responsive, helped by its plastic shank and more energetic ride, which makes it far more at home during uptempo efforts. The trade-off is that the adidas feels less stable overall, while the New Balance offers a more grounded experience.
The New Balance Ellipse and ASICS NOVABLAST 5 are both daily trainers, but they behave differently underfoot. The ASICS is lighter and higher stacked, combining good cushioning with noticeable bounce, which makes it feel more dynamic but also a bit less stable overall. The Ellipse offers some bounce as well, but with less overall cushioning and a lower, more grounded feel that translates into better stability and more connection to the road.
The New Balance Ellipse and Saucony Endorphin Azura are two popular trainers, but they offer very different levels of versatility. The Azura is the more adaptable option, combining cushioning with a lighter and more energetic feel that makes it efficient when you pick up the pace, which helps it work well as a one-shoe solution for a wide range of runs. The Ellipse is more of a straightforward daily trainer, best suited to easy runs where its stable and predictable ride feels reassuring but less dynamic.
We buy and test running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes so team members can log in miles. This real-world testing is conducted at various paces and conditions, across different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
