New Balance Ellipse V1 Review | The Running Well Store

First Look at the New Balance Ellipse V1

The New Balance Ellipse v1 is a shoe that had me curious before I ever put it on. New Balance has a loaded lineup of daily trainers, and dropping something new into a shelf that already has the 880, the 1080, and the More on it is a genuine challenge. What does the Ellipse bring that those shoes do not? After spending time with it on the road and recommending it to customers in the store, I have a pretty clear answer: the Ellipse brings feel-good simplicity. It is a New Balance Ellipse review I was happy to write, because this is a shoe that surprised me in the right ways once I stopped trying to make it into something it is not.

New Balance designed the Ellipse to live at the intersection of running performance and everyday lifestyle. Think of it as a shoe that wants to get you through your easy Tuesday miles and still look the part at the coffee shop afterward. That sounds like a marketing talking point, but after seeing how it actually performs, I think they landed it. The Ellipse is not the most exciting shoe in the store. It is not trying to be. What it is, is quietly excellent at a specific job, and that job is making easy miles feel effortless.

New Balance Ellipse V1 Upper: Premium Feel at a Fair Price

The upper is where the Ellipse makes its first strong impression. New Balance went with a thick, well-padded engineered mesh that feels more premium than the $145 price tag suggests. The tongue is plush and stays put. The heel collar is well-padded and wraps the ankle without any irritating pressure points. Step-in comfort is immediate. There is no break-in period to speak of, which is always a good sign.

The gusseted tongue is a standout feature. It keeps the midfoot locked down cleanly without requiring you to crank the laces down, which means a secure fit without any hot spots across the top of the foot. For walkers especially, that kind of low-maintenance lockdown over a long day makes a real difference.

One honest note on breathability: the upper runs warm. The density that makes it feel so plush and premium also means it is not the most ventilated shoe in hot weather. For fall, winter, and spring running in Kansas City it is a non-issue, but if you are a summer runner who runs hot, that is worth knowing going in.

The aesthetic deserves a mention because it is part of the story with this shoe. New Balance leaned heavily into lifestyle-inspired colorways and a chunky, slightly retro silhouette that draws on the 990 family DNA. It is a legitimately good-looking shoe in a way that a lot of performance trainers are not. If you care about what you have on your feet beyond the run, the Ellipse delivers on that front.

Fit Notes: Men's and Women's

Both the men's and women's versions fit true to size. The toe box is slightly wider than average, which is a plus for anyone with a broader forefoot. The midfoot fits somewhat snug, so if you are between sizes or have a higher-volume foot, trying a half size up is worth considering. Wide width options are available, and we carry them in the store. The women's version shares the same midsole geometry and ride character as the men's, with last adjustments for a typically narrower heel and midfoot. If you are coming from the 1080 or 880, expect a similar length but a slightly more fitted feel through the midfoot.

New Balance Ellipse V1 Midsole and Ride: Soft, Steady, and Honest

The Ellipse rides on Fresh Foam X, New Balance's EVA/TPEE blend that has powered the 880 and older versions of the 1080. This is not the flashy supercritical foam of the 1080 v15. It is a more traditional, well-understood foam tuned here for softness and comfort rather than energy return or propulsion.

Underfoot, the Ellipse feels soft without feeling mushy. The heel sinks in on landing, the foam compresses well, and there is a mild, controlled release as you move into toe-off. The ellipse-shaped rubber pods on the outsole work with the foam to allow a bit of free compression and rebound that keeps the ride from feeling completely flat. It is not a bouncy shoe. It is not a lively shoe. The best word for it is steady. The Ellipse feels level-headed underfoot in a way that makes tired legs feel more manageable.

The stack height sits at 37.9mm in the heel and 29.9mm in the forefoot with an 8mm drop. That is a generous amount of foam underfoot, and you feel it. Easy paces feel cushioned and forgiving. The mild rocker geometry helps roll you through each stride with less muscular effort, which becomes a real benefit the longer you are on your feet.

Where the Ellipse reveals its limits is when you try to push the pace. This is not a shoe that wants to go faster with you. The foam compresses well at easy efforts but starts to feel a bit heavy and compressive when you move up toward tempo paces. That is not a criticism so much as a personality description. Buy this shoe for your easy days and your long walks. Do not buy it for your track workouts.

Outsole and Durability

The outsole uses a generous application of New Balance rubber across the contact zones. It is solid and grippy on road surfaces, and early reports suggest good durability through meaningful mileage. The traction is reliable across wet pavement as well, which matters for year-round running in Kansas City. Nothing flashy here, but nothing to complain about either.

New Balance Ellipse V1 vs. Similar Shoes

Who Should Buy the New Balance Ellipse V1?

Buy the Ellipse if...

• Your weekly mileage is mostly easy, conversational efforts
• You want one shoe that handles both running and everyday wear without looking like a running shoe
• You are a walker who wants serious cushioning underfoot for long days on your feet
• You are coming off the older 1080 and want that classic Fresh Foam feel at a lower price point
• You have a slightly wider forefoot and want a toe box that gives your toes room
• You are a newer runner who wants something soft, forgiving, and approachable

Look elsewhere if...

• You want a shoe that can handle tempo runs and faster training sessions
• You run hot and need maximum breathability in the upper
• You have a high-volume foot and find snug midfoot fits uncomfortable
• You are looking for a stability or motion control shoe

Will's Fit Guru Take

Here is the honest version: the New Balance Ellipse v1 is a shoe the industry underestimated a little. When it was announced, the natural question was what it does that the 880 or 1080 does not. The answer is less about technical specs and more about intention. The Ellipse is built for the part of your training week that does not get enough credit: the easy days, the recovery runs, the 30-minute walk you squeeze in before dinner. It is built for the miles that are more about showing up than pushing limits.

That is not a small thing. Most runners overtrain their easy days in shoes that are too energetic for what those miles are supposed to accomplish. The Ellipse keeps you honest. It is soft enough to take the edge off tired legs, stable enough to feel controlled, and light enough that it does not feel like you are dragging extra weight. And when the run is over and you need to stay in the shoe for the rest of the morning, it holds up to that too.

For walkers, I am particularly enthusiastic about this shoe. The cushioning profile and mild rocker make it one of the more comfortable all-day walking options we have brought into the store. If you are on your feet for long stretches and want something that absorbs the impact without feeling like a platform shoe, the Ellipse is worth a serious look.

At $145 it is priced honestly for what it is. Not a bargain, not a splurge. Just a well-made, comfortable shoe at a fair price point. That kind of straightforward value is something I always appreciate recommending.

Frequently Asked Questions: New Balance Ellipse V1 Review

Q: Is the New Balance Ellipse good for walking?
A: Yes, and it is one of the better walking options in this price range. The Fresh Foam X cushioning absorbs impact well over long stretches, and the mild rocker geometry helps roll the foot through each stride with less effort. Several customers have told us it is the most comfortable all-day shoe they have worn.

Q: How does the New Balance Ellipse compare to the 1080?
A: The 1080 v15 uses a newer supercritical foam that is softer, bouncier, and more responsive. The Ellipse uses the traditional Fresh Foam X blend, which feels firmer and steadier by comparison. The Ellipse is more comfortable for easy efforts and walking. The 1080 is more versatile across a range of paces. If you loved older versions of the 1080 before it went full-supercritical, the Ellipse is worth trying.

Q: Does the New Balance Ellipse run true to size?
A: Yes, the Ellipse fits true to size for most people. The toe box is slightly wider than average, which is a benefit for runners with a broader forefoot. The midfoot fits somewhat snugly, so if you have a higher-volume foot, trying a half size up is worth exploring. Wide (2E) widths are available.

Q: Is the New Balance Ellipse good for beginners?
A: It is a solid option for newer runners. The soft, forgiving cushioning makes easy miles feel accessible and low-effort, and the stable base provides good support without overcorrecting gait. It is not the most versatile shoe for someone who will eventually want to do faster training, but for building a running habit and staying comfortable, it does the job well.

Q: Can I wear the New Balance Ellipse casually as well as for running?
A: That is exactly what it is designed for. The lifestyle-forward aesthetic and comfortable construction make the Ellipse one of the few running shoes that genuinely works as an everyday shoe. Finish your run and keep it on. It holds up well to that kind of all-day use.