The New Balance Ellipse v1 is built on a bed of New Balance’s trusty Fresh Foam X cushioning — the same compound used in legacy models like the 880 and older versions of the 1080. I’ve always enjoyed Fresh Foam X cushioning because it provides a nice blend of softness and responsiveness. While my feet sink into the midsole a bit as I land, they pop back up during toe-offs for a super smooth ride. I definitely wouldn’t categorize this shoe as propulsive, but it delivers a nice kick to round out the plushness.
“At its core, the Ellipse is designed to make everyday running feel more fun, more comfortable and less demanding,” says Zielinski. “What it does best is deliver a trampoline-like bounce with underfoot comfort for everyday miles. We paired this midsole experience with our Fresh Foam X technology that’s soft and trusted for a lively, energetic underfoot sensation. This helps keep running feeling light and engaging rather than flat or fatiguing.”
Fleet Feet Shoe Reviewer Mandy agrees, saying, “The slight roll in the forward part of the shoe kept my momentum going, while the foam underfoot feels bouncy and alive — soft enough to cushion landings, but springy enough to give a little kick back with every stride. It keeps the ride light, fast and fun rather than flat or dull.”
I wore these on a 6-mile recovery run when I was feeling like hot garbage after an intense first week of marathon training. I was seriously worried about my ability to run at all, but I kept the pace super slow with the goal of just logging the miles. The Ellipse v1 was soft, smooth and everything I needed in that moment. It’s a little bit softer than the shoes I’ve been gravitating towards as of late, but it reminded me that sometimes I just appreciate something soft and easy underfoot.
Mandy and I both noticed how the Ellipse feels just as nice during walks as it does on runs — something we were able to test firsthand, taking virtual meetings on our matching walking pads!
“Rarely does a shoe feel great on my feet for both the road and my walking pad, but the Ellipse does just that,” she says. “Instead of feeling mushy on the soft walking pad, it felt energetic and made those meetings go by in a flash.”
The shoe is rounded out with a strategically placed rubber outsole and vertical flex grooves in the forefoot. The outsole delivers durable material in high-abrasion areas, like the forefoot and heel, while leaving the middle portion partially exposed to cut down weight. The flex grooves act just the way they sound — help the forefoot flex during toe-offs so you can smoothly transition into the next stride.
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