A soft, cushioned daily trainer built for easy miles and lifestyle wear, the Ellipse excels at comfort and value but feels old-school and labors at faster paces; fit runs true to size though the forefoot narrows for some wider feet.
An accessible daily trainer-meets-lifestyle shoe that surprised the reviewers; solid performance, great value at $145, and a strong casual crossover, earning a green light overall.
Best for: Runner-lifestyle crossover — daily easy to moderate runs plus all-day casual wear at an accessible price.
An exceptionally comfortable, stylish, and affordable daily trainer that excels at easy everyday miles but isn't built for speed.
Best for: Beginner-friendly affordable daily trainer for comfortable easy miles, with strong lifestyle appeal
The most affordable and softest of the three New Balance neutral trainers, the Ellipse offers a compliant cushioned ride ideal for easy runs and walking, though it lacks the responsiveness and durability of the 1080 or the structure of the 880.
Best for: Runners wanting a soft, affordable easy day shoe or casual walking shoe
A comfortable, competent Fresh Foam X daily trainer that essentially recycles the 1080 v14 ride and leans heavily on New Balance's fashion appeal; performance-focused runners have better options at the same price.
Best for: Younger Gen Z runners wanting a crossover daily trainer that also works as a lifestyle shoe.
A pleasant, accessible daily trainer that evokes the old Fresh Foam X 1080 at a lower price, though it lacks modern rocker geometry and may feel a bit rough on the body at faster paces.
Best for: Versatile, accessible daily trainer for neutral heel/midfoot strikers who liked older Fresh Foam X 1080s and want a stylish everyday shoe at a lower price.
A solid, comfortable but unexceptional cushioned daily trainer that lives in a crowded segment and struggles to stand out even within New Balance's own lineup.
Best for: Relaxed easy miles and casual daily training at a lower price, with crossover lifestyle styling.
A solid, reliable but unremarkable cushioned daily trainer that handles easy miles well at an attractive price, but feels old-school and less versatile than the 1080 V15.
Best for: Budget-conscious beginners and casual runners wanting a stable, cushioned shoe for easy daily miles and running-lifestyle crossover.
A comfortable, stable pure-cushion daily trainer tuned for easy miles and lifestyle wear; protective and reliable but conservative and not versatile enough for faster running.
Best for: Easy and long runs at comfortable paces, new or general runners wanting a cushioned workhorse with crossover lifestyle appeal.
Compared to other road daily trainer in the same lane.
