With so much focus on data and performance, it’s easy to forget how good it feels to simply run. With the launch of the Ellipse, New Balance is making a quiet but confident play to shift the focus back to feel.
Positioned as a premium everyday trainer, the Ellipse lands in Australia on March 5, 2026, retailing at $240 AUD. It’s designed not for chasing PBs or shaving seconds, but for something arguably harder to achieve: losing track of time.
A Softer Way to Run
At the heart of the Ellipse is Fresh Foam X cushioning, reworked to deliver a more energetic, bouncy underfoot feel while maintaining the plush comfort the compound is known for. A rockered geometry helps guide runners smoothly from heel to toe, reducing the load on tired legs and making it well suited to recovery days or steady aerobic kilometres. Despite its generous cushioning, the midsole keeps the ride lightweight, while a breathable engineered mesh upper, cushioned tongue and stretch laces round out the premium, comfort-first feel for everyday running.
With an 8mm drop and a stack height of 37.8mm in the heel and 29.9mm in the forefoot, the shoe sits firmly in the max-cushioned daily trainer category. Yet at 274g for a men’s US 9.5 and 218g for a women’s US 7, it remains relatively lightweight for its class.
Bridging Performance and Lifestyle
According to Kevin FitzPatrick, Global Vice President of Running at New Balance, the Ellipse is built to “celebrate all who run — whether logging their first miles or recovering after race day — by delivering an elevated cushioned experience and a rockered profile that helps keep things easy on the body.”
It’s telling that New Balance athletes across sport and culture — from Gold Medalist sprinter Gabby Thomas and middle-distance champion runner Parker Valby to figures like American rapper and chef Action Bronson — have already embraced the model. The Ellipse appears positioned not just as a technical product, but as a cultural one.
The Ellipse may find its niche not by promising faster times — but by reminding runners why they started in the first place.
