Tested | New Balance Ellipse

Stable, protective and best suited to easy miles

The New Balance Ellipse makes a strong first impression with its crisp and contemporary white and green colourway. The tall, sculpted midsole and a noticeably wide platform immediately hints at stability and protection underfoot. In hand, the build quality feels solid and tidy, with the size 45 weighing in at 275g. 

The Ellipse offers a comfortable, straightforward step-in feel. The engineered mesh upper is soft and breathable across the top of the foot, and the fit felt true to size during my run. Once laced up, the shoe holds the foot securely without feeling tight or restrictive. 

One thing that stands out is the broad platform underfoot. The shoe has a wide base through both the heel and forefoot, which clearly aims to add stability and create a more planted feel during the stride. It leans slightly firmer than some other high-stack trainers, although it still provides a protective layer of cushioning over longer runs.

With this tall stack, the shoe clearly falls into the cushioned daily trainer category. The ride feels stable and controlled rather than energetic.

At relaxed paces the Ellipse settles into an easy cruising rhythm and feels steady underfoot. The ride remains controlled and predictable, although it doesn’t particularly encourage pushing the pace much faster. The outsole features rubber coverage through the main contact areas, and the grip on the road felt reliable during my runs.

Verdict: The Ellipse is a solid, stable daily trainer built for steady mileage. It does the job well, although it wouldn’t be the first shoe I’d grab if I wanted something a little more exciting underfoot.

RRP R3 399 | newbalance.co.za

– Justin Howes