Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 vs New Balance Fresh Foam X Ellipse v1:
Which to Choose

Start with how similar these two actually are: both are high-cushion neutral trainers with an 8mm drop, no plate, and energy that comes from foam alone, so neither is built to turn your legs over quickly — push past roughly 5:00/km and both go muted rather than lively. Weight is essentially a wash at around 265g for the Cumulus and 261g for the Ellipse in men's US9, and both carry a tall-but-not-maximal stack in the high-30s at the heel. The real differences are in character. The Cumulus 27 pairs FF Blast+ ECO foam with a PureGEL heel unit and carries a touch more foam under the forefoot (about 30mm versus the Ellipse's 27mm), giving it a rounded, planted, protective roll that holds up for genuine marathon-distance long runs; Asics rates it through the full 42.2km at relaxed effort. The Ellipse runs on a single slab of updated Fresh Foam X that lands plush and rolls forward willingly, but its comfortable ceiling is the half marathon — beyond that the soft tuning starts to feel mushy. Fit is the other dividing line: the Cumulus wears like a standard, accommodating daily trainer, while the Ellipse hugs with a distinctly low-volume, snug midfoot (albeit with a slightly wider forefoot) that runners with higher-volume feet may find restrictive. In short, same mission, two slightly different executions — the Cumulus is the more versatile long-run workhorse, the Ellipse the snugger, softer, shorter-distance cruiser.