In production · road · Daily · $85
Soft, simple budget neutral trainer for new runners and short miles.
Built for daily, at a target pace of 8:30–11:30 /mi on road.
Asics tuned this midsole balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is modest, so the ride feels protective and damp rather than springy. 38 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as calm at 2/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 8 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot flexes easily, so the shoe adapts to slower, shorter strides. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 400 miles from the outsole, about $0.21 per mile at $85.
For the foams and plates Asics uses across its line, read the Asics brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
290 g / 10.2 oz
15 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
38 mm
2 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
8 mm
2 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$85
75 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
3 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~400 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Asics line it is heavier than the brand's median (268 g / 9.5 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (38 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Nike Quest 6
295 g / 10.4 oz · 35 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $85
Entry-level daily trainer with a soft midsole and a secure fit.
Saucony Omni 22
286 g / 10.1 oz · 35 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $160
Saucony Omni 22: 35 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 285 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Asics GT 1000 15
278 g / 9.8 oz · 36 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $130
Asics GT 1000 15: 36 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 278 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Nike Run Swift 2
291 g / 10.3 oz · 34 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $75
Nike Run Swift 2: 34 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 291 g — specs from independent lab testing.