In production · trail · Trail · $80
Asics Gel Venture 11: 36 mm heel stack, 10 mm drop, 320 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for trail, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on trail.
Asics tuned this midsole balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 36 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.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
A tall 10 mm drop tips weight forward off the heel, which usually suits heel strikers and calves that dislike low-drop shoes. 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. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.18 per mile at $80.
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
320 g / 11.3 oz
45 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
36 mm
Level with the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
10 mm
4 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$80
80 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
3 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~450 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Asics line it is heavier than the brand's median (268 g / 9.5 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (38 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Nike Juniper Trail 2 GTX
323 g / 11.4 oz · 35 mm · 9 mm drop · Rock · $115
Nike Juniper Trail 2 GTX: 35 mm heel stack, 9 mm drop, 293 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Mizuno Wave Daichi 8
300 g / 10.6 oz · 33 mm · 10 mm drop · Rock · $145
Michelin-outsoled trail trainer built for grip and wet-rock security.
Mizuno Wave Daichi 9
290 g / 10.2 oz · 34 mm · 10 mm drop · Rock · $140
Michelin-outsoled trail trainer for wet, technical ground.
Nike Wildhorse 10
311 g / 11.0 oz · 38 mm · 10 mm drop · Rock · $140
Cushioned, protective trail workhorse for long dirt days.