The indestructible ASICS GT2000 running shoes
This is the sixth running shoe review in the Running Shoes Classroom column. Asics is my first marathon running shoe. I wore my last pair of GT1000 for nearly 1,000 km, and only the fabric at the heel was worn out, but everything else was intact. I wore this pair of ASICS GT2000 for 160 km, and there is no sign of wear at all.
There is no need to introduce too much about ASICS. Runners are all familiar with this brand. If you are not sure, you can read my article on ASICS Buying Guide, which details the development history and technical background of ASICS: 2020 Running Shoe Buying Guide ASICS – Use 4,300 km of running experience to tell you how to choose ASICS running shoes .
The ASICS GT2000 reviewed in this review is Asics’ second-highest support running shoe, suitable for runners with low arches and excessive pronation in their running posture.
As usual, let me start with the conclusion:
Advantages: The material is very solid, especially wear-resistant and durable, and it should be no problem to wear it for more than 1000km . It has excellent wrapping and strong support. It is stress-free to run in rain or mud. The grip is also very good, so you don’t have to worry about slipping in rainy days.
Disadvantages: The size 44 shoe weighs 307g, which is relatively heavy. The air permeability is not good, so it will be a bit stuffy to wear in summer, and the shoe is not good-looking.
Suitable for: Runners with low arches who pursue cost-effectiveness (the cost per kilometer is really cheap because it is so durable), protection, and are not sensitive to appearance and weight;
Next, we will follow the usual procedure to evaluate this running shoe from the following four aspects. Runners are welcome to discuss more about their experience in the comments section:
- Stable support performance
- Buffering performance
- Wear resistance and weight performance
- Breathability and appearance
- Stable support performance
Asics’ stable support performance is so great that it’s a bit too much in my opinion. The anti-torsion plate underneath looks very solid, and there are reinforcing ribs. No matter whether you are on a gravel road or a dirt road, you don’t have to worry about twisting your foot. The heel stabilizer is also very thick, and it hardly moves at all when you squeeze it with your hands!
Moreover, during the process of turning and U-turning, even if I didn’t slow down much, I didn’t feel any pain in my ankles during the twisting process. However, when I was wearing Pegasus 36, I still felt some pain during the turning and U-turning.
ASICS’s stable support performance is really excellent
- Buffering performance
GEL has a good cushioning performance. You may have heard of an experiment by Asics: an egg fell from a height of 6 meters onto GEL and remained intact. However, GEL has a disadvantage, which is that it is too heavy, so Asics is now gradually reducing the amount of GEL used.
GT2000 only has exposed GEL glue on the outside of the heel and built-in GEL glue on the forefoot. The rest of the place uses Asics’ flytefoam cushioning material, and the two are used in combination.
In actual experience of wearing them, there is no obvious feeling of stepping on shit. They are not particularly soft and the rebound is not obvious, but I don’t feel the force dissipation either. Because some running shoes are soft but have severe force dissipation, you will be very tired after running for a long time. The cushioning is definitely sufficient.
The stability is also quite good, every step is very stable, and the foot feel is above average among the running shoes I have worn.
The combination of GEL glue and flytefoam is quite good, and it feels good to wear.
- Wear resistance and weight performance
Asics is really abnormal wear-resistant!
I have to say it three times in a row to express my respect for it. I have worn the running shoes for 160km so far. Looking at the sole, except for the obvious wear marks on the outside of the heel, the rest of the parts, even the small raised dots, have not been worn away. I have to say that ASICS’s AHAR rubber is too wear-resistant, it’s really conscientious. You know, some manufacturers deliberately make their shoes less wear-resistant in order to make consumers change their shoes more frequently.
My last pair of GT1000s, I wore them for about 1000km and the soles were still in good condition. I just want to say:
When will these shoes wear out?
Weight: 307g for size 44
For a pair of jogging shoes, a weight of more than 300g is a bit too heavy. Asics’ idea of making running shoes is to do addition and subtraction. The higher the level of the running shoes, the more technological materials are used, and the correspondingly heavier the weight . Its top-level running shoes KAYANO already weigh over 350g, which is also the most criticized point of Asics.
However, beginner runners are not so sensitive to weight, so this pair of shoes is still very good. As your running level improves, you will become more and more sensitive to weight.
- Breathability and appearance
Ugly is a major label of Asics. I believe that many people who have worn Asics have experienced this well. The appearance of this pair of GT2000 is indeed not commendable, but since it is durable and protective, we can just tolerate its appearance!
The breathability of this pair of GT2000 is really not that good. It is very stuffy to wear in the summer. The shoes made by Asics are also too thick. However, it is very warm to wear in autumn and winter. These two days are the season to wear it!
Summarize:
Asics GT2000 is a pair of jogging shoes with excellent protection and extremely durable, but it is too ugly, too heavy, and poorly breathable, with obvious advantages and disadvantages. My overall evaluation of Asics is OK. It is worth buying for beginners who are not sensitive to appearance and weight. It is also a good choice for runners who want to conquer the world with a pair of running shoes. After all, it is too durable!
If you have any questions about how to choose running shoes, you can read the following article of mine , which has 10,000 words, 5,000+ likes, and 13,000+ collections, and is the most comprehensive article on how to choose running shoes:
