ASICS GT-2000 2 Review
First Impressions
We’re no strangers to the ASICS product line, having run in a range of their shoes including the vaunted Kayano, the Gel-Lyte33 and FujiTrainer. We decided to take a slight step down this summer and try one of their mid-tier stability shoes – the ASICS GT-2000 2. Out of the box, we saw nothing down market in these sleek electric blue and lime green beauties. They appear lower slung than the Kayano and at almost $40 less the GT-2000 provided a pretty compelling value proposition.
Features
This past winter, I shifted into a pair of more neutral runners. It’s a continuing experiment for a guy that’s spent most of his adult life running in stability shoes. I added an aftermarket insole and found them to be fairly comfortable. I still found my feet to be more fatigued and had some modest post-run foot pain too, so decided to swap back to the stability category this spring to see if that would make the difference.
Shopping around for a suitable replacement led me to the ASICS GT-2000 2. They sit in the upper middle of the ASICS product line at $119 MSRP. And they are a slight improvement on last year’s GT-2000s shaving a few ounces of weight and adding new midsole (dubbed FluidRide) and few other features.
Specs
Weight: 23.75 oz. per pair (men’s 11)
Drop: 10 mm
Materials: Polyester mesh and synthetic textile uppers, high abrasion rubber
Two things I look for these days in a shoe in any category. First is a more modest drop from heel to toe. The GT-2000 2 provides that more modest drop. In this case, it’s 10 mm. The second important feature is light weight. And the GT-2000 2 also hits that mark. Not a light as some, but decent at just a little over 11 ounces per shoe.
My initial runs in this shoe were very comfortable and with much less post-run foot pain. The stability control isn’t overpowering and no additional insole was required.
Fit
Dynamite. The shoe feels comfortable right out of the box with nice volume all the way through to the toe box. I typically replace the laces in my shoes with an elastic quick lace, and did so with the GT-2000 2. This made the shoe very easy to get on and off in the dark of the early morning.
Final Verdict
As a mid-tier offering, the GT-2000 2 represents a great alternative to more pricey members of the ASICS product line. We liked the fit, the more moderate heel-to-toe drop and the relatively light weight design. Fit was perfect and the stability control not overpowering. Find them at RoadRunner Sports.
