A Deep Dive into ASICS

ASICS is not just one of our most popular shoe brands, but they’re also the go-to brand for many sport organisations, groups and teams in Australia. But what are the best used for, and what does all the lingo even mean?

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You can find ASICS being used by a number of sport organisations, groups and teams in Australia, including Events Management Queensland who run the Gold Coast Marathon, Cricket Australia, Netball Australia, Hockey Australia, Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United and the Australian Olympic Committee.

A quick bit of history first; ASICS is the combination of Onitsuka Co, GTO Co and Jelenk Co which merged in 1977. But why did they choose the name ASICS? Does it stand for Awesome Sporty Innovative Colourful Shoes?
Close, but not quite. Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, is latin for “a sound mind in a sound body” and is based on the belief of Kihachiro Onitsuka, one of the founders of ASICS who believed (as many of us now do) that being active creates a better lifestyle. 

But it’s not simply their beliefs that make ASICS such a legendary shoe company, it’s their foam and gel technology which are in their most popular series. Before any of these technologies were developed, ASICS researchers studied body movement and noted the most common issues that come up for runners are namely: impact, discomfort, sluggish shoes and lack of speed transfer.

GEL Technology™: The idea for using silicone gel originally came in 1986 when it was found that silicone could protect eggs dropped from over 18 metres (why exactly people were dropping eggs from this particular height is unknown). The ASICS designers wondered if silicone could also be used in a shoe to protect runners’ knees from impact, and now over 30 years later, it’s still a popular material. Inserts of a silicone-based gel are placed inside the sole of the shoe either at the heel or toe. The toe area is for greater propulsion, but the heel is more common because it’s aimed at heel-strikers. Using gel at high impact zones takes the pressure of landing off your joints and tendons as the gel expands outwards, dispersing the force rather than reverberating it back into your ankles, knees and hips. The silicon gel is also more durable, making it a better option for runners who prioritise high-mileage. 

PureGEL™ Technology: As technology develops and materials become more accessible, PureGEL has been developed by ASICS which, according to their designers, is 65% softer with 4% more energy return. This has already started replacing the standard GEL Technology so enjoy a more comfortable run with your next pair of ASICS. 

If the GEL Technology is so useful, why have foam? Gel is heavier than foam so by combining the two, the lightweight shoe has better longevity and the runner has a smoother transition in their gait.

FLYTEFOAM™ series: FLYTEFOAM™ is the overarching name for lightweight foams which can be for cushioning and comfort, and/or bouncy foams which are more reactive and transfer speed.
- FLYTEFOAM™: the light foam
- FF BLAST™: the cushioning, bouncy foam (for absorbing high shock levels and translating that into speed)
- FF BLAST TURBO™: the soft foam (combined with a rocker and carbon fibre plate for extra propulsion)
- FF BLAST + ECO™: the BLAST, but with 24% bio content for sustainable production

When these technologies are combined in a shoe, what’s the result? Let’s take a look at ASICS top series of shoes:

GEL-Kayano: Probably their most well-known shoe line, the Kayano has been around since 1993, and for good reason! While every year there is an updated model including the most up-to-date technology, the Kayano has always been the most stable and cushioned shoe that ASICS has to offer. Made for high mileage with lateral support which is ideal for over-pronation. 

GT-2000: In comparison to Kayano, the GT-2000 series is a mild stability shoe with both GEL and FF BLAST foam. This combines both impact absorption for comfort and also a springy foam to transfer your speed better. Made to be an ideal daily runner, the mild stability is designed for mild-overpronation. 

GEL-Nimbus: Similar to the Kayano, the GEL-Nimbus is a mileage shoe and also has the maximum amount of cushioning available, however this series does not have any stability so it’s aimed at neutral runners. The Nimbus features more foam in the underfoot and PureGEL which is 65% softer than GEL Technology, prioritising comfort over speed. Ideal for long, slow-paced runs. If you love the comfort but want something lighter, we recommend the GEL-Cumulus for a lightweight option.

Novablast: From the ASICS Blast range (read more about the Blast series on our blog) the Novablast uses FF BLAST MAX, a lightweight, energetic foam that has even greater responsiveness. The outer sole of the Novablast has cutouts in the midsole to increase the softness of footstrike and responsiveness. Ideal for neutral runners looking to combine comfort and speed. 

These four series are our most popular ASICS, however there are many other great examples of ASICS shoes for varying disciplines and needs.
- Kids shoes
- Long jump
- Trail running
- Track and field
- Throwing
- Triathlon

Something that ASICS shoes also include is a range of widths, from narrow to extra wide for their running shoes. Overall their fit can be slightly narrow when compared to other brands who focus on a wide toe box; ASICS prioritise a comfortable fit so the shoe is properly connected to your feet.

If you haven’t tried ASICS before, we would love to see you in store to try out some of the latest models and technology they’ve developed.