Sunday, February 7, 2010

Reviewing my newest kicks; Asics Gel 3010

Well, with over 300 miles now safely under the hood, I can now provide an honest opinion on the new Asics 3010 kicks. These mark the latest Asics offering that have showed up in laundry room sink (also known as "Don't bring those stinkin' running shoes into this bedroom" alternative location). As with most every single pair of running shoes I have tried before, there are good and bad things contained within.

The Fit:
The Asics Gel 3010 sits right in the middle of the upper end of Asics Support + category of offerings. It shares that spot with the Gel Kayano, one of my truly favorite running shoes ever. The selling point of the 3010 is that it is supposed to be a combination of the cushioning of the Gel Kinsei 2 and the support of the Kayano 15.

I have tried on a pair of Gel Kinsei's before, but since they are a neutral last shoe, I have never ran in them. My wife, however, SWEARS by the comfort of that shoe. She has gone through 2 seperate pairs of them, and simply loves them.  Mixing that kind of cushioning with my beloved Kayano? What's not to love, right?

When I first put the 3010's on, they felt pretty much like a new pair of running shoes. Not overly comfortable and completely unmolded to my feet. The toe box is ample in width and the cushioning seems to be adequate as well. The one thing I did notice was that they felt very light and flexible underfoot. I've worn many shoes (mostly New Balance and Mizuno) that felt heavy and nonresponsive. The 3010's felt very flexible, which is a great thing.

The Ride:
Like I said, now that I have 300 miles on them, I can speak intelligently to the ride. I've got to admit that at around 100 miles, I mentioned to someone that "...I know now why I never see anyone at races wearing 3010's..." They just didn't feel that special. Certainly not snappy enough for the price point Asics deposits them in ($135 MSRP)

Initially, it seemed that I was having issues with the forefoot cushioning, or lack thereof. On runs past 5 miles or so, my forefoot would tingle from the impact of the road. Actually, many times my toes would fall asleep as well. As you can imagine, this is not normal behavior for a quality running shoe, and I began looking for a new pair to replace the 3010.

However, within less than 50 more miles on the shoe, all of these situations ceased to occur, and the shoe became a different experience. I am attributing it to the fact that I began running in this shoe in the winter and perhaps the cold weather contributed to a longer "burn-in" time for my feet. It seemed that once my feet broke the shoe in well, it fit like a glove and provided the kind of support and cushioning that I had been hoping for.

What a difference 50 miles makes.

The Verdict:
A solid choice for runners seeking a stability + shoe that can handle the road miles with support and cushioning. It is very similar to my beloved 2140's as well, but it seems to be more cushioned. I've run hundreds and hundreds of miles in the Gel 2130/2140 line, and I am a huge fan of that dynasty, and the 3010 lives up to that high standard.

With the fact that the newly-released 2150 model shows up at $100, the Gel 3010 is an attractive alternative. With the current model receiving "Sale" status at major running shoe sites, it is fairly easy to find the 3010 at a price point of around $90, which is a great deal for that level of shoe. When I decide to replace my current pair (within the next month), my decision on re-enlisting with the 3010 will be based solely upon what the price tag reveals. If I can find another pair for $90 or less (probably less), I will more than likely pull the trigger and welcome a new pair into the laundry room sink with the rest of the "family".

Asics Gel 3010 -- Thumbs Up

2 comments:

  1. Glad you found some shoes that you like. It can be tough to change from one line to another as you just never know how you're going to take to them and they aren't the cheapest part of running :)!

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  2. Very, VERY true. With the mileage I log, I am shoe-shopping about every 2-2.5 months. Yikes $$

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