Comments on: Asics Going Minimalist with the Gel Lyte33 and Gel Fuji Racer?

By: Matt Butler

Matt Butler — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hi Pete, enjoy reading your blog. I find it odd that Asics are consciously moving into the 'lightweight' market when for years they have had an extremely light, relatively low-drop shoe with a toebox wider than many minimal shoes, including the NB minimus: the Hyperspeed 4. It is a racing flat, sure, but with little in the way of arch support and the aforementioned wide toebox, it is a minimal shoe in all but name. If only they made it a little more durable though...

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Pete Larson.

I think one difference between flats and the more minimalist shoes like Nike Free is flexibility of the sole - the Piranha's have a pretty stiff sole, which for me personally does not agree with my shins :) Interesting to see that the 2nd row of asics pictures are emphasizing flexibility, just like the free run marketing did...

By: Tomas Casillas-Gerena

Tomas Casillas-Gerena — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ordered the Fujis. Will cover with GOOP those openimgs at the bottom.. These r not necessary. The hindrance out weights the benefit...

By: Dennis Murray

Dennis Murray — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Interesting contrast – because Asics is pushing a 10mm heel differential in a new soccer boot dropped earlier this year.
http://www.soccer.com/channels…

By: Pete Larson

Pete Larson — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Aaron Mailey.

I believe he said that minimalist shoes would soon be following in the footsteps of toning shoes :) glad to see Asics irresponsibly lowering the heel on this shoe...
Sent from my iPod

By: Cettu

Cettu — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Dennis Murray.

Hope Asics isn't making a big mistake here and increasing the amount of ankle sprains, while trying to reduce achilles injuries. After all, soccer is a sport of fast stops and turns, where stability and proprioception is critical.

By: Sbartold

Sbartold — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Jeez Pete.. ease up a bit mate. You are commenting on information not released by ASICS and relying on second hand stuff. If you want to know.. why not just ask me, and I will do my best to answer whatever questions you have as honestly as I can.
the Lyte 33 was built with one thing in mind only.. and that is weight reduction. One of the heaviest components is a heel counter.. so we took it out... BUT in its place we used new technology called a heel cluthing system, which I think is better all round, and is used in other non-lightweight category product. the heel cluthing system is a lightweight, highly developed and very expensive system employing a CAD-designed exoskelton of TPU which "grabs" the heel proximally, rather than relying on the very old., probably inefficient and heavy heel counter, which incidentally I believe does not do a hell of a lot anyway, other than offer some integrity to the upper. The Heel cluthing system, I hope, provides better heel fit, grip and support. That certainly is what the FEM's tell us, as well as wear tester feedback.

You know Pete, we are all in the business of trying to make the difficult business of running as easy and painless as possible. Your blog offers excellent practical information and often fair critiques.

i am offering you whatever information I can give you, whnever you want it. i do not have an agenda, and I like you am only interested in trying to figure out what works best for the enormous variety of runners out there. rather than tryiong to figure out what the running shoes stores may or may not think.. or what a particular running journal says.. you can get up to date info right from the horses mouth.
For the record.. I have never.. NEVER heard of FAST technology.. never been uttered around me.. but then again.. I am not in sales or marketing

best
Simon

By: Forrest

Forrest — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to Dennis Murray.

I saw that too. My first thought was Asics makes soccer cleats? My second one was that it was opposite to the approach that most companies are taking in running shoes and not something that most soccer players are even familiar enough with to care about.

By: tconnor

tconnor — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Is there any word about when this shoe will be available?

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to NeilR.

Does anybody have any experiences with buying from ASICS Japanese website? They give no info on differential, but the running collection seems very impressive and so different from the shoes made for American market.

By: Aaron Mailey

Aaron Mailey — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cue Simon Bartold! Didn’t he say a little while ago that Asics will never ever make a minimalist shoe? Well I suppose in Asics eyes it isn’t but it is plain to see for everyone else.

Here is an interesting quote from him:

“We’ve not seen a shred of evidence it’s the responsible thing [to lower the heel],” he says. “I am genuinely concerned that we are going to see people getting injured on the basis of a fad that has virtually no foundation in science, that is being flogged and blogged by a whole bunch of people on the internet with absolutely no accountability.”Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/executiv…

By: Scott in Houston

Scott in Houston — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Looking at the sole of the Gel Lyte 33, there is a veritable chasm down the center. Nike used this approach in the older Free Run 5.0, and I found that it didn't take too many miles before the sole started losing its shape, spreading laterally. Unless ASICS is using a more rigid material, they might run into the same issue.