ASICS kindly sent me a pair of the new ASICS EVORIDE to try and test out so here is my personal review.
So what is the ASICS EVORIDE? ASICS state the EVORIDE is designed for neutral runners and offers a dramatic toe spring that gives a rolling feeling for effortless forward motion. With a moderate sole, compared to the previous two shoes in the family, EVORIDE offers more choice for runners with differing running styles and needs who want to take advantage of the GUIDESOLE technology.
Some key features of the EVORIDE include
• GUIDE SOLE TECHNOLOGY: curved midsole construction helps minimise movement in the area where most energy is expended.
• FLYTE FOAM PROPEL TECHNOLOGY: Lightweight midsole foam is soft and responsive for a more cushioned underfoot feel.
• ENGINEERED MESH UPPER: Multi-directional stretch mesh adjusts to the shape of the foot for an excellent fit.
• ROLLING MOTION LAST: More toe spring encourages a rolling motion from foot strike to toe-off.
• FULL GROUND CONTACT: The sole provides a smoother transition from heel strike to toe-off.
• LIGHT AHAR SPONGE RUBBER: Outsole rubber reduces wear and improves cushioning.
• SUPER AHAR HEEL-PLUG: ASICS higher-abrasion rubber is used in heavy wear areas to extend the life of the shoe.
So how does it compare?
So EVORIDE is part of the same family as the Glideride. When I was reviewing the Glideride I did find there was noticeable difference on how high up I felt from the ground. My conclusion of the Glideride was that they were nice and very comfortable running shoes and a good fit which allows your feet to breath. However can they last for high mileage runners? I don’t know time will tell. The colour is perfect for me and funky, the design is good and I don’t get put off about this being bulky because the Glideride is very light. Can it make you run faster? Not sure but it does feel like you are bouncing along and running faster. I recommend this shoe as one of your running kit products for longer run/races such as marathons. I certainly would use these for my long runs but not sure about shorter races yet as I prefer the more traditional shoe being closer to the ground. However I can see these types of shoes being the next generation of running shoes as it does seem like this type of shoe and technology will become a game changer. So for me I wasn’t sure if this was the type of shoe I would like so it needed to impress me. So with a weight of 8.8 oz a heel height of 22mm and forefoot height 17mm they felt different on.
So I put the EVORIDE through its paces. When unpacking them I liked the colour they stood out as the white was very flash and the gold trim made it look impressive, it made me think of ancient Greece times and the gods, so this ticked a box straight away. They felt lighter then the Glideride.
I did some runs to try them out and wondered if the bounce would be the same as the Glideride. I found that the shoe felt much closer to the ground which I prefer and when I was running there was still a bounce feeling but wasn’t sure if it was as good as the Gliderides. However what I did find was my legs were still fresh after an easy run and not as tired after a speed session. This makes this a great sign as recovery and energy saving is so important. I found that reps were the same as other models I wear but it showed me that these are fit for their purpose. The FLYTEFOAM sole seems to provide great cushioning and a strong response when you make contact with the ground to provide that bounce feeling.
The material allows your feet to breath as it is light weight and very similar to other ASICS models. It did feel different to the Glideride and I have to admit I preferred that. This shoe is super comfy and the most comfortable ASICS shoe I have worn. However would it last long? I am not sure as normally when comfy shoes are like this they don’t last long, but time will tell but it does appear it’s made well.
Do I think this shoe is quick? I do purely because it feels light on and because of the bounce effect when running with them. I do think if it is saving energy so you will be able to go quicker/ sustain pace better in a race.
Conclusion: I am impressed with the EVOGLIDE; ASICS wanted to make a shoe that brought energy efficiency, cushioning and durability by making these the lightest and cheapest member of their new shoe range and I think this is spot on. Would I use this shoe and recommend it? I would and will be using this in my training and in my speed sessions in the future. They feel light on and feel like I am bouncing along which provides energy saving which in theory would make me go faster so interested to see how I get on with these in the future.
Yiannis Christodoulou 