Anybody like the ASICS Piranha at all? I want to make sure it’s a good shoe for 5k, 10k, half marathon, and generally if the shoe will take a long distance run. I am tall but not heavy so looking for a shoe that can go the distance. Will it be a great triathlon shoe?
If you’re fairly light and you’re already used to racing flats, it is a very light and fast shoe. I’ve run 5ks with it and like it a lot, but I would much rather use the ASICS Hyperspeed if I ever planned on doing a half marathon in one.
I had/have a pair of the older red racing flats (not sure which model) and they were good in 5K and 10K races but really no cushon or support at all. Last year I got a pair of the Banditos and I really like them. I raced a couple sprints and a couple Oly in them last year and I ran a half marathon in them in January and PRd with a 1:31. They’re super light, supportive, cushioning and very airy.
I run/race in Asic Landreths. They are a lighter neutral trainer, lighter than most anyway, and they can definately handle going long. Harder to find this model though Fleet Feet I know carries them.
I ran the NYC Marathon in November in the Pirahna SP & think it is arguably the lightest, best feeling road flat I have ever worn. With that, I wouldn’t wear it for another marathon & it’s questionable whether I’d even do a 1/2 in them. A friend of mine made the comment, ‘Why don’t you just run a strip of duct tape on the bottom of your foot as you’ll have the same level of cushioning.’
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To a certain degree he’s right as the shoe has VERY little cushioning & over the marathon my feet were pretty banged up (had a great race, but my feet were a little fried, especially on the turns past the 18mi mark).
That being said, I’d wear them in a heart beat for a 5 or 10K.
As for using them for a tri shoe, I definitely wouldn’t use them (even in a sprint). The reason for that is less about support/cushioning & about the tongue in the shoe. It’s paper thin & I think would create a ‘bunching up’ problem in the hussle of transition. I’m a HUGE fan of Asics though & think you’d be better served going w/ the new Hyperspeed 3, from sprint right up to IM (if there’s a match for you wearing a flat at the longer distances).
Hope that helps.
Great advice, Brian. In that vein, is the Hyperspeed 3 in any way a good match for a user of the DS Trainer series?
I’ve raced/ trained quite a bit in my hyperspeed 2s, and have also ran in the ds trainer or speedstar for the past 2 years. I think I have around 300mi on my flats, but then again I dont break them out too often.
I use my hyperspeed 2’s for 5ks to half marathons and all of my tris except IM. I just put elastic shoe laces in them and don’t wear socks. Never had a problem. I love them. I have not tried the Hyperspeed 3s and this is the first pair of racing flats I have owned so I don’t really know how they compare.
Thanks Guys, They sound like a great choice, as I’ve got some shorter races this year.
Brian:
I train in the Kayano and have raed in the DS-Trainer (13 and 14) and have wonder if I could get away with a lighter shoe for shorter races. I’ve though about the Hyperspeed, but then looked at the Bandito as well. Any thoughts?
Bob
Gary,
Although I know what I like/dis-like, I’d hardly consider myself an authority on shoe fit, so I couldn’t really make a recommendation. With that, I just shot this thread to a friend who is an elite runner & worked* in his family owned running shoe store for yrs (Scott Defilippis). He’s been a fantastic resource for myself and many of the guys on our Team when it comes to shoe fit.
*I say ‘worked’ as Scott made the leap to the big boys & will be racing/training w/ Team TBB this season (he’s in the Philippines now). He’s online often as we talk ‘shop’ everyday, so hopefully he’ll put in his $.02. Although he may now recommend you switching to Avias ;o)
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Bob,
I’ll defer to my post above ;o)
I tried the Bandito before the Piranha & found it too narrow. Again…I know what I like, but am not schooled enough in the intricacies of the shoes to say go here/there.
Brian:
I train in the Kayano and have raed in the DS-Trainer (13 and 14) and have wonder if I could get away with a lighter shoe for shorter races. I’ve though about the Hyperspeed, but then looked at the Bandito as well. Any thoughts?
Bob
Thanks Brian! Let me know what he thinks, when you hear. I appreciate your efforts. I’m open to any shoe, but tend to need a narrower shoe.
Yeeah, I usually like a shoe stick with it, but this new DS TRainer has me a touch concerned and I even used my Kayano’s in a 1/2 mary this morning. So, I was nosing around. Once I get some more solid runs in on it, I’ll know more. People rave about the new Avia’s, but I’ve not seen them at retail. Heck, for Oly and 1/2 racing I might even try the Zoot Tempo. Ugh, anyhow, time for the trainer…
I used the Asics piranha all of last season and bought a new pair along with the hyperspeeds for this years 70.3 events.
I loved the Piranha. It is so fast and so light, and I never had any problems with the tongues bunching up in transition at all. I found them really easy to get on. These shoes are definitely for a little bit lighter racers. I would only wear these shoes in a race up to about 15k. They surprisingly have enough cushion, but these shoes will not last a long time at all. I would say about 200k.
Overall they are the best and lightest racing flat I have ever used.
I used the ASICS 2120’s and 2130’s for a number of years and after ~6 weeks in the shoes I develop chronic pain in the great toe joint. i get new shoes and then a few weeks later its back.
I ran in the DS trainers and the toe box was really narrow so much so that it folded the skin on the soles of my feet and really screwed me up. i actually had to wrap my feet in athletic tape to stop it from happening.
last year out of frustration I went to the good folks at Fleet Feet and they put me in the Mizuno Wave Inspire. I have had no flare up of the great toe joints again and have run up to 14 miles in these without socks and with no ill effects.
Gary,
I would agree with Brian that the Pirahana might be to light weight and the tongue would for sure bunch up. I am pretty sure we ordered him the hyper speed so I will have to check on that. Some others might be the Avia Bolt or light, mizuno idaten, adidas response racing flat, or saucony sinister. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Scott
Scot,
Sorry for the theadjack, but do you know much about the Mizuno revolver 5? Can this be used as a racer for a neutral runner? I bought a pair of these; as they were really cheap. I noticed reading about them after the fact, that they are for over pronators. Thoughts?
Thanks