Hi everyone, Aliengin emailed me suggesting some of you may like to see the reports I write for the Runner’s World Forums on upcoming shoe lines. I am a PT who specializes in Foot/Ankle and Pedorthics and own/operate Foot Rx, a group of running retail stores and internet sales site that blends running specialty with pedorthics…We have in stores in Abingdon Va, Johnson City, TN, and now in Asheville, NC as well as our Online store www.footrx.com (which is unfortunately down for a few hours right now for repairs) I am considered the “shoe guy” for the Runner’s World Forums and answer lots of shoe/injury related questions from people all over. Here is the first of many threads I will try to post for you. I likely wont be online here very much but please feel free to email me anytime or call our main store toll free 877 628-6043
Whats New Asics Spring 2008
Big news this season is that asics has made a change in their formulation of Solyte. Due to many complaints over last year that solyte wasn’t able to cushion as well as older Speva, they have reworked it and now is to have much better energy return and should prevent any bottoming out. The new material is supposed to give a much more protective cushioned feel than the current solyte. This will be going into “new” shoe models, not going into “color updates”. For shoes just getting color updates the old solyte will stay in them until the next model comes out, i.e. Nimbus 10 in June. Other news is that many of the shoes will begin to incorporate the discrete heel unit technology as was started in the Kinsei. All spring shoes are scheduled for release January 1 for all dealers, The 2130 will be available to gold dealers in November. Some changes in the fit of some shoes with no change in length or width of last (supposedly) but with an elongated toe vamp which should maybe give a slightly snugger feel through midfoot but a more open toe box (I think) On to the shoes…….
Kayano 14 msrp stays $135, 12.9 oz mens 10.8 womens
The new Kayano features a new rearfoot unit with large discrete heel pods (lots of gel) larger forefoot gel unit also. New Solyte midsole and improved durasponge outsole. The upper has been changed with a shorter opening (length) of the collar from heel to tongue resulting in a snugger heel fit. 2 colors for men and women. My rep mentioned that for first time both of the colors will be available in the widths, not just the primary color, however my catalog doesn’t show this, so I am not sure.
3000 (GOLD account only shoe) msrp is $115 mens 12.6 womens 10.3 oz
this shoe is similar to the Empire 2 but enough changes to rename it. The Empire is officially dropped from the line, however this is very similar to me with the same dynamic forefoot plate to provide late stage pronation control. Includes a biomorphic fit upper and discrete heel gel units. This shoe will sit down a little lower to the ground then the height of 2130 or Kayano providing a very stable base
DS Trainer 13 msrp is REDUCED $10 to $100!!! Mens 9.6 oz womens 7.6 oz
Features an assymetrical lacing system which should give much better forefoot fit along with bigger toe box and longer toe vamp. Features the new solyte, looks good.
2130 msrp remains $95 offering widths in the main white/blue color and all widths available in the black color. Total of 4 colors for both men and women including a womens version in “python” which looks like snake skin or crocodile! (I think it will do really well!) mens weight 11.9 womens 9.8
as far as changes, it is the new solyte and they have changed the rear and forefoot creating more flex points with a 3 piece rear and 3 piece forefoot. The space trustic system is changed to add a little more medial support in the shoe. This shoe has same changes to the fit as Kayano with a reduced length of collar opening and an elongated toe vamp making it feel a little deeper.
1130 not a lot of changes
Nimbus 9 gets a new color, mens is yellow silver black, womens is white gold silver with a sort of paisley pattern in the upper overlays (looks good)
Cumulus 9 gets new color mens white/silver/black/orange womens white/gray/pink
Landreth 4 (GOLD accounts only) msrp remains $95 mens 11.3 oz womens 9.4 oz
Advances to the new solyte material, discrete heel unit. Great looking upper on this shoe, like L3 has different forefoot vs midfoot/rearfoot upper with forefoot being more open and being a stretch material, Gonna do very well I think…
Evolution 3 no changes
Foundation 7 no changes
2130 Trail msrp stays $95 Trial version of 2130 now available in wide widths for first time for men and women! Colors look great, mens is a sueded green and khaki, woemns is a sueded khaki
Arctic WR 2 msrp $90 neutral water resistant upper
This is the winter shoe for snow/ice conditions which had what were supposed to be retractable spikes, the new version the spikes are fixed but are replacable. Popular shoe in the northern US and Canada. Doubt the stores in Florida and California will stock this shoe!
Trail Attack 4 WR msrp is $80
Basic neutral trail shoe with Speva midsole, nylex forefoot protection plate, cool trail outsole, pretty flexible. Low profile lightweight shoe with a wider than previous platform including an increase of 5mm in flaring of the forefoot to make the shoe more stable on the ground.
Gel-Bandito msrp $100
The DS Racer and Ohana racer are being dropped and this shoe is the hybrid child of the two. The new premier long distance flat weighs in at 7.9 oz, has a medial post and the new solyte material with a change in the last with description in parentheses from Asics’ Primer for 2008 (The upper utilizes a hybrid racing last used on ASICS Japanese racing flats and the racing last traditionally used on domestic models. The result is a more ample toe-box than is typically found on a racer. The advantage to this set-up is a forefoot environment that allows the foot to spread out more than it would on a narrower last. Since longer races like the marathon typically cause the foot to swell, this shoe will be a great product solution for these events.)
Also of note, they are now going to have Wide widths available in their kids shoes…
Asics has always had a few good kids shoes but never offered the widths for the fat feet we often see in kids. They are going to do wide widths in both the 2130 and the 1130 which both are just like the adult versions even including solyte in the 2130 youth. They also will have the “python” color in the youth version!
I think that is about it……
now adding the images for you
mens 3000
womens 3000
cumulus 9 color update mens
womens
arctic wr
gel bandito
ds trainer 13 mens
ds trainer 13 womens
mens kayano 14 color 1 (both colors will be avialable in widths)
mens kayano 14 color 2
womens kayano 14 color 1
womens kayano 14 color 2
mens landreth 4
womens landreth 4
mens trail attack 4
womens trail attack 4
womens nimbus 9 color update
womens 2130
(color 2)
womens 2130
main color (widths available)
womens 2130
black (available in widths)
python (I think it looks great!)
womens 2130 trail
mens 2130
main color (widths)
color 2
color 3
and of course it comes in black (also available in widths
and 2130 trail
new color mens nimbus 9
