The Need for Speed

Since its inception in 1949, ASICS (originally called Onitsuka Tiger and renamed after a merger in 1978) has been well-known for offering pinnacle sport-specific footwear. Currently, the focus of the company is squarely on running shoes. ASICS offers oustanding running shoes for the masses of runners around the world, such as the best-selling 2100 series (the most recent version being the GEL-2140), the GEL-Nimbus and legendary GEL-Kayano. However, they also offer many selections for virtually any sub-category of runner imaginable.

Perhaps the most enthusiastic and hard-core sub-genre of runner would be the racer. Such athletes train year-round, demand much of their bodies, and tend to demand much of their running gear as well. With so much time, sweat and pride invested, a serious racer is not likely to choose their speed shoes without close examination. ASICS offers several excellent running shoes for the dedicated racer.

The GEL-Speedstar and GEL-DS Trainer are lightweight training shoes that are also well suited for 5K races. Other shoe manufacturers are not prepared to cede this market to ASICS. Brooks' new racing shoe, the Ghost, features their proprietary MoGo technology. Saucony's racing shoe is the Grid Sinister, featuring a flexion plate designed to naturally propel runners onto their forefoot. A long-trusted brand in the realm of cycling, yet an upstart in the running shoe market, Pearl Izumi offers the uniquely streamlined Streak racing shoe.

ASICS' GEL-Hyperspeed is wider than most racing shoes, resulting in greater stability. It is the favorite of world-class Middle/Long Distance & Marathon racer Ryan Hall.

For the specific needs of Cross-Country runners, ASICS offers the Hyper XCS Running Flat for men and the Hyper Rocketgirl XCS, engineered specifically for a woman's foot. A similar racing shoe from competitor Saucony is the Kilkenny XC2.

So, with the ever-changing technology of running shoes, what becomes of these styles once they are no longer on the cutting edge? Some of them enjoy a second life as throwback shoes. As a matter of routine, ASICS successfully reissues many of its past athletic shoes under its original brand name, Onitsuka Tiger.