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.

The Birth of Onitsuka Cool - Part 2

In my last post, I examined the origin of Onitsuka Tiger athletic shoes, and how the company's founder was driven to uplift the morale of Japan's youth after the devastation of World War II. (In 1978, Onitsuka Tiger merged with two other firms and is known the world over as ASICS. The company has maintained the Onitsuka tradition of excellence, and is most famous for its top-of-the-line running shoes.)

By the Sixties, Onitsuka Tiger shoes had become the athletic footwear of choice among many world-class athletes. (The first running shoe explosion would follow shortly that decade.) In 1972, one of these athletes achieved a pinnacle in his already-dominant career. The renown of Onitsuka Tiger grew even more as a result.

Wrestler Dan Gable was already famous for having only lost one match in his entire Iowa State University collegiate career. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Gable won the Gold Medal without surrendering a single point to his opponent. This, in spite of a bleeding ear injury that could have caused him to be disqualified... except the resourceful Gable wrapped a bandage around his head, which allowed him to continue the match. Gable went on to further dominance as a wrestler and equally impressive success as a wrestling coach, etching his name in history as a true legend in the realm of sports.

ASICS, now widely recognized as a global leader in running shoes, has reissued the wrestling shoes Gable wore in that historical match as "The Gable". Many top-level wrestlers still choose them for competition, as evidenced in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Gable wrestling shoes also hold tremendous appeal for hipsters looking for authentically cool sneakers. ASICS' reputation for excellence continues with its consistently high-performing, best-selling running shoes, such as the 2100 series (the current offering being the 2140), the supremely cushioned GEL-Nimbus, and the renowned GEL-Kayano.

In part 3 of this story, we'll examine another legendary figure who boosted the status of Onitsuka Tiger.

Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81 Throwback Running Shoes

These days, a lot of folks are dropping serious coin on their running shoes... top-of-the-line models such as the ASICS GEL-Kinsei 2 retail for $180, and are only available at runnning specialty shops. Even those who go for a moderately-priced running shoe, like the best-selling ASICS 2140 (available at online running shoe stores) are looking at a $90-$100 price tag.

With that much dough tied up in your running shoe investment, it might seem silly to wear them when not running, as the average running shoe's cushioning and performance materials break down after 350-550 miles. With this in mind, it would actually be cost-effective to buy a pair of casual sneakers for the streets and everyday wear. One increasingly popular option is to wear stylish throwback shoes - reissues of running shoes that were once state-of-the-art, yet now serve as a stylish everyday sneaker or fashion statement. One of the hippest of these is the Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81. As the name suggests, its genesis was as a techincal running shoe, introduced in 1981. As with all things Eighties, it has seen a monstrous revival, with an array of new fashion colors introduced every Spring and Fall, ranging from subdued to outrageous. Some are released as limited editions, and can induce a frenzy among collectors and enthusiasts, resulting in skyrocketing prices in aftermarkets and online auctions.