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.

Sleek & Simple Running Shoes

One running shoe brand I had never heard of before I started shooting running shoes is Pearl Izumi. They are nowhere near as well-known as adidas, ASICS, Brooks, New Balance, or even Saucony or Mizuno. I reckon that might be because they made their name as a high-end cycling gear brand. Coincidentally, they entered the performance running shoe market right around the time I started shooting running shoes.

In a market full of overdesigned shoes with too many elements, Pearl Izumi's designs are refreshingly streamlined. The branding is so subtle that the shoes nearly appear brandless -- which to myself and a growing number of consumers, is a good thing. More and more folks are beginning to see the Matrix, and no longer wish to pay for the privilege of being walking advertisements for corporate forces. Serious runners who are of this mindset, yet are unwilling to sacrifice performance, will find a lot to like about Pearl Izumi running shoes. I've also noticed that their line of performance running gear is very unique. Some of their men's running gear line looks eerily similar to outfits worn by the crew of the Enterprise on Star Trek: The Next Generation. I'm thinking that it must be by design, and that their market research showed signifigant overlap between serious runners and sci-fi geeks. If you're lucky, you might even find some of this running gear at closeout prices!