UPDATE DEC 2011:We tested and reviewed the new Asics GT-2170

Asics GT-2160
	Full Name: Asics GT-2160
	Category: Stability
	Weight: 13 oz. (350 gr.)
	Suggested Price: $100.00
	Recommended For: Overpronators

• Asics GT-2160 General Info:

Asics update of Spring 2011 running line continues with the update to the popular stability shoe, the Asics GT-2160 (update of last years’ GT-2150). Updates have been made both to improve the performance and comfort/fit of the shoe, starting by the weigth: the GT-2160 is the lightest of the GT-2100 series.

• Asics GT-2160 Sole Unit:

There are a few shoes that a reference on the market, and the GT-2160 is one of those. Asics sells MANY of these shoes to runners who update year after year. For this reason, they tend to change very little from one issue to the next, especially when it’s up to the basic fit.

The stability elements of the GT-2160 are the DuoMax system, which is a piece of harder foam injected into the mold of the midsole, in the medial (internal) area of the foot. Extending from underneath the ankle to roughly mid-heel. It’s easily recognizable by the darker grey colour (industry standard) and prevents the arch to collapse excessively during the running gait. The next stability feature is Asics’ Space Trusstic Sytem. A TPU (thermal plastic unit) bridge that wraps the midsole right under the arch and offers torsional stability, preventing the foot to rotate unnaturally on its axis. Continuing from last year’s edition (GT-2150), the Trusstic System is different in the mens and in the womens version: the women shoe has a more extended bridge that wraps the foot higher, providing the extra stability women need due to their wider Q-angle.

Two units of Asics Gel (Asics’ cushioning system) can be found in the heel and forefoot. Forefoot is particularly plush. A decoupled heel absorbs the shock accordingly to the actual landing of the foot on the ground and distributes it during the gait.

Asics GT-2160 Outsole

• Asics GT-2160 Upper:

Again, the upper design of the GT-2160 is very similar to the 2150. Syntetic overlays, including the Asics logo, connect the upper to the midsole, wrapping tightly the shoe in place. A rich (and removable, to accommodate orthotics) ComfortDry sockliner provides extra ammortization and anti-microbial technology, which helps reducing bad odours. The heel collar now includes memory foam both on the internal and external sides, as opposed to the internal side only of the previous model.

• Asics GT-2160 Opinion:

The GT-2160 is essentially the GT-2150 with a few updates. This is good, as the 2150 was one of the best shoes of last year and many runner’s favourite series year in year out. It is a great shoe for the mild to moderate overpronator, and a very rich shoe for the 100$ price tag.
Competing directly with the Nike Triax+ 14 and the Adrenaline GTS 11, it offers plenty of support for daily training – a great high-mileage shoe. For the first few months of 2011, you might also be able to find great deals on the GT-2150, check the end of the GT-2150 review for the price comparison!

Let us know what you think of this shoe in the comments!

• Asics GT-2160 Price Comparison: