Asics GT 2170 First Impressions:

What’s old is new again with the Asics GT 2170. Being that the 2170 is a core shoe for Asics, I didn’t expect a drastic overhaul for the 2170 and I was pretty much right. The heel looks a little different on the 2170 and it is truly a pleasant shoe when you first try it on. The 2150 was the last GT series shoe that I ran in and it too was a fine shoe. The 2170 continues to offer high end cushioning and moderate stability combined with a fit and function that thousands of runners call home.

Asics GT 2170 Upper:

Asics continues to play it safe with the 2170 upper. And why not? It’s a well designed unit consisting of very breathable mesh and supportive, yet soft, overlays. I did notice that the eyelet row has been segmented a bit in order to help the upper conform to the foot in motion. Most notable to me is the Asics PHF (Personalized Heel Fit) design which provides a very plush and comfortable heel fit. The heel counter is quite rigid as it should be in a stability shoe. The collar height is very low and provides a good fit. At first, I felt like I was slipping a touch in the heel area but that sensation soon abated. Asics uses a very slick, finely woven material inside their shoes and when combined with technical socks the heel fit can slide a little for the first couple of runs.

Asics GT 2170 Sole Unit:

As in the upper, Asics has made few sweeping changes to the 2170. GT series fans will still find the same Duomax medial posting, SoLyte midsole foam and Impact Guidance System (IGS). Also included is a substantial Space Trusstic mid foot shank which helps control the torsional forces created by an over pronating foot. Asics relatively new Guidance Line design is also here. Guidance Line carves out a path in the midsole to help the foot travel as neutrally through foot strike as possible. Asics did decide to place more GEL cushioning in the heel area of the 2170. In fact, the GT series has never had this much GEL before.

Asics GT 2170 Opinion:

I truly enjoyed my time in the Asics GT 2170. I took them on both treadmill and asphalt runs and they performed quite reliably and as expected. The GT 2170 has several features that I demand in a stability shoe. First, I must have a shoe with substantial arch support and the 2170 did well in this regard. I’m a light runner but my feet are very flexible and my feet and posterior tibial tendons will quickly tell me if a shoe is weak in the arch. The GT 2170 was adequate in this regard but there were times that I felt a few twinges that tell me I probably would be better off in a shoe with a touch more arch.

The GT 2170 excels at cushioning. The shoe does a superb job of insulating the runner from the road. However, this comes with a trade off in transition. Compared to some other shoes I’ve recently tested, the GT 2170 felt a bit slow and cumbersome when the pace quickened. It is also heavier than many competitors shoes in this category. I weigh every shoe that I test on my kitchen scale and I was surprised to see a 12 ounce weight for this shoe. Overall though, the shoe is well built and the design, even if a little dated, is undeniably successful.

I can’t see any reason why fans of this series will be disappointed in the new GT 2170.

We thank the nice people at Asics for sending us a pair of GT-2170 to test. This did not influence our review, written after running more than 50 miles in them