ASICS comes back for a 5th time with their GT 2000 line of stability shoes. The sole is nearly identical from before, but the upper has had an overhaul giving a more updated look.

The shoe is slightly heavier (.3 ounces) than last year. This was surprising considering the new upper. I personally cannot tell the difference in that weight difference, but usually the weight goes down over new versions, not up.

With a new upper I was expecting the shoe to not take as long to break in as before, but this was not the case. I did not feel truly comfortable in the shoe until the tail end of my testing. I advise to be patient with this though, as this speaks to the longevity that it offers. I see this shoe lasting a considerable amount of time.

Asics GT-2000 5 General Info

Asics GT-2000 5 – Lateral Side

Over time, the GT 2000 has slowly rose to the top of ASICS stability line of shoes. It sits between the light DS Trainer and workhorse Kayano. Its competition includes Mizuno’s Wave Inspire and Brooks’ Ravenna line.

Unboxing the shoe got me excited for what this had in store for me. What stood out the most was the new upper material. Aesthetically, It made the shoe pop out where as previous versions seemed dated. The actual material was very snug against my foot.

My first run in them was a shakeout run after doing a hard workout the day before. The support helped keep my pace relaxed and it allowed me to lock in and recover.

Asics GT-2000 5 Sole Unit

Asics GT-2000 5 – Sole

The sole is nearly identical to the version before it both in weight and construction. Gel on the outter portion of the heel provides superb shock absorption. The heel drop is 10mm which is a little high for me but doable.

Fluidride, two types of spongy material helps act as a springboard when my foot lifts off. The guidance line aides against over pronation and keeps me in check. This all works together to give an adaptive ride.

I was a little surprised that ASICS kept the sole pretty much the same. I was expecting this to be another shoe to get the new Flytefoam material that is being trickled out across ASICS’ product line like the Kayano and DS Trainer. I wouldn’t be surprised if this got implemented in the next model though.

Asics GT-2000 5 Upper Info

The upper material has been completely revamped. A big complaint I had with the model before was the material gave a dated look.

Asics GT-2000 5 – Medial Side

Gone is the puffy mesh and in its place is a thinner seamless material. It breathes exceptionally and looks great.

The heel has a hard plastic exoskeleton on the outside. It gives me a locked in feel and works great with the sole of the shoe.

The lacing system was my favorite part of the shoe. Each eyelet was independent from the others not to cause any tension or tightness. I tie my shoes very tight and use a loop lacing lock method.

In other shoes, there can be times where it is hard to find the right balance of snugness and a locked in feel in my heel. I felt no pressure at all on the top of my feet and my foot was tight in place.

Initially, the shoe was too tight but it stretched out over time. With that said, there were still issues with room in the toe box and how narrow the shoe ran.

I have become used to ASICS shoes fitting this way as I wear a size 13 and my size options can be limited but that doesn’t mean you should. I suggest buying a size up or a wider length if you can.

Asics GT-2000 5 Conclusions

I knew what to expect with these shoes from my previous testing and running in earlier versions on my own. I knew I couldn’t go fast and that my tempo runs wouldn’t be where I wanted them at. Speed was not going to be a factor for me, but that’s ok!

I loved shakeout days and long runs in them. Perhaps my favorite runs in these were progression runs where I ended with a burst.

I liked the adaptive ride of the shoe but really wish it would break in faster. I feel like this will discourage a lot of people prematurely and cause them to return it. Please be patient with this shoe no matter what your skill level is!

We thank the nice people at Asics for sending us a pair of GT-2000 5 to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.