The ASICS Roadhawk FF is a relatively standard running shoe. It has a similar heel-to-toe drop and a similar amount of cushioning in the sole as many other running shoes, both within the ASICS family and across many other brands.
One area where the Roadhawk is different, however, is that it features a seamless upper. The lack of seams and the blend of fabrics used results in a very comfortable shoe from the first time that you put them on.
Asics Roadhawk FF General Info
The ASICS Roadhawk FF is a road shoe that can pretty much do it all. Whether you’re going long or short, fast or slow, this is a do-anything kind of shoe.
They are comfortable shoes, with a medium amount of cushioning, and provide a smooth feel while running on the roads or other hard surfaces.
This shoe is a new addition to the ASICS line. It has been added to be a lightweight, versatile trainer that performs well in a variety of situations, and it does exactly that.
The first time I put the shoe on my foot, I was a bit surprised at how comfortable it felt. The upper seemed to almost mold itself to the shape of my foot, and the sole provided a nice little bounce with each step.
This is a shoe you can pretty much wear right out of the box with little or no time needed to break in the shoes.
The one negative that I noticed almost immediately was that the shoe felt rather tight around the mid-foot/forefoot area.
Full disclosure: I typically wear shoes with a foot-shaped/wider toe box. So while this shoe may have felt constrictive to me, it may not feel the same way to you.
Asics Roadhawk FF Sole Unit
The ASICS Roadhawk FFs have a sole that is of medium thickness. It measures 20mm thick at the heel, 12 mm thick at the forefoot for the men, 19mm and 11mm for the women. Both models have an 8mm heel-to-toe drop.
The midsole is constructed with a blend of Flytefoam and SpevaFoam, which helps stay lightweight (8.6 oz) while still providing ample cushioning with each footfall.
The blend of materials produces a firm, yet comfortable, foot feel while wearing the shoe.
The outsole is fortified with ASICS High Abrasion Rubber at various points where the shoe is most likely to come into contact with the running surface.
The material adds a slight amount of stiffness to the outsole, but not enough to impact footstrike in any way. The additional durability provided is a nice bonus.
The tread on this shoe still looks brand new, even after wearing them several times. I would expect the sole of this shoe to hold up for many, many miles.
The ASICS Roadhawk FF is a neutral shoe and offers no stability benefits. It is designed to be worn by runners with a neutral or underpronating (supination) foot strike.
The ASICS Roadhawk FF definitely provided a smooth ride while running on the roads, however, I didn’t experience much of a “feel” for the road beneath my foot while running in this shoe.
While the sole of this shoe isn’t that thick compared to some of the maximally cushioned running shoes that are available, they provided me with a similar feel as many of the more cushioned shoes that I’ve worn in the past.
Asics Roadhawk FF Upper Info
The ASICS Roadhawk FFs features a seamless upper that is a blend of synthetic fibers and synthetic leather.
The upper is incredibly comfortable and, due in large part to the seamless design, it almost feels like it “forms” to the foot of the wearer.
There is a minimal layer of fabric/cushioning that goes around the entire upper of this shoe, and this provides a sock-like feel.
The only rigid/reinforced area of the Roadhawk is in the heel. The heel cup is quite sturdy, especially compared to the rest of the upper, but I still found the fit to be comfortable.
And once my foot was in and the shoe was tied, my heel was definitely locked in place.
The upper of the Roadhawk is quite breathable. As such, this is not a water-resistant shoe. Running or walking through any wet grass is going to result in a wet foot virtually every time.
While I do consider the Roadhawk FF to be a narrow shoe, the sock-like feel of the upper did help to prevent any rubbing or other issues while I was running in them.
If the upper was more rigid, especially around the foot box, I think I could have had some serious problems. But as it turned out, this shoe was extremely comfortable to wear and to run in.
Asics Roadhawk FF Conclusions
Overall, I think the ASICS Roadhawk FF is a good shoe. It is comfortable and performed well on the roads during various workouts.
The only runners that should avoid this shoe are those with especially wide feet or those that overpronate to the point of truly needing a stability shoe.
Outside of the narrowness of the shoe, my only issues with the ASICS Roadhawk FF were purely based on personal preference.
I prefer a zero-drop shoe, or at the least a very low drop shoe, and that is not a feature of the Roadhawk FF. That isn’t the fault of the shoe, obviously, but something to consider if you prefer a shoe with a minimal drop.
The ASICS Roadhawk FF definitely delivers on its promise of a being a lightweight, comfortable, durable shoe that is able to be worn for a variety of workouts and races.
We purchased a pair of ASICS Roadhawk FF from runningwarehouse using our own money. This did not influence the outcome of this review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.
Asics Roadhawk FF Price Comparison
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