SHOE REVIEW: Asics Glideride Max
Asics' new Glideride Max is a plush, bouncy easy-day shoe that performs well right out of the box
Photo by:
Nick Iwanyshyn
The Glideride Max, a new member of the Asics family, is quickly becoming one of my favourite trainers. It’s plush, yet bouncy, and also comes at a more affordable price point than some of its competitors. It’s the ideal easy-day shoe, or “desert island” shoe for the person who just wants one pair to do it all.
Category: Neutral
Drop: 6 mm
Weight: Men’s 287 g, women’s 250 g
MSRP: $220 CAD
Available: Oct. 11
Upper
The Glideride Max’s upper is made of a one-piece, lightweight engineered mesh; there are no seams to chafe your feet. The mesh is stretchy and breathable, making it super comfortable. I found this shoe very pleasant to wear, right out of the box.
A big part of a shoe’s first impression is the initial feeling. I felt good in their shoes right away, and that initial good feeling remained throughout the run, without any hot spots or pressure points. This shoe easily passed the first-impression test.
Midsole
The midsole is where the “max” comes in. FF Blast Max is one of Asics’ most energetic foams. It’s not only really plush, but also provides a lot of bounce and energy return with each step. As a person who runs a lot, I love a bouncy shoe to help me stay motivated on days when I feel tired, or propel me on days when my run feels good!
The Glideride Max’s bounciness comes partly from the Guidesole plate, which runs the length of the shoe. This plate helps provide a smooth ride and gives a little pop at toe off (a.k.a., the best feeling on a run).
Outsole
The outsole is a combination of two technologies–Asics Grip and Ahar-Plus. This combination brings improved grip along with a softness to complement the plush feeling of the Glideride Max. I ran on a rainy day and didn’t slip or slide at all; keep in mind, this is a road shoe, so no promises if you’re running on muddy trails.
Final thoughts
The Glideride Max is an extremely comfortable running shoe that’s well-cushioned and bouncy. It looks and feels similar to the brand’s Gel-Nimbus plush trainer, but comes at a slightly higher price. It’s an excellent do-it-all shoe or an easy-day trainer if you’ve invested in a second pair for races and workouts. The global launch date for the shoe is Oct. 1, but Canadians looking to get their hands on a pair will have to wait until Oct. 11.
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