ASICS Men's GEL-Exalt Running Shoe

t was a busy first half of the year that included moving out of state for work and all the craziness that relocating includes. I let my fitness program and goals slip. No problem; I figured I'd just get things on track once things settled down and be back in shape in no time. My problem is that I'm getting older and steadily began to put on weight. I decided to start running again, but my second day back in action I felt some pain in my calf and ended up walking the rest of the way home. I decided I needed something to absorb the pounding my legs were taking from the extra weight, and I started looking specifically for cushioning shoes. I have had good luck with Asics in the past, so I decided to give these a try. While nursing my calf back in to shape, I began a walk / run program (mostly walk at first), and these have done an outstanding job of protecting my body from the pounding running can put on a guy that allowed himself to weigh more than he should. Keeping injury-free has allowed me to keep up my daily regimen. They are very soft and provided a tremendous amount of shock absorption. They also fit very well. I generally wear a 10 but I went with a 9.5 because these are morning shoes that are slipped on without socks. The interior on these shoes is finished well enough that there are no pressure points or hot spots even without socks. The toe box is typical to what I have found in previous Asics shoes in that there is plenty of room. The mesh does a good job of keeping air flowing and the lacing system holds nice and snug without being constrictive. I don't know how they would work for the real runners out there, but if you are like me and need a good pair of cushioning shoes to get you moving again, I couldn't give a higher recommendation; especially at this price.

This is my second pair of Exalts and they fit well. The size and width are accurate. They are comfortable out of the box, neither starting off too firm or becoming too mushy or soft with wear. There is good support without feeling overly so after a long day of wearing them.I wear ASICS after switching from New Balance and I have found the quality to be consistently higher than NBs from the last few years.These particular shoes are for certain days at work as well as daily walks with our dog. I have another shoe specifically for running.While I have read that some people experience premature wear and even holes in the mesh above the great toe, I see neither in any of my ASICS.My only complaint is the inserts are flimsy and wear flat quickly. I replaced mine with a good quality brand and this gave me the needed boost to wear them comfortably again.If you have never worn ASICS, these are a reasonably priced entry into a good line of shoes. For me, these have been my favorite out of the different models I have tried (T-170s, T-180s, Exalts). Each has a bit of a different feel with these seeming to be the most supportive and firm of the three.

I read the reviews on these shoes but was skeptical that such a reasonably priced running shoe could be that good. I have used them now for a 10 runs (approximately 35 miles) and like them so much I just ordered three more pairs. I am a heal striker and I have noticed that most running shoe heels in recent years wear down way to fast while the rest of the sole is still very useable. This causes knee problems and significantly reduces the life of the shoes. I am guessing that ASICS is using a less resilient type of rubber in the heel than it previously used. These are not luxurious running shoes with tons of padding but they are still very comfortable. They seem lower to the ground which I like because I feel like I have more control and less wobble. They remind me of running shoes that I used ten or more years ago, the ones I wish they had not discontinued. Up until now I was using GEL-Cumulus 15 Running Shoes. I like them a lot but I like these more.

I jog and walk at times 20 -25 miles a week. I have constantly had problems because of my flat feet. I would get the most painful shin splits. I also have back and knee issues, but one has to exercise. I was wearing other running shoes but had to get insoles. The insoles would help a little but then give out. I was told by a foot specialist to try the Asics as this is a true running shoe unlike the other brands that do all sports. I have worn these for now over two months. I have to say they are comfortable and I have not had problems with shin splints. For the price you can't beat it and they look good. They are also sturdy. Worth a try.Update November 9. 2013Did a 5K and they are still doing well. I will be ordering another pair. Works well for me.

I've herd a lot of good things about ASICS and this is the first pair I have ever had. I've had a few running shoes over the years none of which have been better than this pair. I gave them five stars because they are everything I want in a shoe. They look great and feel even better; lightweight yet durable. Like I do with most of my purchases, I was patient and waited for a good sale to come up. I think I got like 40 or 50 percent off for an excellent product. I got a size 10 and it fit exactly as expected. I've had them for about two weeks and I'm defiantly glad I got them. If you like the style, I would defiantly recommend these shoes for runners or for just a conformable everyday shoe. The only potential down side to these shoes is that they don't keep your feet warm in cold weather; however, that is true for basically any lightweight running shoe.