Details
Brand
Asics
Heel To Toe Drop
10 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Synthetic and fabric upper with seamless construction to help prevent blisters and irritation• Ortholite Lasting for comfort, breathability and moisture management• Ortholite X-40 and ComforDry Sockliner provides comfort, durability, moisture management and breathability• Impact Guidance System (IGS) Technology improves and encourages a natural gait• Rearfoot and Forefoot Gel Cushioning Systems absorb shock and transfer energy from heel to toe• Heel Clutching System Technology provides support, stability and improves the fit• Trusstic System Technology reduces the sole weight while pushing the foot forward• Solyte lightweight midsole provides durable cushioning• AHAR (Asics High Abrasion Rubber) outsole provides exceptional durability• American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance
Upper
The upper uses durable fabric and synthetic material. The seamless construction helps prevent blisters and irritation. The Ortholite Lasting is very comfortable, allows air to travel in and out of the shoe, and manages moisture to keep the foot dry. The Impact Guidance System Technology helps improve form and encourages a natural gait. The Heel Clutching Technology System supports and stabilizes the heel, provides a nice fit, and helps prevent the shoe from accidentally slipping off. The tongue and collar are padded for comfort and a supportive fit, and the laces keep the foot locked down as well. There is also a toe cap for protection. The upper allows room for the toes to splay and is flexible enough to move around in while being stable enough to improve form.
Midsole
The midsole has three layers: gel, Solyte, and the Sockliner. The bottom layer is the Rearfoot and Forefoot Gel Cushioning System. The gel in the heel absorbs the shock and then transfers the energy to the forefoot gel in order to spring the foot back into the air. The middle layer is Solyte, a lightweight cushioning material that is used because of its durability. The top layer is the sockliner, which uses both Ortholite X-40 and ComforDry technology. This provides a comfortable and supportive layer of cushioning that allows air to flow through it and also helps wick moisture and keep the foot dry and cool. The midsole is also flexible so the foot can move naturally and pick up speed.
Outsole
The outsole is made of AHAR (Asics High Abrasion Rubber), known for its durability, grip, and traction. It has treads around the outside edge as well as in the middle of the forefoot area. Horizontal lines break up the heel, midfoot, and forefoot areas for better shock absorption. There are also flex grooves that allow the foot to move naturally through the gait cycle. The top of the outsole is the Trusstic System Technology, which reduces the weight of the sole and helps propel the foot forward.
Breathability
This shoe has good breathability thanks to its midsole and upper. The midsole has an Ortholite X-40 and ComforDry Sockliner that allows air to travel around the foot and also helps wick moisture to keep the foot dry. The upper has fabric and synthetic material that are woven to allow for ventilation. It has a seamless construction to prevent heat getting trapped under the stitches, or blisters and irritation on the foot underneath those areas. The Ortholite Lasting also has moisture management properties to keep water out of the shoe.
Comfort
This shoe is very comfortable according to testers, with many even stating that it can be worn without socks without having to worry about blisters. It has a medium width, although the fit around the midfoot is slightly narrow. The length runs slightly small, so potential buyers should order a half or full size up. It does take a couple of runs to break in, and testers noted that the midsole can be especially stiff during that time. The midsole has good cushioning in all areas, with the gel cushioning system in the rear and forefoot, and the Solyte and Sockliner covering the entire area. The upper is also comfortable, with the Ortholite Lasting giving a glove-like fit, comfortable padding in the tongue and collar, and the Heel Clutching Technology System providing a comfortable fit around the rearfoot. The above average weight makes it more tiring to carry over long distances, although the energy return helps a little bit.
Style
Reviewers thought that the Asics Gel Quantum 360 Knit has a nice look to it. Some of the shoes are completely solid colored, while others have a solid color in the heel and a pattern in the midfoot and forefoot, which allows for different tastes. A large Asics logo goes across the midfoot on either side of the shoe. The men’s shoe comes in White/Snow/Silver Red /Black/Onyx, Peacoat/Directoire Blue/White, Black/Martini Olive/Silver, Black/Onyx/Dark Grey, and Mid Grey/Carbon/Black. The women’s shoe comes in White/Snow/Silver, Birch/ Cream /Ice Green, Corydalis Blue/Carbon/Aluminum, Peach/Black/Onyx, Black/White/Silver, and Mid Grey/Glacier Grey/Flash Coral.
Durability
The Gel Quantum 360 Knit has great durability. The outsole uses AHAR rubber, which even has high abrasion in its name, so it is designed to be able to go over rough surfaces or run for many miles without any sign of wearing down. The midsole’s gel cushioning is durable, as is the lightweight Solyte material that was chosen because of its durability. The Ortholite X-40 and ComforDry Sockliner also has good durability thanks to its moisture management properties. The upper is also more durable than a lot of shoes, thanks to its use of fabric instead of mesh, which can sometimes wear through in the toe area after a few dozen miles. It also has the Ortholite Lasting to keep the shoe dry, and the Impact Guidance System, Heel Clutching Technology, and toe cap that add extra durability to the midfoot, heel, and toes.
Protection
This shoe protects feet and joints well. The outsole is hard and durable to protect the bottom of the foot from bruising. It also has lines separating the heel, midfoot and forefoot to help attenuate shock. The midsole has gel and Solyte cushioning to protect the heel, ankle, and knees by absorbing shock during landings. The upper locks in the heel and midfoot to protect against rolling or sliding. It also has a toe cap to protect from bruising and a seamless construction to prevent irritation. The moisture wicking properties in the Sockliner and Lasting help keep the foot dry.
Responsiveness
The Asics Gel Quantum 360 Knit is very responsive, with smooth transitions and powerful takeoffs thanks to its damping technology. The outsole has flex grooves for nice transitions and a natural gait cycle, and Trusstic System Technology to push the foot forward. The midsole’s gel cushioning transfers energy from the heel to toe and bounces the foot into the air, and the upper’s Impact Guidance System Technology helps improve running form.
Support
The Gel Quantum 360 Knit has good support. The midsole has Solyte and Sockliner layers that add some support underneath the foot as well as a little bit of arch support. The upper has the Ortholite Lasting around the foot. The Heel Clutching Technology System and padding support the heel. The midfoot is supported by the lacing system, padding in the tongue, and Impact Guidance System Technology.
Terrain
This is a road running shoe. It does well on sidewalks, dirt roads and paths, concrete, gravel, and indoor floors. It can also be worn on wet surfaces, and can also be used to ascend and descend hills. It was not designed for technical trails, ice, mountain climbing or snow.
Price
The Asics Gel Quantum 360 Knit is a bit pricey. Its initial price was double the average neutral road running shoe cost, although some retailers currently sell it for as low as half the original price. Asics is a popular brand and there is lots of cushioning, support and energy return, and the shoe really works to help promote a natural gait and good foot health. However, some reviewers did not want to pay such a high price, especially for a shoe that required break-in time, and ended up returning their shoes. Experienced runners who are looking for specific features are more likely to purchase this shoe than new runners who are just trying out the sport and are not yet ready to invest in a more expensive shoe.
Drop
The drop is 10mm. The men’s shoe has a heel height of 22mm and a forefoot height of 12mm. The women’s shoe has a heel height of 21mm and a forefoot height of 11mm. This drop is in the average range, which is used because of its high amount of heel cushioning to protect joints, forward momentum for heel strikers, and because it takes а strain off the Achilles tendon.
Stability
Although it was designed for neutral runners and under-pronators, the Asics Gel Quantum 360 Knit has good stability. The outsole uses high abrasion rubber that stabilizes landings. The midsole has light arch support, but not enough to slow over-pronation. The upper has the Impact Guidance System Technology to stabilize the midfoot and the Heel Clutching Technology System to keep the heel from sliding and the ankle from rolling.
Flexibility
Testers found that this shoe has good flexibility, except during the break-in period when the midsole was quite stiff. The outsole has flex grooves that allow a natural gait. The midsole’s layers start out stiff but the Solyte and Sockliner become more flexible over time in order to properly cushion and support the foot. The upper has some flexibility to move in but also locks the heel and midfoot in place.
Traction
The Gel Quantum 360 Knit has good grip on hard surfaces that are dry or wet. The treads around the outside edges grip roads well during landings and transitions, and the traction in the middle of the forefoot helps to stabilize takeoffs. Testers observed good grip on flat surfaces, wet surfaces and while going uphill and downhill.
Bottom Line
The Asics Gel Quantum 360 Knit has great cushioning, breathability and durability, while also providing smooth transitions, strong takeoffs, and encouraging a natural gait and good foot health. It has good support, a sock-like feel that is seamless, and wicks moisture, which makes it comfortable on longer runs. It also has popular style choices and good grip even on wet surfaces. However, it has a narrow fit that runs slightly small, is slightly heavy and expensive, and requires some time to break in. Overall, it is a good shoe for neutral runners and under-pronators to use for daily runs, especially for short and medium distances.
