Details
Brand
Asics
Heel To Toe Drop
10mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Gel DS Trainer 22
Terrain
Road
Type
Stability
Key Features
• Dynamic DuoMax support system• Solyte midsole material• GEL Cushioning System• Propulsion Trusstic System• Asymmetrical Heel• AHAR+• Guidance Line• Impact Guidance System• WetGrip outsole• Seamless upper• Heel Clutching System
Upper
ASICS redesigned the upper of these shoes and brought back a standard lacing system and the Heel Clutching System. That technology manages to bring more overall support and improves the fit on the rear foot area of the shoe. A set of welded overlays provides improved stability to the shoe while making it even more comfortable from the inside. In addition to reducing the weight of the shoe, the welded overlays also provide a more flexible fit to your foot. The upper of the shoes comfortably hugs your feet to keep them in place during your entire workout, avoiding unnecessary friction that can result in blisters and hot spots. The ComfortDry foam sock liner provides extra cushioning and enhanced breathability to the shoes. The double layer upper is highly breathable and will manage to keep your feet fresh all the time.
Midsole
The midsole of these shoes is made with a Solyte material that makes it lighter and more cushioned. A Gel Cushioning Compound unit is placed in the heel area of the shoe to provide great shock absorption. The silicone like unit asymmetrically placed in between the midsole and outsole of the shoe helps support neutral and mild overpronators. TheDynamic DuoMax also provides extra support for mild overpronators. As a mechanism that works together with the outsole, the Dynamic DouMax makes these shoes more stable than other similar models. More cushioned runs can be experienced when running in these shoes. They provide great support for demanding training sessions as well.
Outsole
The outsole of this shoe is reinforced with the AHAR+ carbon rubber compound for extended durability on the high abrasion areas of the shoe. These shoes not only promise to last for longer but also to provide you with great traction and grip. The Wet Grip blend of components enhances the traction of these shoe on wet surfaces. A Propulsion Trusstic System makes sure to help you get the best propulsion for your take offs. The vertical flex groove, called the Guidance Line by ASICS, enhances the flexibility of the outsole, and its connection to the ASICS Impact Guidance System (IGS) creates a more natural gait cycle with a smoother heel to toe transitions.
Breathability
The double layer mesh upper optimizes the breathability of these shoes. It allows for quick evaporation of the moisture generated inside the shoe. These shoes will make sure to keep you dry and cool during even the most intense training sessions and runs. You will be thankful you are wearing these shoes while running long distances. As they manage to keep your feet cool, your whole body will feel cool as well. We lose a lot of energy and heat through our feet, so cooler feet leads to a fresher feeling overall. Feeling cool does not mean you don’t have to hydrate yourself before, during and after running.
Comfort
Experienced runners have stated that these shoes perform really well during almost any distance, including half and full marathons, demanding training sessions, short runs, and even speed workouts. The DS Trainer 18 does a great job providing comfort regardless of environmental conditions or type of exercise. The Solyte material makes the midsole very light and flexible and provides good cushioning as well. The Dynamic DuoMax technology, while adding extra support to the shoe, brings remarkable cushioning and responsiveness to the shoes. As reviewers have posted, you can have long comfortable runs when wearing these shoes. The extra support for mild overpronators makes them especially good for neutral runners. The flexible upper hugs your feet gently but tightly, creating extra comfort.
Style
The look of the shoes brings varying opinions among users. Welded overlays run all over the place on the upper. They cross the shoe from the to side on the forefoot and midfoot areas. A big ASICS welded logo is paced as well on both sides of the shoe. The eyelets are integrated into the overlay system and they bring a cool triangular design that makes them look great. The Heel Clutching System is visible in the rear foot. It’s is the only component in the upper that is not welded. These shoes will definitely stand out from the crowd. As they are outdated, the colors are limited, so you will need to order these before you can no longer find them in stores or online.
Durability
From the outsole to the upper, these shoes are designed to last. They claim to provide more durability than similar shoes. However, reviews have said that the durability of the outsole is not as good as ASICS claims it is. The ASICS High Abrasion Resistant + (AHAR+) its suppose to provide extra durability in the high abrasion parts of the outsole. As mentioned before, some customers have said that the max durability of the shoe is just over 250 miles (which is not terrible). The Solyte midsole has not received any negative reviews. It provides excellent support and flexibility for longer than regular EVA midsoles from the same brand.
Protection
These shoes are made to protect you from the shock of the impact in a great way. The Gel Cushioning unit placed in the heel area of the shoe, in between the midsole and the outsole, absorbs the shocks of every landing in a great way. The Solyte midsole then uses the energy from the impact and transforms it into more powerful take-offs. The impact on your ankles, knees, and hips is minimum thanks to the Gel Cushioning unit. The extra support for mild overpronators brought by the Dynamic DuoMax promotes a more natural gait cycle that will keep your whole body in a better running position. Reviewers that have suffered injuries have picked the DS Trainer 18 as the shoes to go back on the road, as the great cushioning makes them feel more protective.
Responsiveness
Thanks to the Solyte component these shoes feature, you can get a great responsiveness from the midsole. Flexible and adaptive midsole components bring the responsiveness of the shoe to a new level. The Impact Guidance System (IGS) enhances your natural gait and promotes a smoother heel to toe transition. Combined with the IGS, the Propulsion Trusstic System enhances the responsiveness of the shoe and provides excellent acceleration and propulsion. The great fit from the upper allows more precision in your steps. The durable AHAR+ rubber and the blown rubber from the outsole also provide great grip and traction, even on wet surfaces. The WetGrip technology enhances the traction on wet surfaces.
Support
As many of the ASICS running shoes, these are built with Asymmetric Heel Technology. It brings extra support to mild and moderate overpronators. The Dynamic DuoMax system works together with the Asymmetric Heel technology to bring really comfortable and responsive support from the outsole to the midsole. The Gel Cushioning System, by absorbing and distributing the energy from the impacts, makes these shoes very supportive. Heavy runners have found the Gel Trainer 18 very comfortable and supportive. Reviewers that have recently recovered from injuries have recommended these shoe as a good one to start over again.
Terrain
These shoes definitely perform their best over flat and even surfaces. Ideal for running over asphalt, the 18th version of these shoes is ready to help you running half and complete marathons. During training sessions indoors and outdoors, these shoes bring the stability and support you need. The grip and traction of the outsole and the durability of the AHAR+ rubber, claim they last longer than other shoes. Abrasive asphalt shouldn’t be a problem for these shoes, they embrace it, helping you run faster.
Price
The price of the Asics Gel DS Trainer 18 will vary, as they have been discontinued. Plus, you can only get what’s in stock from online stores. The price is a bit high for outdated shoes, but the technology that makes them very cushioned is worth it.
Drop
The drop of the shoe is the difference between the height of the heel and the height of the toe. The ASICS Gel DS Trainer 18 running shoes have a 10 mm drop. The heel height is 33 mm and the forefoot height is 23 mm in the men’s shoes. For the women’s the heel height is 32 mm and the forefoot height is 22 mm.
Stability
The stability of the shoe comes mainly from the IGS that makes sure to provide the right support at any stage of your gait. The Propulsion Trusstic System provides stability from the middle of the shoe while enhancing speed. The shoes come with a Heel Clutching System that provides optimum stability to the rear foot. It enhances a better fit from the back to the front of the shoe. The welded overlays create enough flexibility and stability in the shoe so you can be sure to run faster and train harder when wearing these shoes.
Flexibility
These are flexible shoes from the core. The Solyte midsole is very flexible and lightweight. The Dynamic DuoMax system enhances their flexibility, creating responsive and adaptable support for mild overpronators. The Guidance Line in the outsole works as a flex groove that goes vertically from end to end of the shoe providing flexibility from the outsole. The upper adapts to the movements of your feet when walking, running and training. The flexibility of the double-layered upper promotes a better fit for enhances stability.
Traction
Reviewers have posted that the traction of the shoe is remarkable. The combination of the AHAR+ rubber compound and a Propulsion Trusstic System makes these shoes really fast. The WetGrip technology really brings grip on wet surfaces. If you are planning to have a good run and it’s raining, you can still go for it with no problem (regarding your shoes). Some reviewers have stated that the durability of the outsole decreases incrementally with time despite the AHAR+ technology. This, therefore, affects the traction over time.
Bottom Line
Exceptional support for heavy runners, mild and moderate over pronators, and runners recovering from injuries is provided by the Asics Gel DS Trainer 18. These shoes do a great job providing responsive cushioning and supportive flexibility. They perform great during long-distance runs and training sessions. The ASICS Gel DS Trainer 18 are shoes that are a great investment for any runner. Discontinued a while ago, there are a few of them in stock. Alternative look and a lot of personality are what these shoes bring to the table.
