A dual-blended special rubber is distributed through the heel and forefoot of this running shoe, designed to keep you in place as you traverse any road you meet. The special blend of rubber composites is called “AHAR” or “ASICS High Abrasion Rubber” meaning you are sturdy and productive from strike to push-off.

Quite a bit of ASICS engineering goes into the midsole of this shoe. The Spevafoam layer is designed to minimize strain on your lower extremities through minimization of impact. This is done through the HG10MM materials that shift your body mass forward through the design of the midsole’s shape. The structural integrity of the midfoot of the shoe combined with the vertical flex groove (called Guidance Line technology) is referred to by ASICS as the Guidance Trusstic System.

While this is by no means the first mesh upper ever in existence, the glove-like fit of the GT 2000 7 is specially engineered for comfort and control. It has two layers of mesh that are aimed in different directions, giving you a cross-control stretch hold to improve fit and security. This is in part thanks to the new foot form – called a ‘last’ – that was developed for this version. It helps the GT line find itself closer to being true to size, slightly wider and higher along the toe box, and allows a more natural takeoff by helping your foot to spread better.

No runner wants a shoe that feels heavy – it would be like trying to run with cinder blocks tied to your feet. To runners who are used to one type of shoe that switch to a new pair, even the slightest difference in ounces can be enough to throw them off their game. With that said, this shoe does its best to be barely there on your foot at less than 11 ounces, while still helping keep you supported and secure on your run. The men’s shoe officially weighs in at 10.6 ounces; the women’s weighs 9.6 ounces.

Being entirely mesh in the upper means this shoe is all about airflow, saving you from the stifling dampness of an air-locked interior as you run. No one enjoys taking off their shoe and having to peel off a sock that has sweated itself against you like a second skin, and breathability is one of the ways to combat that unpleasant sensation. The unfortunate side effect of being so breathable is a lack of waterproofness – try to avoid puddles. If you do happen to run through one, the Ortholite sock liner offers something of a moisture wick layer to keep your feet dry but try not to depend on it to save you and run through deep puddles needlessly. That liner is more for wicking away sweat than muddy rain water.

This particular shoe in the ASICS family comes in several widths for the best possible fit no matter your foot shape. There is foam and cushion aplenty, but some may note a bit of oddness as they break in their running shoes, since there is correction built into the structure of the shoe for overpronation. If you have only just been informed that this is the kind of gait you have, and this is your first shoe built to correct that, it is going to feel strange. Keep an open mind and remember that corrective footwear might feel a bit odd at first. Talk to professionals if you feel something is really amiss, but usually you get used to it, and as your gait is corrected and your running improves you will realize just how amazing it can be when you are pronating a correct and safe amount.

Running shoes are known for coming in various color combinations. Maybe it has something to do with visibility, or maybe it is just about looking cool. Either way, this particular shoe is no different. The various focal colors and accents mix between greys, blacks, whites, oranges, lime, purple, and a few different shades of blue. There are also different color combinations for the trail variant, so be sure you read carefully when shopping so that you do not purchase a shoe you did not intent to buy. Also, not all color combinations are available for both men and women’s sizes, but both have more than enough options to choose from.

Thanks to the dual AHAR rubber composite, the ground will not eat up your shoe after a few runs; they are built to withstand the wear and tear of running on the roads where you live and race. The support systems that are engineered and designed into the craftsmanship of this shoe are built to keep your feet healthy and the materials in shape and strong as you clock your miles. Take these shoes for a light jog around the neighborhood, or run a 5k fundraiser or fun run, pull a famous half marathon, or cross the finish line at a full marathon – these shoes will help you train and find your confidence and power to cross that finish line.

With so much designed into keeping the shoe and your foot in good working order, it might sound odd to hear that there is not much emphasis given to protection on this shoe. In part, this may be due to the fact that, as a road shoe, the expectation of dangerous items your feet may encounter is minimal. A reinforced toe box front, a gusseted tongue to keep out debris – these are more features for a trail shoe, to some people. Sometimes the idea of protection is about taking your overall health and wellness into consideration and an overpronation now could mean a cane later, so in that sense this shoe is helping you protect yourself in spades.

With so much cushioning, a concern may come to mind of responsiveness. Rest assured, however, that this ASICS model is designed with the sort of materials that do not weigh you down. Flytefoam style support reduces packing, which can occur in foams of a higher density and cause your support and responsiveness to break down. With a high heel drop to aid in pushing you forward, you will feel like a firecracker is shooting you from foot to foot, charging down the finish line.

With the trademarked Dynamic Duomax system of support under the heel and middle of the foot, you are given a defense against your foot’s habit of overpronation. Organic nano fibers are layered over this support for a softer, cushioning feel that Asics refers to as FlyteFoam. This ensures a soft feel as you remain supported and sturdy on your feet. Multiple users reported that this ASICS shoe offered sturdy moderate level support and generally it was given a nod from those who used them.

This model of ASICS is designed to be a street running shoe – paved roads are the intended surface area. Specifically, and more to the point, paved roads that are dry. These shoes are mostly made up of mesh in the uppers, so if you run through a puddle you will get wet, and your shoe will not protect your sock or foot from getting wet. There is a variant of this shoe designed for trail running (aptly named the GT 2000 7 Trail) so if you seek a shoe specifically designed to take to the off-road paths, that would be a good place to start looking.

The retail price of this shoe is approximately $120. There are certainly running shoes that cost more, but for some that is a bit more of a price tag than they hoped for. For those individuals, simple suggestions like checking for sales, clearance aisles, and online shopping are always a way to save money and hopefully find a deal. Running shoes that are designed to correct a pronation problem are not typically something that should be flippantly purchased on a whim, so if you can try them on in person please do. If that is proves impossible, however, the option to buy online and find deals like discounts and free shipping are fairly common nowadays.

Most running shoes, whether they be for trail or blacktop, have a tread with broken up surface area for grip and traction. Shoes designed for skateboarding or boat shoes would be an example of exactly the kind of outsole you do not want under you while running. ASICS has enough in the way of treads to help you keep your feet as you put miles behind you. Just be aware of the fact that every intended terrain has a different structure adjustment for the outsole; if you want a trail shoe, you will have more distinct patterning on the outsole. A street shoe will appear differently because there is less expectation of uneven, rocky terrain or debris. Also bear in mind that this is a great shoe for longer runs because of its endurance based qualities, but it will not help you for speed. You can certainly wear the GT 2000 7 for a shorter run or a 5k, but you will not hit or break a personal record in them on those shorter distances.

The vertical flex groove in the midsole is present to help keep a comforting spring in your steps while it keeps you supported. There is a certain amount of flexibility that is expected from a street running shoe which sets it apart from the design of, say, a trail shoe that requires more because you may encounter more varied terrain. Street running shoes are not inflexible, but if you were previously a trail runner and this is your first stint with running on the street, you may think they feel a bit stiff at first. Keep in mind the perspective from which you are coming and give them a chance to show you that you do not need to form fit to a log or rock or tree root in order to be a comfortably flexible shoe.

Everything about this shoe is designed to keep your foot on the right path when it tries to overpronate; if it had no stability or support, it would fail within the first few miles, and then so would your leg. The Impact Guidance System (or I.G.S.) that ASICS employs is there to help you every step of the way, being designed for your safety. The IGS involves a deliberate link in all of the components that make up this shoe’s engineering and design, the whole thing put together in such a way that it improves and enhances your natural gait. From the moment your heel strikes to the moment your toes push off, ASICS has developed this technology for you, the runner.

With a heel height of 22 millimeters and a forefoot height of 12 millimeters, this shoe boasts a 10 millimeter drop. This makes the GT 2000 7 a high-drop shoe, further reinforcing the responsiveness it offers in propelling you from step to step as you jog or run to your hearts content. This drop measurement is the same for both the male and female variants of the shoe, despite the difference in weight by a full ounce.

•IGS linked component design for natural gait enhancement
•Dynamic Duomax system of support
•Flytefoam, Spevafoam, and AHAR combine for cushion and support
•Overpronation correction engineering

There is a lot of science wrapped up into the making of this running shoe. ASICS puts a lot of thought and engineering into developing a superior shoe in the GT 2000 line. Learning from previous editions what worked, what could be improved upon, and what they might be missing, ASICS developed a shoe that offers a lot of help to the lucky runner that picks up a pair of these. Correction of overpronation, comfort and support no matter how long you run in them, and a sock liner and upper made for keeping you well ventilated and wicked of excess moisture is what ASICS came up with, and it was a hit. The Dynamic Duomax, Flytefoam, Spevafoam, Guidance Trusstic System, and AHAR outsole all come together to bring you a shoe that will keep your foot safe and secure as you run farther and longer. Of course, as dynamite a shoe as this could be, you have to be sure that it is actually the right shoe for your needs. If you do not have an overpronation, for example, this shoe might not be the one that will serve you best. If you do not pronate enough, and instead your foot tends to roll outward, you need a different kind of corrective shoe to help you. If you run in a cross country setting as opposed to a paved road setting, you may want to look into the trail shoe variant design. For better off-road traction. If you are a sprinter, you may also want to look elsewhere for footwear because this shoe did not receive high marks from the running community on improving speed. There is not much in the way of outright negativity, but it is not designed to make you faster. Responsiveness will only take you so far, in a shoe. If you are unsure as to whether or not this is the right shoe for you, find a local retailer of running shoes – specifically a running store, if at all possible. The staff at a sporting department store might have variety, but the staff is not necessarily the most knowledgeable. If you find a store that specifically sells running shoes and performance gear, you are much more likely to find yourself staff that know what they are talking about because they are runners, too. Some places will even have a machine that checks how you stand in order to see where you carry your weight, and they may even ask you to walk away and back to them so they can check your pronation. Even if you do not ultimately purchase a running shoe from such a place and would prefer to buy online, at least you can go in knowing a little more about what your feet need to succeed.