ASICS Gel Venture 9 Mens Trail Running Shoes

Product Information

Clean them after they get muddy. The extra debris can dry out the materials and abrade the water-resistant coating.

Like other shoemakers, Asics has its own proprietary cushioning, called FlyteFoam. Although it’s based on ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), the traditional running shoe cushioning material, this foam is formulated to be lighter and more resilient than standard EVA. It doesn’t have quite the same springy feel as the other types of FlyteFoam below, but it works fine for everyday running. It’s used in Asics’ more affordable shoes, like the GT-1000.One of the most reliable brands in road and trail running, Asics provides a wide range of shoe series, each with their dedicated uses. The Gel-Venture family is an entry-level trail shoe, with the new Gel Venture 9 hitting an interesting balance between road and trail running.

With only 14.9N of force needed to bend the shoe 90 degrees in our stiffness test, the Gel Venture 8 is 51% more flexible than the average trail shoe. This contributes significantly to the shoe’s overall comfort as it easily bends with the natural movement of our foot from landing to toe-off. This makes the shoe feel extremely forgiving on the foot and comfortable enough for all-day wear. It doesn’t provide runners with that soft squishy feel like EVA foam but instead provides targeted support and energy return where you need it most.However, newer shoes in the Asics lineup, like the NovaBlast, utilize more lightweight, bouncy midsole designs that mirror what other top brands are doing in their premium speedwork and racing shoes. Amplifoam is a midsole technology that is designed to dampen vibration and absorb the impacts that come with trail running. Compared to mother midsole foams, Amplifoam is slightly lower (or lighter) in density, meaning it feels super cushy.

This was my first time in trail running shoes from Asics, so I was excited to try out the fit. Everything tightened up well, and the first thing I noticed was solid outsole design ready for trails. The ASICS Gel Venture 9 provides mind-blowing breathability and ample cushioning for the feet on the trails. A versatile all-rounder that has a pleasant grip, the ASICS Gel Venture 9 is on top of the list for the best trail running shoes in the ASICS stable.Some beefier trail running shoes add more tabs around the heel so you can attach an ankle gaiters (Altra does this on their Lone Peak line of shoes), but we don’t see any of that on this budget trail running shoe. What I also love about the outsole of this shoe is that the lugs are built to really grip challenging trails under your feet. The newest addition of this shoe has redesigned lugs that have a unique pattern that helps to improve your grip, stability, and overall traction. Therefore, with the Amplifoam midsole foam and rear gel technology in the heel, the ride is much softer on the trail than on the road. Besides, the snug, secure fitting of Gel Venture 9 has been revamped for navigating trail terrains. Hence, this may feel uncomfortable and restrictive for regular training, whereby relaxed fitting is preferable. Avoid using them as everyday shoes. You can preserve the outsole by not wearing your trail runners all the time.