Five years ago this month, I ran 10 solitary miles on the Bonneville Salt Flats to test out a new shoe from Asics called the Glideride.
The Glideride was billed as a shoe with a stride-assisting rocker profile, but it was for everyday training not racing. Asics decided to make a splash by inviting media and creators to a unique time trial through the serene setting of the wide-open salt flats to show it off.
Nike and Hoka had already debuted carbon-plated super shoes, but most other brands – including Asics – were still developing their versions of hyper-responsive racing shoes with rigid plates embedded in the midsoles. The Glideride didn’t have a carbon-fiber plate, but it did have a rigid rockered profile that created a smooth, prescriptive rolling motion that, once I found the right cadence, allowed me to run rhythmically at a moderate pace with seemingly little effort for 10 miles on the pancake-flat surface of salt.
That shoe has gone through a few iterations since then, but the key aspect of the design construct – a firm hardened EVA midsole plate – has remained a vital component. However, like most other shoes you’ll find at your favorite local running store this fall, the Glideride has gotten thicker and cushier since its last edition.
Just two years ago, the Glideride 3 seemed like it had a robust midsole with 32mm/26mm stack heights. But Asics, as much or more than most brands, has pushed midsole spec heights with all of its shoes, and most have surpassed the 40mm legal limit World Athletics has set for racing shoes. Naturally, the new Glideride Max ($170) has also been pushed into that super max category of trainers, too, as it now has a 44mm/38mm profile and feels and rides like an entirely different shoe. What had been an aggressively snappy up-tempo trainer has become a more cushy, comfortable, and well-rounded everyday workhorse that feels almost effortless on long runs. I’ve been running in it for about a month and I explain below why I like it as a good addition to my shoe quiver.
What’s New: The Glideride Max is the first Asics model to feature its new FF Blast Max midsole foam, one of the brand’s most responsive foams ever. It has a cloud-like softness and high cushioning-to-weight ratio that combine to serve up a high amount of energy return. Under the layer of FF Blast Max foam, there’s a curvy semi-firm EVA plate, then a lower layer of shock-absorbing FF Blast Plus Eco foam. All of those elements combine to make up the newest iteration of the Glideride that is both much more comfortable and more performance-oriented than the previous shoes. The updated engineered mesh upper is similar to the premium-quality uppers on other Asics shoes, while a new hybrid outsole combines both a softer, cushier rubber and a firmer, more durable compound.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The Glideride Max fits true to size with a medium interior volume and a compact toe box that offers only sparse room for toes to wiggle. It doesn’t feel cramped, but it definitely has a glove-like fit. The step-in feel is smooth and plush thanks to a premium sockliner, a thickly padded heel collar, and a stretchy, thinly padded, gusseted tongue. The fit and feel are classic Asics features, as is the stretchy but secure engineered mesh upper. But it’s the innovative ride that makes this shoe so unique and worth a look.
Like the previous versions of the Glideride, it serves up a distinctive rolling sensation that’s conducive to rhythmic running. With the thicker, dual-foam midsole, it now rides a lot cushier and more responsive than ever before. It’s not the sharp, snappy feeling of a carbon-plated racing shoe or the somewhat harsh prescriptive sensation of the Glideride 3. Instead, the higher midsole height has become the star attraction, allowing it to roll like a max-cush trainer with a bit of structured propulsion in every stride.
Why It’s Great: I think it’s great because it's an ideal long run training shoe that blends both maximal cushiness with a bit of consistent propulsion. It doesn’t have the sharpness or excessive bounciness of many marathon super shoes, but just as importantly it also doesn’t have the mushy feeling of some trainers, either. It almost feels like a more lively version of the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26, a super-max training shoe that’s extremely cushy but exceptionally soft and lacking energetic pop. The Nimbus is a good shoe for slower, longer runs but it takes a lot of effort to run at up-tempo paces with any consistency. The previous Glideride 3 was at the other end of the spectrum, ideal for shorter, faster runs but it lacked the cushy, responsive feeling that we’ve all become accustomed to over the past two years as midsoles have evolved. The Glideride Max takes the best aspects of all of those shoes and is capable of running short to long distances at most mid-range paces with ease.
Specs
Weights: 8.8 oz. (women’s 8), 9.6 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 6mm; women: 43mm (heel), 37mm (forefoot); men: 44mm (heel), 38mm (forefoot)
Why You’ll Love It: If you’re training for a marathon or half marathon, the Glideride Max can be a good choice for your weekend long runs. While it can be fun to wear ultralight race-day shoes during long training runs, those lightweight carbon-plated shoes aren’t very stable and can accentuate any gait imbalances you might have. They may also entice you to run faster than you should. I’ve found the wide platform and stable, consistent ride of the Glideride Max to be purposeful and pleasing without overdoing it. I’ve definitely found it to put a spring in my step, but not in an egregious or excessive way.
Pro: This shoe made me appreciate maximally cushioned midsoles in a new way. I like that it has some energetic spunk to it instead of just marshmallowy softness, but I also like that it feels more agile and maneuverable.
Con: Don’t expect the Glideride Max to be a speed merchant. It can run up-tempo paces – 10K pace to half marathon speeds – but it’s not going to have that extra gear you’ll want for racing. Its sweet spot is midrange paces between moderately slow to moderately fast.
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