Contend 4B+

The ASICS Contend 4B+ is an India-only model that has sold for five or six years. Many police and army trainees use it. ASICS told me people asked for a shoe under ₹2,000 that would not tear or wear down quickly and would grip on hills and hard terrain. That is what this shoe is. I ran 10 km in it and another 6 to 7 km on a separate run. The foam is thick and firm, with little softness. It is built to last, not to cushion. If you are a beginner running on tar roads, expect your legs to hurt for about a month while your muscles adapt. My first run felt odd. On my second, a slow 10 km, the foam felt forgiving. It is much better than the Abros Scorch I ran the day before. The outsole rubber is very thick, roughly double the normal thickness. It is not ASICS High Abrasion Rubber, but a rubber made for this shoe. The upper has many overlays and even leather panels so it does not tear. That adds some weight, but it makes the upper very strong. I expect the foam and rubber to last over 1,000 km. For under ₹2,000, I am really happy ASICS put this much effort into a shoe made for Indian needs. If you get the Contend 4B+ or 5B under ₹2,000, you can try it.