GT-1000 14

I paid ₹10,000 for the ASICS GT-1000 14 and finished testing it. I criticised the previous version heavily and told people not to buy it. This version surprised me. It now uses FF Blast instead of plain Flytefoam, a jacquard mesh upper, and a hybrid outsole with hard AHAR rubber at the heel and softer rubber elsewhere. ASICS lists 270 g, but mine felt lighter than that. The FF Blast midsole is very soft, a perfect blend of springy and soft, and an excellent walking foam. ASICS lists 34 mm at the heel, 26 mm at the forefoot and an 8 mm drop, which is plenty to protect beginners. The heel gel is just marketing. The jacquard mesh is light, breathable, soft and comfy. The outsole has good traction in the wet and is durable. It uses the 3D Guidance System, and the heel clip is quite soft, not stiff. So this is for mild overpronation, not extreme. It suits walkers and beginners under 75–80 kg who need some stability. If you are over 80 kg, I would recommend something with more stack for protection. The problem is the price. It is definitely not worth ₹10,000. At ₹14,000 retail with ₹1,000–2,000 off, the GT-2000 14 gives you about double the durability and stability. If you have no overpronation, the Gel-Excite 11 or Gel-Pulse 17 at ₹5,000–6,000 on offer will do the job. Heavier runners with overpronation can go for the Kayano 32, and the New Balance 860v14 and 880v15 under ₹8,000 are also better buys. The GT-1000 15 is already out in the US, so this shoe should drop to half price, around ₹4,000–5,000. At that price it is a great walking shoe. I do not feel my ₹10,000 was wasted, because I love it for walking, but I would not buy it at that price.