ASICS GT-2000 12 TR

If there is a brand in the market that has an extensive catalog of shoes, both running and trail, with models that adapt to all types of terrain, runner profiles, shoes with more or less cushioning, more or less support and stability, etc., this is undoubtedly ASICS and the new ASICS GT-2000 12 TR is an example of this.

The ASICS GT-2000 12 TR is a trail running shoe that falls into the category of "door to trail" a growing trend in major brands to adapt iconic running shoes to run on trails and paths of little technical difficulty.

First impressions and features of the ASICS GT-2000 12 TR

This is not the first shoe of this type that we have tested, but it is the first from ASICS and we were eager to see how it would behave both on asphalt and in the mountains and how the sole would respond and also other aspects for which this shoe stands out, such as its comfort or the 3D Guidance system that provides stability.

The sole of the shoe ensures optimal grip on mountain terrain without excessively penalizing speed on asphalt, as well as having guaranteed durability.

During all these weeks of testing we have done trainings of different distances and on different terrains, most of them combining both asphalt and mountain, which is one of the main advantages of this type of running shoes that can be used for everything.

From the first moment we felt comfortable running with them thanks to their good cushioning which, in this version, has been upgraded to Flyte Foam BLAST PLUS technology, so we have gained that extra reactivity in the moments when we have squeezed a little more to the shoes and we have noticed immediately.

The outsole is one of the highlights of this model. It has provided us with good grip and traction on mountain terrains that were not "so easy" and has not penalized us when running on asphalt at medium paces.

On simple mountain terrain and trails it has worked perfectly, in which we have run comfortably without having any problems with grip, durability or wear of the sole.

The 3D Guidance System effectively performs its mission, especially in the most uneven mountain terrain, it is there where we have noticed more stability control that gives us extra security and stability when running in the mountains.

What type of runners are the ASICS GT-2000 12 TR for?

It is a shoe designed for runners with a pronation technique and who need extra stability when running, however, we believe that it can also be used by runners with a neutral stride technique.

It is a very versatile shoe with which we can run at intermediate paces without problems, it is at these paces where the shoe defends itself best, but we can also run at faster paces thanks to its midsole, but runners of medium weights are the most suitable for this shoe.

For what distances do we recommend the ASICS GT-2000 12 TR?

They are shoes for our daily workouts in any type of distance, we can run from short distance to long distance without noticing the passage of kilometers, it is one of the positive aspects of this shoe, which is designed to run any distance.

Obviously, it will depend on the type of terrain and distance to extract the maximum performance from its sole and cushioning, but since it is a multipurpose shoe, we will run comfortably for practically any distance.

What we liked most about the ASICS GT-2000 12 TR

We especially liked the outsole, which worked more than well in the mountains, not only on the easiest trails and tracks (flat and dirt roads), but also on narrower, steeper and rocky trails where it works more than decently for not being an exclusive mountain outsole.

We also particularly liked the comfort, both the padding of the heel collar and the material of the tongue that are very pleasant and comfortable when running with these shoes that have a very good cushioning that is appreciated especially in longer distances.

We must also highlight another aspect that we like about the shoe and that is the Japanese brand's commitment to sustainability as the upper contains at least 50% recycled material to reduce waste and carbon emissions. In addition to being a "Vegan Friendly" shoe, which means that no animal-derived materials have been used in its manufacture.

Opportunities for improvement in the ASICS GT-2000 12 TR

We have missed a system to adjust or save the laces of the shoe as many trail running models already incorporate and since, we are facing a shoe to use in the mountains, it never hurts to avoid possible chafing or pulling while running on those narrower trails.

We noticed the 3D Guidance System especially when running in the mountains, we thought that when running on asphalt it would give us more stability than we have had, or at least this has been our feeling.

With which models do we compare the ASICS GT-2000 12 TR?

HOKA Challenger 7

Mizuno Wave Inspire 19

Saucony Ride 15 TR

New Balance Nitrel v5

Brooks Divide 4

Final thoughts on the ASICS GT-2000 12 TR

If you are a runner who likes to combine asphalt and mountain trails in the same training session, the ASICS GT-2000 12 TR is one of our ideal shoes, especially if you need extra stability while running.

It is a very complete and versatile shoe as it has all the features that every runner looks for in a shoe, a good sole to combine both terrains, a very good cushioning, very comfortable and in which we will also have reactivity if we tighten them in series training or similar and a comfortable shoe to run all kinds of distances with a durability more than guaranteed.