First Impressions, Match and Higher
Ryan: Whereas some manufacturers have been incorporating extremely energetic midsoles into lots of their high-mileage workhorses, ASICS have usually stored this line of shoe pretty tame, dependable, and properly behaved, and this Glideride Max seems to observe in these footsteps. It seems to be and feels loads just like the Nimbus 26, so I used to be curious as as to if this may be one thing new, or just a minor iteration on that concept.
Whereas the engineered mesh isn’t something fancy or eye-catching, it feels to be of a high-quality, each in hand and on foot. The only-ply materials is of above common thickness, and may work very properly for plenty of snug excessive mileage.
The apparent disadvantage right here is that there isn’t a ton of breathability, because the perforations within the toe part don’t cross throughout to the foot, and the mesh turns into very tightly woven and even much less breathable towards the center and rear of the shoe. It does ship a luxurious, inviting feeling although, and this attribute is likely to be appreciated come late fall or early spring.
In a shock to no one, the heel of the shoe is solidly constructed, with a big, sturdy heel cup and a beneficiant quantity of padding all through. I’ve been impressed by the sturdiness of the higher on Nimbus 26 I personal, and this higher seems to be of a really related construct high quality, so I’m assured that this higher will carry out comparably.
I discovered the match to be true to measurement, with its informal lockdown strain properly distributed all through my midfoot.
The toe field is pretty voluminous and the heel has a chunky sufficient collar of padding that heel motion is nonexistent.
Midsole & Platform
Ryan: Compared to many different ‘tremendous foams’, which launch their power aggressively and at occasions haphazardly, this one focuses on damping highway influence and releasing its power in a extra managed method. The shoe delivers a pleasantly managed and unsurprising transition with every stride. Whereas the FFBlastMax layer of the midsole provides a contact of softness and bounce, I’d nonetheless describe the general feeling as predictable and guided, missing any actual pizazz.
The feeling could be very harking back to a Nimbus 26, with only a shade extra cushion and softness, due to the hybrid midsole. On the plus facet, the Guideride Max is fantastically secure, particularly when you think about its 44mm stack top on the rear. That is definitely one of many extra mellow and reassuring performers within the ‘max-stacked informal coach’ class in the meanwhile.
I felt the journey to be on the flatter finish of the spectrum (versus a rockered feeling), as a result of its underfoot geometry and midfoot rigidity, There’s a ¾ size pressed EVA plate inside the shoe. Because it strikes ahead towards the forefoot, the plate widens out to the total width of the shoe. That is what creates the GuideSole rocker. There’s nonetheless some welcome flex on the toe which helps to maintain issues shifting on the informal paces the shoe was constructed for.
Whereas some may knock it for its comparatively boring character, others may love the way it mindlessly blends onto the foot throughout longer runs with its demure demeanor. The shoe’s transition is, once more, predictable and really guided regardless of its stack top, with the vast and well-behaved platform retaining issues in verify.
Outsole
Ryan: I’ve had nice luck with ASICS’s ‘AHAR’ grade of outsole rubber, and this outsole which mixes AHARPLUS and ASISCSGRIP is prone to be simply pretty much as good, if not higher, than its predecessors. It borrows loads of its design from the Nimbus 26, each in texture and in form, with the one vital distinction being its now-continuous run of rubber up the lateral facet of the shoe.
I feel the nubbed texture and distribution of rubber right here works very properly for what this shoe is supposed to do. Sturdiness is prone to be prime notch, and worthy of a shoe meant to sort out excessive mileage.
Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions
Ryan: Whereas the GliderideMax doesn’t take many dangers with its design, it delivers a delightfully secure and cushioned journey, able to dealing with even the best mileage regimens. Its midsole concentrates its efforts on absorbing and releasing power in a metered method, in order to not be overly bouncy or explosive. This ends in the feeling of a large, secure platform underfoot, no matter the place you land. Because of this, it lacks within the ‘turnover’ division, and its midfoot stiffness can often go away it feeling a bit blocky at extra informal efforts.
The shoe’s higher is strong, prime quality, and barely thicker than common, and works properly for this kind of on a regular basis workhorse. No frills to be discovered right here — only a plush and efficient assortment of supplies and padding. The outsole works in the identical vein, performing with sturdiness and sure-footedness as its key options.
If you happen to search a dependable coach that may comfortably meld together with your foot day in, day trip, that is value contemplating. Nonetheless, if it’s bounce and turnover that you just favor in a coach, you’d be higher off trying elsewhere.
Ryan’s rating: 8.8/10
(Deductions for its minimal differentiation from the Nimbus, its flattish/blocky, ho-hum journey, and breathability)
Smiles rating: 😊😊
4 Comparisons
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26 (RTR Evaluation)
Ryan: This iteration of the Nimbus could be very related in nearly each method. It simply has just a little bit much less of some issues. The stack top of the 26 is just a few mm shorter, it doesn’t make the most of the FFBlast Max midsole foam, and it doesn’t have fairly the outsole protection that the Glideride does.
Nonetheless, in most methods, it is a very related shoe. The uppers are sturdy, snug engineered meshes with the identical tactile really feel. Their rides are vast and secure, with out an overzealous quantity of rebound. The Glideride Max feels maybe like a really minor improve to the Nimbus, because it’s a bit softer and deeper in its cushioning, however is all in all a really related shoe. Each match comparably, with informal however efficient lockdown and loads of area of their toe containers.
ASICS Magic Pace 4 (RTR Evaluation)
Ryan: Right here’s a shoe with practically the identical stack top, on the similar value level, however which is nearly 2 ounces lighter. In contrast to the Nimbus, which has a brilliant related character, the Magic Pace 4 and this GRMax journey very in a different way. The MS4 focuses rather more on fast, poppy turnover, whereas the GRMax makes plush, informal consolation its major goal. That is definitely a byproduct of a firmer, extra responsive foam on the MS4, in addition to its stiffer inside plate. Whereas the MS4 can be surprisingly secure for a mega-stacked shoe, it doesn’t really feel fairly as vast and docile because the GRMax. The higher on the MS4 is racier, with a thinner and extra breathable mesh which isn’t fairly as luxurious on the foot. I consider the MS4 as a less complicated, extra inexpensive model of a brilliant shoe, whereas the GRMax comes throughout as extra of a pleasant, on a regular basis companion for lengthy, mellow runs.
Mizuno Neo Vista (RTR Evaluation)
Ryan: Whereas these two sneakers compete within the high-mileage every day coach class, they take very completely different approaches of their strategies. They share an identical stack top and an identical price ticket, however the GRMax is the rather more conventional, well-mannered choose right here. The Mizuno’s tender, bouncy, and deeply channeled midsole provides it a full of life and deeply cushioned really feel. It’s undoubtedly the extra ‘enjoyable’ of those two, if that’s what you’re searching for. It’s additionally rather more longitudinally supple and rockered, permitting for a really easy heel-toe transition, though that transition tends to be very sluggish despite the fact that it’s noticeably lighter than the ASICS. In contrast, the GRMax has a way more secure platform underfoot, controlling rotation properly and managing power absorption and return in a extra disciplined method.
Whereas the Mizuno depends on a stretchy and lighthearted knit higher, the engineered mesh of the GRMax is once more extra conventional and useful, though we have been pleasantly shocked with how properly the Neo Vista’s knit labored. The Mizuno appears like sporting a thick sock, whereas the GRMax is extra structured and plush, however nonetheless supremely snug. As for the outsoles, you get much more rubber and floor contact and traction with the ASICS. The Mizuno’s large channel working down the midline of the shoe is barely noticeable in that it supplies excessive softness and maybe a bit much less traction. Select the ASICS if you need a extra critical, secure excessive mileage coach, and select the Mizuno if you need one thing enjoyable and distinctive, if possibly a tad sloppy. I’ve a impartial stride and love the bottomless cushioning and the progressive design of the Neo Vista, in order that’s my private desire for top mileage working.
Hoka Skyward X (RTR Evaluation)
Ryan: Each of those sneakers are beastly, excessive mileage mega-trainers with 44mm and 48mm stack heights for the ASICS and Hoka, respectively. They admittedly each really feel like 10+ ouncesshoes, however they each present large quantities of safety for avoiding these overuse accidents.
The Hoka appears like you possibly can put on it endlessly, with its stout higher and energetic, large, carbon-plated midsole. Whereas it can fortunately return influence power and maintain you rolling for hours with its secure, rockered journey, it undoubtedly appears like loads of shoe, and its turnover is on the lumbering finish of the spectrum. Maybe not a problem for mere coaching miles, but in addition not probably the most nice in the course of the center of a marathon coaching block. As in comparison with the journey of the GRMax, the Hoka’s footstrike feels extra squared round its edges. Its plate is extra noticeable, and its stiffness might be needed given the stack top right here, however it will possibly really feel overly inflexible as probably the most informal paces.
As for the ASICS — it doesn’t have stellar turnover both, and has much less of a rockered feeling than the Hoka, however feels rather more pure underfoot and its slight weight benefit appears to shine by. Its midsole returns its power in a extra metered trend, largely damping influence versus amplifying it again ‘skyward’ (apologies).
Each uppers are substantial, comparatively thick and prime quality, and carry out their duties properly. As with midsoles of this nature, they have a tendency to run heat. There’s not a ton to select aside relating to both midsole, as they each supply beneficiant patches of rubber that work properly with their towering midsoles.
The GRMax is the easier, extra conventional selection for approaching informal, high-mileage working, whereas the Hoka appears to throw collectively a bunch of applied sciences to attempt to accomplish the identical lead to a much less pure, however nonetheless efficient method.
Index to all RTR evaluations: HERE
