ASICS EvoRide 3: 7.4 oz! (209 g)
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein and Senior Contributor David Salas
The Evoride series has been a lightweight shoe that dabbles between being a trainer and a workout/longer racing shoe. The previous version fit our team well, rolled along nicely and was an excellent choice for uptempo runs. Sometimes companies are able to make aggressive changes to a shoe, but that often makes it completely different. With the Evoride 3, ASICS was able to maintain a great deal of the fit and feel of version 2 while dropping an entire ounce off to drop it into the low 7 oz range (men's size 9). Despite technically being a training shoe, the Evoride 3 joins a rare group of low 7 oz non-plated shoes that excel during workouts and may even be an option for races (for some people).
Price: $119.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 7.4 oz, 209 g (men's size 9), 6.6 oz, 187g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: M: 26mm / 21mm; W: 25 mm / 20 mm
Drop: 5mm
Classification: Performance Trainer/Workout Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The ASICS Evoride 3 is a firmer, snappy, performance trainer for those wanting a rockered forefoot for faster running. A more traditional/lower stack combined with a stiffer sole and high toe spring, the Evoride 3 is able to roll along at a variety of uptempo paces. The upper is lightweight and secure, fitting slightly snug for a quicker feel. An excellent workout/racing option for those who do not want a plate but still want a snappy shoe, the Evoride 3 also excels as a daily trainer for those who want a lighter shoe with a significant forefoot rocker.
David: The ASICS is a firmer riding lightweight neutral trainer that blends the line between daily trainer and performance trainer nicely. It is a little bit lower stack than some other trainers, non-plated, and provides a really lively toe-off thanks to the decently sharp toe spring. The upper is lightweight and breathable, but also cozy enough for daily miles. This is a shoe that brings a lot of fun to the trainer category.
FIT
Matt: The ASICS Evoride 3 is slightly short with a performance fit in my normal men's size 10 US. This felt perfect given that I used this shoe mostly for workouts. The aggressive toe spring does shorten the fit. The width is snug to slightly narrow, particularly at the toebox. The forefoot actually has decent room but tapers afterward. The upper mesh is light and does stretch, so the upper will provide some accommodation as it breaks in. The tongue is thin, free-floating, and not gusseted. It is somewhat secured by its attachment to the laces, but has a tendency to fold on itself when putting the shoe on. This requires extra time to flatten prior to running. The heel features a moderately stiff heel counter and a ton of heel collar cushioning. The heel counter has become more flexible with miles and did not bother my heel at all. There is thick padding at the heel collar, which also contributes to the slightly shorter fit. This made me not notice the heel counter at all and those with sensitivities will likely do fine. Some caution will still be needed as that padding compresses. The snug fit and additional padding provide a fairly secure lockdown. I have not had to lace lock the shoe and my feet have felt locked in at a variety of paces. The ASICS logo provides additional lockdown in midfoot and I had no issues with turning corners. Overall, the ASICS Evoride 3 features a snug-fitting, performance-style upper with additional padding in the rearfoot and a lighter mesh upfront.
David: The ASICS Evoride 3 fits true to size in my Men's 9.5. The fit throughout seems to dabble between a plush upper for a daily trainer and performance fit that hugs the foot a little more snug. The mesh material itself is very soft and breathable and feels cozy on foot, though still wraps somewhat snug throughout. Length may be a tiny bit short but I had no issues with slippage. The tongue is rather thin but still very lightly padded. Thanks to the remainder of the upper construction I did not need to lace the shoe down overly tight and the tongue seemed to do its job well. The fit is normal throughout to perhaps slightly narrow through the midfoot. There are some very minor overlays from the ASICS logo that seems to give a small amount of reinforcement as well. There is a heel counter present that is padded well and provides structure without irritation. For me the upper works really well for my foot and is one of my more favored of the year so far. Plush, but still lightweight and performance driven.
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The ASICS Evoride 3 is a lightweight performance trainer/potential racing flat for those who want a firmer, non-plated shoe. The ride is on the firmer side but is still snappy when the pace picks up. The 7.4 oz weight (men's size 9) makes this shoe competitive as a potential racing flat and certainly as a workout shoe. Despite not having a plate, the ride is still a bit stiffer. This is offset thanks to the aggressive toe spring at the forefoot and the posterior lateral bevel (that is just right for a lighter shoe like this). This makes for a particularly fast forefoot transition and a firmer but rolling heel transition. I personally have used this shoe for fartleks, a tempo run, hill repeats and a few moderate-length easy runs. I found it felt a little too firm as a longer mileage daily trainer but excellent as a faster shoe for moderate to shorter/faster miles. Those wanting an alternative to the softer/extremely stiff super shoes may enjoy the Evoride 3 for uptempo work and faster runs/racing. While I would prefer using super shoes for racing, the Evoride 3 has been an excellent shoe for getting back into faster running. This is the type of "faster shoe" that relies on your body and provides a more honest effort. This is a road shoe given the smooth outsole and traction that is only effective on dry pavement. Despite this limitation, the outsole has been decently durable. I am beginning to see some normal abrasion on the outsole after 35 miles, but have yet to wear through it. For that reason, I expect the Evoride 3 to last for 200-300 miles, as expected for a lightweight shoe in this category.
David: The ASICS Evoride 3 provides a lot of fun for the value. Weighing in at only 7.4 ounces in Men's size 9, the shoe feels like a feather compared to most daily trainers. The shoe relies a lot on the toe spring up front and a gentle bevel in the heel creating a constant rolling effect when moving forward. The toe spring is not as exaggerated as say the Glideride and feels much more natural on foot. Don't get me wrong though you are still rolling forward off of the forefoot. The shoe has 26mm of stack through the heel providing enough cushioning underfoot for most efforts, but still less foam than many other training options. The Flytefoam midsole already leans a little on the firmer end so the firmness is noticeable. There isn't a whole lot of outsole coverage in the heel region centrally which does help with giving a little bit more of a cushioned feel upon landing. For me the shoe is highly versatile and I can take it just about any pace I want to shy of race paces. I have really enjoyed it for easy to slight uptempo efforts both for daily training and for long runs. The traction is okay on road, but does slip a little bit when off road. The constant rolling effect makes you feel nimble and always ready for the next stride.
STABILITY
Matt: The ASICS Evoride 3 is a neutral lightweight trainer. However, there are a few elements that add gentle guidance to the ride. There are small sidewalls at the heel/midfoot transition on both sides of the foot. The outsole is full ground contact and the midfoot only narrows slightly. The rockers provide the most guidance out of the entire shoe. The forefoot has some sole flare, which combined with the aggressive toe spring really drives the feet forward. The heel features a posterior lateral heel bevel, which does a solid job of guiding the foot in. The heel counter, although somewhat flexible, does go far enough forward to contact the small sidewalls. This provides some gently guidance at the rearfoot without being controlling. Those with neutral to mild stability needs will do well with the ASICS Evoride 3, but those with higher stability needs may need to look elsewhere.
David: The ASICS Evoride 3 is a neutral training shoe and does have too many stability features integrated. Some things the shoe does well is maintaining a grounded feel with a lower stack and slightly firmer based foam. The geometry of the shoe also does well with keeping you moving forward without accessory motions. There are some light sidewalls from the midsole that extend up into the upper that may help a little bit. The upper is reinforced well enough and does not provide any security issues.
The main stability issue the Evoride 3 has is the traction and outsole coverage. The shoe feels good when running in road situations but things can feel pretty dicey when taking even in runnable trail conditions. It isn't horrible but my confidence is still less in the Evoride than some other neutral trainers in runnable trail conditions. The AHAR rubber grips to road well but is a little on the flat end and can slip when in dirt conditions. I think just cleaning up the traction under foot a little bit could be huge for this shoe as the current build does effect my confidence on foot for training efforts if I hop off of the road for some time.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
Toe Spring 101
By Chief Editor Matt Klein
The current ASICS Glideride, Noosa Tri and Evoride series all have fairly aggressive toe spring. Toe spring refers to how much the toes are held in extension at the front of the shoe. This usually is combined with a forefoot rocker, which refers to the upper curve of the sole below the foot. The purpose of a forefoot rocker in a shoe is to replace the natural forefoot rocker in the foot, ie the normal extension that occurs at the toe joints (specifically called metatarsophalangeal or MTP joints) as the body passes over the front of the foot and the heel raises off the ground during terminal stance and pre-swing. This may reduce the need for additional toe extension range of motion and improve the transition off the forefoot. The normal range of motion required at the MTP joints for normal walking is 60 degrees, while upwards of 70-90 degrees may been needed for running depending on the person.
For those with joint stiffness, arthritic changes, pressure ulcers or a variety of forefoot conditions, a shoe with a forefoot rocker can reduce the load in this area (Brown et al., 2004; Chapman et al., 2013; Ahmed et al., 2020). A shoe with an aggressive toe spring places the toes in extension. This still may ease the forefoot transition, but still requires the shoe wearer to have adequate toe extension. They may not have to eccentrically use their toe flexors to control the extension that would normally be required in a shoe with more forefoot flexibility, but they will need mobility in their joints. So each design will change or require different things. If a shoe is truly meant to reduce the need for toe extension in those with joint mobility issues, then there needs to be a significant forefoot rocker without toe spring, whereby the toes are kept in a neutral position as the shoe curves up to meet the foot. For those looking for a fast transition with potentially less toe muscle work at the forefoot, then toe spring may be an option. However, they will still need adequate toe extension to get into the position the shoe puts them in.
References
Ahmed, S., Barwick, A., Butterworth, P., & Nancarrow, S. (2020). Footwear and insole design features that reduce neuropathic plantar forefoot ulcer risk in people with diabetes: a systematic literature review. Journal of foot and ankle research, 13(1), 1-13.
Brown, D., Wertsch, J. J., Harris, G. F., Klein, J., & Janisse, D. (2004). Effect of rocker soles on plantar pressures. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 85(1), 81-86.
Chapman, J. D., Preece, S., Braunstein, B., Höhne, A., Nester, C. J., Brueggemann, P., & Hutchins, S. (2013). Effect of rocker shoe design features on forefoot plantar pressures in people with and without diabetes. Clinical Biomechanics, 28(6), 679-685.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I have enjoyed the Evoride 3 as a less aggressive workout shoe to ease my body into faster running. I often find that super shoes can be too aggressive early on in training when I just need my muscles to get used to responding to the stresses of faster paces. Dropping this shoe to 7.4 oz from the previous 8.4 ounces of the Evoride 2 is incredible. It does change the function, with the newest version feeling more like a racing shoe than a trainer. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does overlap with the ASICS Hyper Speed (REVIEW) which weighs exactly the same. The only difference is the Hyper Speed fits slightly more snug. I am not sure what the plans are for the Hyper Speed 2, but ASICS needs to differentiate these models more as I would pick the increased stack height and slightly better versatility of the Evoride 3 over the Hyper Speed even though it is cheaper.
The other thing I would encourage ASICS to think about with the Evoride, Noosa Tri and Glideride shoes is to reduce the toe spring while maintaining the forefoot rocker. I know I have mentioned this in the other reviews, but it is quite aggressive. Those who might be looking for a forefoot rocker may be limited with these models due to the fact that there is a great forefoot rocker but it still requires a good amount of toe extension. As I have mentioned previously, these shoes may be more accessible to people if they focus on maintaining the forefoot rocker while keeping the toes in a more neutral position.
David: My main recommendation for the Evoride 3 is to work on the stability and traction piece. The ride itself is incredibly fun and the upper does a great job of piecing the shoe together. The piece that is missing is confidence to run off of the road. As a daily trainer or performance trainer I do think there should be some light versatility. Even in flat bluff trails I had a little bit of slippage underfoot. The shoe doesn't necessarily need lugs but getting a little more traction to grip would benefit the shoe tremendously. For me the geometry and ride is a lot of fun and I would just like to see it expanded a little.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
Matt: The ASICS Evoride 3 is a snugger fitting, extremely lightweight performance trainer that excels during workouts and may work for those looking for a non-plated, non-super foam racing flat. At 7.4 oz (men's size 9), featuring a secure upper and a snappy midsole, the Evoride 3 excels at faster paces and moderate to shorter length runs. The sole is rockered, with a moderate heel bevel and an aggressive amount of toe spring. Those interested in this shoe will need to make sure they have adequate toe extension but the forefoot transition is still fast. Those wanting a super light training shoe that can handle a firmer ride will enjoy plenty of road mileage in this shoe. Others wanting an alternative to the current direction of racing shoes will enjoy this as a simple shoe for faster efforts.
David: The ASICS Evoride 3 is a firmer riding neutral trainer that provides a lot of fun and responsiveness to the trainer category. The shoe weighs only 7.4 ounces Men's 9 and has a quick and snappy transitioning forefoot. The shoe is not plated but still provides a very light, rhythmic, and fast ride up front. For those that may be sensitive to plates and like firmer rides this could easily be a performance trainer or racing shoe. For me I actually like it more for daily miles and will use it as needed as a performance trainer. The Evoride 3 blends personal trainer and performance trainer very nicely. Off road, traction could be improved a little. Despite that this is still one of my favorite trainers of the year.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B+ (Comfortable secure upper that fits snug/narrow. Fits slightly short with tapered toe box due to aggressive toe spring.)
Performance: A- (A firmer ride with an aggressively rockered forefoot that excels at faster efforts and short to moderate distances)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Neutral ride with inherent guidance thanks to aggressive rocker and mild midfoot sidewalls)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (Excellent drop in weight while maintaining underfoot cushioning. Toe spring still way too aggressive for many that actually need a significant forefoot rocker)
Personal: B+ (A fun, faster fitting and riding shoe that reminds me of a combination of the firmer riding traditional racing flats with a bit more stack. Excellent for my transition back to faster running, but limited use as a trainer due to firmer ride)
Overall: B+
David
Fit: A- (Very comfortable and lightweight mesh upper, plush but still performance oriented. A tiny bit short)
Performance: A- (Performs incredibly well across large variety of paces. Quick, smooth, snappy. Traction hinders ability to take off of stable road conditions.)
Stability: B (Platform, geometry, and upper all do a great job, but the interaction underfoot still needs some work. On road its great but on flat dirt I still have some slipping.)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (The big emphasis on weight reduction while maintaining DNA done really well. The shoe essentially is a lightweight shoe that is really fun, snappy, and toes off very vibrant. Not common for an EVA trainer.)
Personal: A- (The fit and ride work really well for me. One of my favorite trainers of the year. The traction however does take some points away as most of my runs are multi terrain. Even runnable trail I slip a little. I am willing to live with it though as the ride is that fun.)
Overall: B+/A- (A really well done neutral training shoe that muddies the water between daily trainer and performance trainer. The shoe is a little firmer, really lightweight, and has a really fast toe off through the forefoot.)
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