Facts
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who need arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 6.6 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what runners think:
7 reasons to buy
- Asics guarantees a wider toe box this time around in the Excel 33 3.
- A significant number of people have fallen in love with their choices among 4 different colorways.
- The plush cushioning without driving a tank comes as a regular comment from several runners.
- A sizeable number of reviewers noted how great the Gel Excel 33 3 as a Crossfit trainer.
- Loads of comfort makes runners unwilling to take the shoe off after heavy training, according to some reviews.
- It has a touch of flexibility despite the plush cushioning based on a few testers’ observation.
- A small group of runners who have had knee issues and back problems were able to enjoy their runs again when using the Asics Excel 33 3.
3 reasons not to buy
- A minority of runners found the fit as half a size smaller than the previous version of the Excel 33.
- The price tag is a little too high for quite a number of runners.
- Signs of wear and tear began showing up earlier than expected as noted by a handful of runners.
Bottom line
A workhorse trainer that can also pile on the miles aptly describes the Asics Gel Excel 33 3. The wide toe box makes it more appealing to runners with slightly wider foot. With good enough arch support and amazing comfort, runners should be eager to pound the road in this shoe.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.
82 / 100 based on 6 expert reviews
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80 / 100 by Runner's World • Runner's World • Level 5 expert
It's rare that a shoe can provide this much cushioning and still be flexible. Usually, the extra padded protection makes the midsole hard to bend.
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90 / 100 by Minimalist Running Shoes • Nicholas Pang • Level 4 expert
Really too bulky to run in them for me anymore but I tried as these have the latest ‘revolutionary’ technologies coming out of Asics. As a transitioning shoe for the Asics loyalist, this might work for a runner just starting to go the minimalism route. But it is far from becoming a natural running shoe.
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90 / 100 by Running Shoes Guru • Jim Coulson • Level 4 expert
Over all this is a superb trainer for the neutral or mild over pronating runner seeking out a solid road shoe. Runners should be impressed with the shoes flexibility, cushioning, and ability to withstand serious mileage.
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75 / 100 by The Running Shoe Review • Nick • Level 3 expert
This shoe has all the components to be a great transition shoe, however for a shoe thats designed to run in a forefoot style, the ends taper off quickly, and I can imagine some bruising and blistering occuring after a couple of uses.
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85 / 100 by PC Trail Runner • PC Trail Runner • Level 2 expert
Overall this shoe has a great fit, a fluid heel to toe transition, and a good heel hold.
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45 / 100 by Get Going Get Running • Bernie • Level 1 expert
After about 300km the flexion point around the forefoot shows wear through the mesh.
Updates to Asics Gel Excel33 3
- The 3rd version of the Gel Excell33 is a neutral running shoe that’s meant to encourage a smooth and nature foot motion. The cushioning systems are adequate for both neutral runners, and those with supinated foot movement. A thicker FluidRide® foam is placed in the lateral side for a balanced underfoot experience.
- Breathability and comfortable coverage are afforded by an upper unit that uses very flexible and responsive materials. The main fabric moves like cloth and it keeps the foot well-ventilated at all times. It’s secure and dependable in wrapping the foot snugly.
- The mid-sole platform is comfortable and reliable in providing protection against landing shock. The technologies that are in play here are efficient in giving a plush and supportive underfoot environment. It does not limit the movements of the foot and it even flexes well.
- The outsole unit a high quality rubber material to make sure that it gives the runner traction and durable protection against the abrasive nature of the asphalt. It’s placed strategically, so that flexibility isn’t hindered or limited.
Asics Gel Excel33 3 size and fit
The Asics Gel Excel33 3 has a standard running shoe length. It is available in sizes that adhere to the regular measurements for men and women. The available width is medium, so those with feet that are medium-sized would be able to acclimate well when wearing it. Its semi-curved shape accommodates the natural curvature of the foot.
Outsole
The AHAR® or the Asics High Abrasion Resistant Rubber is a durable external sole component that’s made from carbon rubber. It’s one of the most reliable layers of protection when it comes to running shoes. It protects the sole unit from wear and abrasion. It also gives reliable traction over the roads.
Midsole
The FluidRide® is a full-length foam that delivers responsive cushioning and durable protection. It has a bounce-back properties, so it can make each step more agreeable and more improved. It also doesn’t break down easily, making the shoe as efficient even after many uses. The lateral side is slightly denser, balancing under-pronated foot motion.
The Gel® Cushioning System is a silicon-based unit that is placed in the rear of the Gel Excel33 3. It attenuates shock when landing the foot on the ground. It also permits a smoother and easier transition through the gait cycle.
The FluidAxis™ is a set of deep flex grooves that are anatomically structured to follow the natural movement of the wearer’s foot. It’s meant to identify & adjust to the changes in position during heel striking and forefoot liftoffs.
Upper
The open mesh is the main material that’s used in this running shoe. It has a cloth-like quality to it, but it’s durable and very flexible. Air is constantly introduced to the interior of the Asics Gel Excel33 3, so the runner’s foot stays cool and dry even during longer races.
The overlays at the sides are made from synthetic materials. They responsibly hug the foot in order to keep it in place. They have a pliable nature, so the runner’s movements aren’t restricted. They also don’t have a substantial weight.
The Hell Clutching System™ is an exoskeletal heel cup that holds the rear of the foot in place. It prevents accidental shoe removals and slippage. The tongue and collar are lightly padded, as well. They help in securing the foot.
The ComforDry™ Sock liner adds more cushioning to the platform of this shoe. It has moisture-management and anti-microbial properties, thus keeping the interior clean and dry at all times.