Our verdict

We found that the Gel Excite 9 from ASICS is a trusty daily trainer that works best for short, easy runs. And if you're a runner on a budget or a beginner, this shoe is a comfortable and versatile choice. Outside of running, we observed that the ASICS Gel Excite 9 also proves itself a great pick for gym training and long walks. Talk about great value!

Pros

  • Cushy all-day
  • Lightweight design
  • Extremely breathable
  • Comfortable and supportive fit
  • Easy on and off
  • Also for walking and gym training
  • Affordable price
  • Great for running newbies

Cons

  • Lacks upper durability
  • Not for wide feet

Audience verdict

81
Good!

Size and fit

Size

ASICS Gel Excite 9 is slightly small (18 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 389 running shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Who should buy the ASICS Gel Excite 9 

Buy the ninth version of the ASICS Gel Excite if you want a:

  • cheap running shoe for daily runs
  • comfy choice for all-day wear, walks, and gym training

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Who should NOT buy it

If you have wide feet and want more room, we urge you to go for the ASICS Gel Contend 7 instead. And if you want a sturdier option that can last a long time, the ASICS GT 1000 10 can play the part. 

Even better, all these alternatives are just as pocket-friendly as the ASICS Gel Excite 9. 

ASICS Gel Excite 9 vs. 8

The new jacquard mesh upper offers a softer, more dialed-in wrap and the ankle collar has more padding that improves lockdown.

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Breathability at its best

Checking the breathability in our lab, we received a stunning result. The Excite 9 scored 5 out of 5, which means it is among the most breathable shoes on the market.

Asics Gel Excite 9 (left): a lot of smoke is passing through the mesh upper; Adidas Runfalcon (right): the toe box isn't letting out any smoke.

In this test, we use a smoke-pumping machine and cover up the shoe mouth entirely so that the smoke is only able to escape through the upper.

In a second test, we also checked how transparent the upper material is. In the video below, you can see that there's plenty of light shining through the fabric, which confirms that it allows great airflow. 

Wear it all day every day 

The ASICS Gel Excite 9 receives high marks from us in the comfort department. So much so that apart from running, we could also walk all day in this shoe!

We checked the midsole's firmness with our durometer and found that it is 18% firmer than road running shoes on average.

Firmer foams tend to provide better stability, which can be helpful for running, and especially for gym and tennis workouts.

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Disclaimer: We take an average of 4 measurements and exclude any outliers. This image shows just one of our measurements.

As for the stack height, the Excite 9 measures 31.7 mm at the heel and 22.7 mm at the forefoot. Both are slightly lower than the average of shoes we have had in the lab.

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Disclaimer: We always include insoles in our stack measurements.

While Asics claims that the drop is 10 mm, we discovered that it is actually 9 mm. This is not a huge variance from the official statement, and it's certainly acceptable given that in other running shoes we sometimes find much greater differences.

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The insole measures 4.5 mm, exactly like the average of all running shoes we've tested.

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A flexible shoe

We found that the Gel Excite 9 is pretty flexible. The first test we carried out showed that it is 33% more flexible than the average.

On top of this, we always measure longitudinal and torsional flexibility subjectively. In that second test, the shoe scored 2 and 2 respectively, with 5 being the stiffest.

However, as happens with most shoes, it gets much stiffer in cold temperatures. After 20 minutes in the freezer, the shoe became 57.4% stiffer, but on the other hand, it remained nearly 20% more flexible than the average of shoes we've tested in the same conditions.

The ASICS Excite 9 hugs the foot 

This shoe molds to the foot! And what's great about it is that it doesn't pinch or rub the foot either. Plus, the updated ankle collar feels very supportive; there are NO mentions of heel slips. On top of this, the shoe is pretty easy to put on.

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We tested the heel counter stiffness and it scored 2 out of 5. Given that 5 is the stiffest, we can consider this heel noticeably flexible.

A pass for wide feet

The shoe is secure for narrow and medium-footed runners, but it's a little too tight for wide feet. It feels narrow from the heel to the toe box.

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We measured the upper at its widest part and found that it is only 92.5 mm! Given that the average is 98 mm, it's clearly on the narrow side.

We recommend getting the wide or extra wide option if you need more space. Both a available for the ASICS Gel Excite 9.

Not the most durable

Unfortunately, this ASICS shoe started to develop a hole in the toe area after about 30 miles of running in it. For the price, this was to be expected. 

But while the upper doesn't seem to be very durable, we've got no complaints about the outsole. Based on our caliper measurement, its rubber is a millimeter thicker than average. Therefore, it has a better chance to last long.

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Keeps weight at a minimum

The Gel Excite 9 feels amazingly light! And the scales explain why.

In men's US 9, the Gel Excite 9 weighs in at 9.7 oz (275g), which is the same as the average of road running shoes.

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Hey there, good lookin'

The blue/green colorway looks very smart, and sleek; we can't help but gush about the shoe's style and color combos. 

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