ASICS Gel Excite 11 review

The ASICS Gel Excite 11 is a solid choice for:

• Beginners who want a first running shoe with a stable ride.
• Budget-focused runners looking for a high stack height and solid comfort.
• Heel strikers who need a versatile daily trainer, since in our runs the shoe offered a stable heel setup and an outsole that holds up well over time.

We believe that runners looking for a springy, bounce-driven ride should skip the Gel Excite 11 and consider spending a bit more. In our experience, the midsole feels flat, which is expected at this price, so the ASICS Novablast 5 is a better option in this case.

We also think it’s not the best choice for those who want an agile shoe for daily use. Based on our findings, the broad platform feels a bit bulky, and shoes like the Nike Revolution 8 or the Brooks Revel 8 offer a more nimble and versatile feel.

We’re just getting started, and the biggest update from the Gel Excite 10 is already here. We tested a clear increase in cushioning, with 123 SA in the heel and 104 SA in the forefoot, compared to 113 SA and 87 SA in its predecessor.

Therefore, the shoe is now more suited for longer distances or for runners who want extra cushioning underfoot.

While there’s more foam underfoot, energy return stays low. That is expected in an affordable shoe like this one, especially since it again uses the EVA-based Amplifoam+ compound. This time, we measured a bounce of 49.2%.

ASICS saw with the Novablast series that increasing stack height worked well for sales, and that idea is now spreading across the lineup, including affordable models like this one.

We measured 38.2 mm in the heel on the ASICS Gel Excite 11, placing it very close to the 40 mm limit, something that would have seemed hard to imagine just a few years ago for a shoe priced under £100.

The forefoot increases by 4 mm, going from 23.4 mm to 27.4 mm in this version. This is where the update feels more noticeable, as the heel was already well cushioned, while the forefoot now clearly offers less ground feel.

The Gel Excite 11, like many affordable shoes, features a high heel-to-toe drop to suit heel strikers and beginners. In this case, we measured an actual drop of 10.8 mm.

When we tested the Gel Excite 11 midsole with our durometer, it showed 22.9 HA, which supports the slightly firm feel we noticed on the run.

However, it is far from the brick-like sensation of shoes that reach around 30 HA, staying comfortable and aligning with the average feel usually found in cheap shoes, which often avoid a plush foam setup.

The added stack height affected the rocker design, as the Gel Excite 11 now includes a more lifted toe spring to offset the higher stiffness and help keep the running motion efficient.

ASICS includes a very basic GEL unit in the Excite 11, and it feels more like a gimmick than a meaningful feature. It is extremely thin and not noticeable while running, so it does not play a real role in the overall ride and we shouldn't spend more time here.

At 96.5 mm at its widest point, the Gel Excite 10 is slightly wider than the average road shoe we test in the lab.

That said, the difference is small compared to most daily trainers, and during our runs, the fit never felt extreme in either direction.

In fact, the toebox measures 71.2 mm, making it slightly narrower than average, which is not surprising for ASICS, as the brand often favors a more tapered, pointy toebox shape.

In terms of toebox height, the Gel Excite 11 sits right around average at 26.8 mm.

We never felt any pressure on the toes, yet the fit stayed secure during runs, so there were no issues at all.

Traction is one of ASICS’ main strengths in recent years, thanks to clear improvements in its outsoles, delivering solid grip across the board. This applies to premium shoes like the Megablast, trail models like the Trabuco Max 4, and even affordable options like this one.

In the Gel Excite 11, we found a score of 0.71, which is impressive for a budget running shoe—and it is also a small improvement over its predecessor, which is nice to see.

The outsole of the Gel Excite 11 features large areas of exposed white foam across the midfoot and central zones, with black rubber patches placed in the heel and forefoot. A wide flex groove runs from heel to toe, creating a clear separation between sections and adding visible segmentation along the length of the sole.

The higher stack height of the Gel Excite 11 increased stiffness, as it reached 17.3N in our 30-degree bend test compared to 10.2N in its predecessor. Therefore, runners who prefer a more flexible feel underfoot may find this update less appealing.

Unsurprisingly, adding more foam to the Gel Excite 11 compared to its predecessor led to a clear weight increase. We tested a jump from 9.45 oz (268g) to 10.1 oz (286g), which is noticeable the moment you pick it up.

This is a meaningful gain that some runners may accept for extra cushioning. However, others who prefer a lighter feel and do not value the added foam underfoot may find it disappointing.

The upper has been updated and feels more comfortable overall, but we found that this new jacquard mesh is less breathable than before.

At first glance, ventilation looks promising because the toebox shows some openings. However, smoke does not escape as quickly as expected, which led us to give it a 2/5 score.

Under the microscope, we saw that the material has narrow gaps where air should pass through. A secondary inner layer sits underneath and blocks much of the airflow.

In terms of build quality, the upper feels solid and well made for the shoe’s price point. We have no issues with material execution here.

The main drawback is breathability, as runners in hot climates may struggle during summer runs. In cooler conditions, this limitation is not a problem at all.

The Gel Excite 11 feels noticeably more stable than version 10 and many other daily trainers, even with its higher stack height. It combines several design elements that make it suitable for runners with mild pronation issues, which we explain next.

First, the shoe is now harder to bend and twist, earning a 4 out of 5 score. This may be noticeable for those who prefer a more flexible feel underfoot, but it also brings added stability and is expected with the higher stack height.

The heel counter surprised us. Daily trainers usually score around 3 out of 5 in this test, but ASICS went with a very firm design that earned a full 5 out of 5.

This adds strong support, though it may feel too structured for runners who prefer a more natural heel feel, even with the generous padding included to soften the contact.

The Gel Excite 11 is a large shoe overall, and that includes its width.

We tested the forefoot at 117.5 mm, which is only slightly wider than average and makes sense, as going wider could hurt its versatility for casual runs, daily wear, and gym workouts.

ASICS really pushed the limits with the heel width, as 100.2 mm is closer to what we usually see in stability shoes. This helps explain why the model can suit runners with moderate support needs, since the firm heel counter and oversized heel help to keep the stride as centered as possible.

The toebox showed poor durability in our tests. In fact, it ranked among the weakest results we have seen in a daily trainer in quite some time, earning a clear 1 out of 5 for the Gel Excite 11.

After the disappointing first durability result, we were a bit concerned at first. However, the Gel Excite 11 turned things around and earned a perfect 5 out of 5 score in heel padding durability.

To complete the durability tests, we moved to the outsole and ran the Dremel at 10K RPM.

We measured 0.9 mm of wear, a solid result that points to good durability and highlights the outsole as one of the stronger aspects of the Gel Excite 11.

We measured an outsole thickness of 2.8 mm, which sits right around the normal range and aligns well with the durability results we observed earlier.

The insole is very similar to what we see in other daily trainers, with a thickness of 4.8 mm.

The Ortholite insole can be easily removed and replaced with another option from a specialist or from a different shoe.

We were surprised by how well the Gel Excite 11 handled cold temperatures, as it became only 14% firmer after 20 minutes in the freezer. Combined with its low breathability, this shoe works especially well for runners in colder climates.

There are no reflective elements at all on the Gel Excite 11, which is not ideal for runners who train at night.

ASICS kept the lacing system simple with punched eyelets and standard laces that include light cushioning for added comfort.

We checked the tongue and found 6.3 mm of padding from a single foam layer, and we also liked the tongue loop to keep it centered that doubles as a pull tab.

The tongue is not gusseted, which is expected at this price point. Most budget-friendly shoes use this setup to keep costs down.

One of the main strengths of this shoe is its low price. Even with more foam than before, ASICS kept the cost unchanged and continues to position it as one of the best affordable running shoes available today.

ASICS simplified the heel design of the Excite 11, making it less... exciting than before. Compared to version 10, the heel tab has been removed entirely.