6 Best ASICS Walking Shoes

How we test running shoes

Here are the specific steps we do behind the scenes:

• We purchase ASICS walking shoes with our own money. By not accepting any sponsorships, we keep our reviews free from bias and brand influence.
• To test the shoe’s comfort level, support, and durability, we walk for around 10000 steps and write about our personal impressions and insights. We test the shoes on a variety of surfaces to test each model's strengths and weaknesses. 
• We take the shoes to the lab, where we use our tools and equipment to measure 20+ parameters. 
• We also split the shoes in half, so we get a full grasp of what we are dealing with. 
• We compare the lab data to the averages for our reviews to be more contextual. 

Can you wear ASICS running shoes for walking?

Yes, absolutely!

In fact, the walking shoes category on the brand’s official website is dominated by running shoes from ASICS! That’s because walking and running involve very similar biomechanics with their perpetual and rhythmic forward motion.

ASICS offers an extensive collection of ultra-comfortable, well-cushioned daily running shoes that are ideal for walking and day-to-day wear.

Example of a highly-rated ASICS running shoe which is perfect for walking

And if you find these ASICS shoes too sporty for your wardrobe, you can also try a pair of ASICS lifestyle trainers. These nostalgic 90s and Y2K silhouettes are hot and trending, ready to complete your look.

Although they lack the same cushioning and technologies as the brand’s running shoes, these kicks are comfortable enough for hours of walking.

But please note that NOT all ASICS running shoes are appropriate for walking. You want to avoid wearing specialised race and tempo shoes on a casual walk. Why? Because they feel awkward on slow paces, cost too much, and wear out too soon.

Imagine walking your dog in this carbon-plated race shoe. It’s like driving a Ferrari in slow traffic!

Best ASICS shoes for walking all day

There is a good reason why ASICS has a strong reputation for comfortable shoes. To tell the truth, we enjoyed effortless walks in nearly every ASICS shoe we tested in the lab.

But if you try enough shoes, (hundreds in our case), you will know a walking shoe can get you through the day with zero fatigue only when it has a heel stack of at least 30 mm.

Stack height is the amount of material (insole, midsole, and rubber outsole) that separates the foot from the ground. We cut each ASICS shoe in half to measure its heel and forefoot stack heights precisely with a calliper.

With 30 to 40 mm of supportive materials underfoot, your feet and body overall receive enough impact protection to tackle long hours of walking and standing. Be it at Six Flags or Disneyland, or clocking up 10K steps for fitness.

It is also worth choosing a softer type of foam for spending long hours on your feet unless you have any foot conditions that call for firmer and more supportive footwear (i.e. plantar fasciitis, diabetes).

In our lab, we use a Shore A durometer to measure the softness of each shoe’s cushioning foam. We press the tool against the half-cut midsole to record an HA measurement - the lower the HA number, the softer the foam.

That way, we can split all ASICS walking shoes into three groups based on their cushioning softness:

• 20 HA or less: soft
• 20-30 HA: balanced
• 30 HA or more: firm (there are no firm ASICS walking shoes at the moment)

Example of a plush ASICS walking shoe (15.6 HA)

Example of a balanced ASICS walking shoe (25.1 HA)

Here is an overview of the best-rated ASICS walking shoes along with their midsole stack and softness measurements:

Podiatrist-approved ASICS shoes for foot health

Foot conditions like flat feet require certain shoe parameters to manage discomfort and even prevent injuries. Are there any ASICS shoes that can help with that?

Yes! Several ASICS shoes received a seal of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) confirming that they are beneficial to foot health. These include:

• ASICS Gel Nimbus
• ASICS Gel Kayano
• ASICS GT 2000

Our own lab tests also showed that these shoes are built with more support and foot care in mind. “Anima Sana in Corpore Sano,” right?

Here is what we checked:

Torsional rigidity, or how difficult it is to twist the shoe sideways. The more effort it takes to twist the shoe, the lower the chance that you actually roll your ankle when walking in it. We rate each shoe’s stiffness on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest.

Heel counter stiffness, as well as the padding inside it, is related to the shoe’s ability to hold the heel and ankle in place throughout the walk. When the back of your foot is securely locked, there is no in-shoe play or excessive inward rolling of the foot (overpronation). Each ASICS shoe goes through our push-and-squeeze test and gets a 1-5 stiffness score.

Midsole width also plays a key role in the shoe’s overall support. Having a wide base to land on makes you feel more stable be it walking or standing. We measure the platform of each ASICS shoe in two areas - the widest part of the forefoot and the widest part of the heel.

Even though the Nimbus is categorised as a neutral shoe (one that has no additional arch support), we discovered that its design offers enough inherent stability to accommodate moderately flat feet with mild overpronation.

Comparing the lateral stability of the Nimbus (above) to the Kayano (below), we were surprised that the difference wasn’t as striking.

But if you are someone with moderate-to-severe overpronation, we highly recommend opting for the Kayano or the GT 2000. These shoes are reinforced with 4D and 3D Guidance Systems respectively offering more support on the inner side of the foot to correct excessive pronation.

The table below provides the test results for the Nimbus, the Kayano, and the GT 2000 confirming that all of them have features of supportive shoes.

Finding a proper size and fit in ASICS walking shoes

To make sure your foot feels at home in a pair of ASICS shoes, you should consider both size and fit.

Size of ASICS shoes

We rarely have surprises when it comes to size, or internal length, of ASICS shoes. The brand tends to be pretty consistent with its sizing scheme.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that your ASICS size will be the same as your size in Nike or Hoka shoes. Here are a few tips that can help you get the correct size when ordering shoes online:

• Measure your foot length: Or better ask someone to do it following these simple guidelines. Considering that our feet still change in shape in size even in the adulthood, knowing your exact foot dimensions is a good starting point.
• Check ASICS shoe size chart: Even if you bought ASICS shoes in the past, is it best to make sure that you are getting an appropriate size for your current foot length.
• Order 2 pairs in different sizes: If you are in between sizes, choose a retailer with free returns and order both. Send the ill-fitting one back.

Fit of ASICS shoes

Having tested dozens of ASICS walking shoes, we noticed pretty notable differences in their toebox shapes and volumes. That’s why we developed an in-house way to measure toebox dimensions using gel moulds.

Once the mould is solid, we measure its width in both the widest part and near the big toe with a calliper. As the photo below shows, two ASICS models in the same size can have a strikingly different amount of toe space.

Based on these measurements, we can tell if an ASICS shoe fits as expected, has a snug fit, or offers more room for the toes.

The table below provides an overview of toebox dimensions for all ASICS walking shoes we’ve tested. The table is sorted by width showing wider shoes first.

• For a snugger fit, consider 95 mm or less
• For a roomier fit, consider 98 mm or more

Which ASICS shoes are good for summer

A well-ventilated walking shoe not only keeps your feet sweat- and odour-free but can also prevent toe swelling, hot spots, and blisters.

Luckily, most ASICS walking shoes proved to have good breathability in our lab tests.

We thoroughly test the ventilation capacity of each shoe by pumping smoke through their toeboxes, hovering their half-cut uppers over the LED light, and inspecting their upper material under a microscope.

In the end, each shoe receives a breathability score from 1 to 5 where 5 is most breathable.

How long do ASICS walking shoes last?

Studies show that both running and walking shoes tend to last for about 300-500 miles before they lose their cushioning properties and develop signs of deterioration. ASICS also lists these numbers on their official website.

But even if the shoe’s rubber outsole is still there and you see no holes in the upper, the cushioning might already be dead and giving you the following problems:

• less protection from the ground
• increased foot fatigue and muscle soreness after walking
• slanted midsole forces your foot sideways

TIP: Have at least 2 walking shoes in your rotation (preferably a newer one and an older one) so that you can feel the difference when the older shoe deteriorates too much.

The initial wear resistance of materials also contributes to the shoe’s longevity. In our lab, we use a Dremel with sandpaper to check how much life we can expect from a given shoe. We do that by drilling each ASICS shoe’s toebox, heel padding, and outsole.

Based on the damage caused by the Dremel, the toebox and the heel padding receive a durability score of 1-5 (5 stands for most durable). The outsole damage, on the other hand, is measured with a tread gauge so that we know exactly how deep is the dent. In this case, the smaller the number, the better the durability.

Here is the overview ofthe  most abrasion-resistant ASICS walking shoes:

Cheap ASICS walking shoes

The best ASICS walking shoes are not a cheap purchase with a retail price ranging from £140 to £170 for premium models. However, there a few ways in which you can save money and still get an amazingly comfortable walking shoe from ASICS:

1. Compare prices: Actually, that’s what RunRepeat is here for. We track prices from over 200 online retailers to keep you up to date about every ongoing sale. Set up a price alert and we will send you an email the very moment price drops for your chosen ASICS shoe in your size.
2. Previous editions: Just because it’s a shoe from last year doesn’t mean it is worse! Previous editions typically share many of the same technologies as the newer model but are offered with a price drop of up to 50%. If you open our catalogue page of ASICS running shoes for walking and sort it by discount, you will find last year’s Nimbuses and Kayanos for sale.
3. Budget shoes: ASICS offers a wide range of more affordable walking shoes that have an MSRP of £100 or less.