Tendances Sneakers : The ultimate running shoe? We analyze it and we think about them

Tendances Sneakers :

The ultimate running shoe? We analyze it and we think about them

Analysis and characteristics of ASICS Metaride, one of the most surprising releases of recent times in the world of running. A shoe that is presented as capable of reducing fatigue? Well, that's what this innovative and revolutionary model is about, valid above all to accumulate distance, both in daily training and in competition (if this is long distance).

But, even if someone is already thinking about a model designed to break world records, it is wrong: ASICS Metaride is focused on what people need most: daily training shoes, although in this case, with very different from the rest.

The Japanese brand has not taken long, in terms of production, to recreate a shoe cataloged as a House of Technology. Because ASICS Metaride is that: the gateway to a whole line of new sneakers created from this revolutionary concept of saving effort. According to ASICS measurements, it reduces the energy loss in the ankle joint by 20%, improving career efficiency by 1.6%. The intention of ASICS is that all of them will carry the surname "Ride."

I have sometimes made references to what was until now the last House of Technology of the Japanese brand: ASICS Metarun. In that, the Kobe concentrated five new technologies and up to four new patents. Well, Metaride is on the same path, but not so much just trying to improve the existing, as also changing a bit the rules of how a running shoe is built. And if within the ASICS itself, Metarun stepped on the ground a little Gel Kayano, this Metaride who will "bother" a little will be his sister Gel Nimbus.

With the aim of reducing fatigue by improving efficiency, Metaride is the result of two years of work by scientists and designers of the Institute of Sports Sciences that ASICS has in Japan. The result we see is a shoe that bases its surprising result on the efficiency of one of the parts that work most in the running race: the ankle joint.

Where is the biggest key? Well in the discovery of Guidesole ™, a new technology based, very briefly, on giving a new shape to the sole and midsole looking for a very precise curvature that moves the weight of the shoe back, but the load of the runner in forward race causing Less effort when moving.

Let's see what the test of this shoe has given of itself.

ASICS Metaride Analysis

OUTSOLE AND MEDIASHAND

A lot of fabric to cut in each of the elements of ASICS Metaride, but it is not understood if I do not explain the sole and the midsole together. It is true that all the shoes work on all their parts in collaboration, but in this shoe that I have tried, this is even more accentuated.

The outsole of Metaride is curved very sharply from the second third (beginning of metatarsals) to the tip. This is Guidesole ™ and drag the concept to the midsole, also with a curvature that will favor an efficient swing when running. The concept has been to find a way to prevent the foot from changing its position while the alignment of the leg varies with respect to the base of the shoe, since it hits the ground, until it goes out the toe (and thus avoid that effort that is made in each footstep). The final result is a curvature that allows you to save energy from that movement that you no longer need to perform.

The combination of this sole with the midsole is not very flexible, but with all the intention of the world: ASICS he wants the ankle to flex less, or at least what can be saved. It is curious, but with the shoe in your hands it is very difficult to bend it to check its flexibility, but, instead, as I could verify during the test, in the feet and in the race you do not notice this intentional minor flexibility.

The longitudinal line on the sole is a resource that all brands use, each with its own name (ASICS calls it Guidance Line). It consists of a longitudinal slit that has to guide the tread in all its phases. Always visible from the sole, because it is where it is located, mainly. In ASICS Metaride ..., no. In fact, the name is something different: 3D Guidance Line ™. That "3D"Is the key, since the path that runs from the heel to the toe begins with the interior of the midsole, until it reaches the plantar arch and becomes visible, traveling from here, through the sole, until practically reaching the fingertips.

The route is visible at the beginning of 3D Guidance Line ™ through a hole made directly in the heel. What some have colloquially called "the shot", by the similarity of the trail left by a bullet. Similarly, it is part of the idea of guiding the footprint from both sides of the shoe and not just the sole. An indirect positive aspect is that the emptying of the material allows the total weight of the model to be reduced.

Underneath all of this, in direct contact with the ground, is found Gripsole ™, that supposes a new pattern in the taqueado looking for the best relation between traction and durability. This sole is not informed of its composition. To the touch it is a solid rubber, but surprisingly ASICS does not indicate if it is AHAR, Blown Rubber, or another type of compound, with carbon, or not, known or not ... In any case, the pattern of the design already indicates the clear which is focused almost exclusively on hard surfaces such as asphalt.

We have seen aspects of ASICS Metaride midsole, such as curvature, but there are many more. To start the materials, where it combines two different: Flytefoam ™ Lyte and Flytefoam ™ Propel. Here ASICS has made another conceptual shift since, contrary to the established, the softest is not the one closest to the foot, but the other way around.

So, in order to improve the stability of a shoe focused on runners and runners neutral, ASICS has arranged Flytefoam ™ Lyte, cushioned, but firm, on a first level. On the other hand, below, is the Flytefoam Propel layer, damped, but softer and reactive. This separation is easy to distinguish because in the center of the midsole a horizontal division is clearly observed that even changes the color somewhat.

And what is that semitransparent that is observed between both layers in the inner zone under the heel? Well what one can imagine: the GEL ™ own ASICS and that can not miss when talking about a cushioning quality in high-end models, or as in this, extra range as it is Metaride.

Separate chapter deserves drop of ASICS Metaride because, as it could not be otherwise, it can not be understood like any other shoe. To start the height of the heel with respect to the ground is 30mm in the finish of man and 30mm in the beginning of the metatarsals. The same in women. Read like this: thirty minus thirty equal to zero... the resulting drop is zero, right? Well, either, because if when it is stopped, it is zero, but this is not the case, because ASICS has understood the rolling that causes the curvature of Metaride as part of the drop. In such a way, the inclination during the rolling It would be equivalent to a drop of 8-10mm.

Another feature that escapes the view is the distribution of the weight of the shoe itself. Most of it is concentrated in the back area, precisely around the ankle, which means that the inertia of the toe in the flight phase is lower and represents another energy saving in the movement of the ankle mentioned above.

UPPER

The most normal part, if you can say so, of ASICS Metaride is the upper part. Taking into account that most of the innovations are shared between sole and midsole, in the upper "only" two technologies stand out: Circular Knit Upper and Metaclutch.

Circular Knit Upper is the type of mesh with which ASIS Metaride is manufactured. It wraps the entire foot in one piece, although it is not a booty type structure, since the tongue is separated from the body of the shoe. Of course, for those who are already thinking about it, of course it comes with the specific strip so it does not move. It would be unthinkable in a shoe of this quality not to incorporate such a basic detail.

The mesh itself has a certain thickness and is flexible in the most open area, that of the fingers, so that ventilation is good. On the other hand, in all the half foot it is much stronger since it is here where the subject is played.

The laces are flat and are distributed by eyelets that are not aligned at all, looking to hold the foot from more angles to be efficient in all phases of the footprint. Even though in this model the ankle movement has been saved.

The other important technological feature in the upper is Metaclutch ™. It's that exoskeleton that hugs the ankle on the outside. It is of vital importance in all running shoes as it stabilizes this joint at the moment so difficult to hit the ground, especially if it is tacked. In this case it is optimized, reaching even more than usual and reinforcing the inner side more, where we tend to give more of our feet.

The rest of the elements are very cushioned looking for a lot of comfort and comfort during the use. I refer to the tongue, quite thick and the whole bowl, filled with abundant foam that holds with forcefulness, but at the same time with soft touch.

TEST / SENSATIONS

I think this is one of the most difficult to explain shoes I've ever used. Or more than explain, transmit the sensations that it produces, once put on the feet, because they are not comparable to anything previously known. A running model of the Italian Lotto and that I used in the early 90's cut the midsole in front to make the runner fall and use that drive ... but come on, nothing to do, not even a joke. That was a loose solution in a relatively normal shoe ..., what ASICS proposes with Metaride is a total innovation in the whole shoe and that is noticeable when wearing them.

From the start, once you have put on and closed the loop, your foot is perfectly collected. The length is the one that corresponds with my size and the adjustment is very good. Comfortable. In other words, what it seems, it is.

But when you stand on your floor you notice that this thing you wear on your feet is different. I do not say "weird", for not giving a negative tone for free, but I think it looks more like that. And it is that you notice that Most of the weight load is on the back two-thirds of the shoe. The front does not touch the ground. And when moving ... wham! You notice: the body is going forward.

It is a strange sensation, because while you are standing or walking in a small space, the sensation is not very good because it does not behave like others and it disquiets you from the start.

That's when you try to run and you realize that This shoe serves for that: run. It's not a truism ...: It's just for running! And that, I can attest that he does it well. All the oddness that one feels standing, standing, or walking on their steps disappears when you put them to work. Surprisingly, this kind of fall, so accentuated standing up, becomes part of the natural stride and not the notes at all.

It is not that it has to be noticed or not, it is that it seems that it is going to do it, that it will accompany you in each step, but no. You just run!

For what I've used (quiet shoots and some a little more nervous), I've noticed it well. But that most of the weight is in the rear two thirds makes it also notice different, although it is 300gr, ie, more or less normal in a daily training shoe.

But there has been a situation where I have not noticed it so well. It's silly, but put to explain, I explain: In the first test I was disoriented in the middle of Madrid, in an area I did not know and Murphy, very attentive, made my phone stop working. For more inri, I did not remember the way back by the laps that had been wandering ... Well, then the return, with that trot much slower than the "trot cochinero" in which you try to read street posters and are now running a little turned, now turning to the other side because you think that you have passed and turning again for the same thing, it reminded me of the initial sensation when standing. With another type of sneaker I would not have remembered them so worried about orienting me, but these ASICS Metarides reminded me that I was not using them in the orthodox way. They seemed to tell me: "So many years, engineers, scientists and hundreds of other people in my development and ... do you start to run weird? Pull p'alante!

From experience I have deduced that ASICS Metaride is a running shoe, which is best used only for running. As simple as that.

Conclusion ASICS Metaride

In two weeks of use (I leave to later update the review adding how it has aged) has given me to verify several things:

ASICS Metaride is an animal of asphalt, cement, sidewalks ... In any case, hard surfaces. It holds very well. The only test with them on dirt roads has confirmed that the 3D Guidance Line (or rather its hollow) is a great stone host. Therefore, this asphalt shoe, better to use it in asphalt.
Despite its blunt appearance, its weight is indicated for a daily training shoe, and its performance: superior.
It is not a shoe to stand. To those who like fashion or aesthetics and do not want them to run but only to dress (which there are also), I do not recommend them.

In summary: ASICS Metaride is a Daily training shoe for neutral tread or seedling. It has a correct weight (306gr in men and 265gr in women) and is very efficient, which translates into an energy saving, very useful if the training sessions are long or they are used in long distance races. It is not to go to stratospheric rhythms. Those looking for something like that, I recommend you go through the article of the best mixed shoes, or the flying or competition.

It is not a shoe to stand. To those who like fashion or aesthetics and do not want them to run but only to dress (which there are also), I do not recommend them. And when it comes to running, the rhythms should be the most similar to the usual filming of each one. Still, I would not recommend it for anyone who wants to go below 4'15 "-4'30" a thousand. Instead, from there up they are a great option. Medium and high weight runners and runners are the best suited to dress them.

ASICS conceives this Metaride, like Metarun, as a House of Technology. That's why they seem, as they like to compare, to those Concept Cars that are seen in the most important car shows and whose main function is to serve as an idea for other more "earthly" models. But there is an abysmal difference with respect to a "Concept Car": both Metarun and Metaride are for sale. They are not cheap, but at least who capriche to take them, no doubt will be able to do so ... after payment, yes, € 250 as PVP each.