ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 26 is for the runner who wants to go fast and who needs extra support and stability. Regardless if its for your pacy runs, your intervals or your races. This shoe will help you reach your targets!
Do I sound certain? Its because the shoe has really surprised me positively. There isn´t a lot of stability racers in the market, so I was quite excited to find out how they worked.
Check out my impression of ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 26 in the video-review below.
Video-review of ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 26 here
Whick type of shoe is ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 26?
ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 26 is a really good lightweight shoe which can add extra speed to your workouts. I think its a great supplement to classic, stable high-mileage training shoes like ASICS GT-2000 or ASICS Gel-Kayano, which are fully focused around comfort and not pace.
Compared to Kayano and GT-2000, DS Trainer is clearly more focused around pace than comfort. That is clearly reflected through the fact that you will find it more hard than soft.
DS Trainer 26 has a fixed midsole with super propulsion
ASICS Gel in the heel clearly increases comfort but otherwise I have generally experienced the shoe as being quite tough providing great touch with the surface.
The most significant advantage about the solid midsole is that it provides super propulsion with a very effective transition between heel and toe. I almost felt like I was pushed forward at every step - and wasn´t allowed to relax. I simply had to move forward.
This experience owes a lot to the ASICS’ Flytefoam-midsole which contributes to making the shoe lighter compared to Gel-Kayano, but is at the same time also more responsive and agile in the take-off.
Optimal stability with the ASICS DuoMax-wedge on the inside
The stability cannot be questioned. Its been great to try out a racer with a wedge on the inside, which serves to protect against the inward movement of the foot. ASICS has named the wedge DuoMax and I gotta say that it does a really good job in terms of providing support and stabilization.
DS Trainer 26 providesan efficient take-off
And just to finish off the description of the efficient take-off, the Propulsion Trusstic-technology (embedded in the sole) is said to help activate your tendons to provide a more efficient take-off. If the shoe owes its powerful take-off to this technology, I can´t say but you do get a great take-off.
In addition, ASICS’ new AHAR Plus has been placed in carefully chosen exposed areas of the outsole. Its a rubber-compound intended to extend the life with 50% compared to ASICS’ classic rubber. An interesting prediction which will be interesting to look further into after 300km.
Updates in i DS Trainer 26 compared to DS Trainer 25?
If you have tried the previous versions of DS Trainer, the version 26 features a new 360 degree stretchable knit upper which has a terrific fit across the midfoot.
In addition a small tip! Its a great running shoe if you run early or late during the dark hours of the day as the upper in 26´has a lot of reflective details.
ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 26 delivers sublime stability and lots of pace
In total DS-Trainer 26 is a sublime stability racer.
As I am a neutral runner, I am not going to use it as my primary racer. But if you need stability and are looking for a fast running running shoe which can provide variety in your daily workouts, I can only recommend ASICS DS-Trainer 26. Its fast and efficient - and compared to Kayano or GT-2000, you will definitely set new records with this shoe.
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