Asics Gel Storm 2

Editor rating: 7.0 / 10

User's rating: based on 10 user ratings

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By Nicholas Olson

All ASICS Shoes

Asics Gel Storm 2 Review Facts

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This road runner was built specifically to be durable and well-cushioned, with the added benefit of being lightweight enough to be useful as a competitive racer. It has a low profile construction that adds a welcome level of flexibility and freedom of movement. Many reviewers have singled out the comfort of the shoe as being especially great. When you consider how much cushioning was used to achieve this comfort, you’d (justifiably) assume that the shoe was heavy. However, with the Asics Gel Storm 2, you’d be wrong. Those who like to keep their foot secured in place are in luck with this running shoe, as it has a padded collar and tongue for the overall depth of the lockdown fit. The shoe has also been praised for being quite durable, and the removable sockliner allows for a medical orthotic to be introduced into the shoe.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Low profile construction
High level of comfort
Padded collar and tongue
Durable shoe
Removable sockliner
Very lightweight

Cons

Narrow fit
Feet can get cramped
Plain/simple upper
Weak structural integrity on upper

Outsole

The outsole of the Asics Gel Storm 2 is made of a solid rubber material, made to have enhanced durability as well as a high degree of traction. This is especially great when it comes to a road runner like this running shoe, as you're going to need plenty of traction to keep a good grip on the road, especially during extreme weather conditions. Normally when you're looking at an outsole of this toughness and strength, you're going to be facing a heavy weight. However, due to the proprietary Asics High Abrasion Rubber technology, you get all of the strength without the excessive weight.

Midsole

The midsole of the Asics Gel Storm 2 is constructed specifically with what is considered to be a low-profile midsole in order to give you plenty of cushioning without overloading the shoe. It also has a Rearfoot GEL Cushioning System that provides the bulk of the cushioning, which is especially needed on a road runner that faces hard paved surfaces on a daily basis. This seamlessly leads into both the upper and the outsole, so the midsole on the Asics Gel Storm 2 serves as a sort of hub for the rest of the shoe.

Upper

Uppers are best when they're breathable, and that's exactly the case with the Asics Gel Storm 2. It's a mesh construction that is sturdy and very good at keeping the foot dry and cool as you run. While this mesh is sturdy, it's also soft and responsive to all of the movements that your foot might make. The upper does, in fact, have an overlay, which is effectively the Asics logo itself. The material of the upper has been compared to that of a clothing fabric, so it combines the best of both worlds in terms of comfort and durability. The Asics logo overlay is manufactured from synthetic materials and is bonded directly to the upper's fabric in order to decrease the weight of the shoe and the amount of the stitching. It supports the foot in a secure fit.

Weight

When it comes to important features in a running shoe, there's perhaps nothing more important than the issue of weight. A running shoe that's rich in features will oftentimes compensate by having a heavier weight. In the world of running shoes, it's hard to get the best of both worlds--features and light weight. However, this is exactly what you get with the Asics Gel Storm 2. This is thanks in large part due to the proprietary AHAR technology that allows the outsole to be tough and durable while still being light. Considering the outsole often contributes the most to a shoe's overall weight, this is crucial. The actual numbers in terms of weight are 9oz. for the men's version and 7.6 oz. for the women's version.

Breathability

The Asics Gel Storm 2 has seen several updates from its previous version, including its newly-added mesh material that covers the entirety of the upper and provides a high level of breathability. Earlier versions of the Gel Storm featured a bonded overlay system that severely restricted the breathability of the upper. This time around, though, only the Asics logo is used to provide structure on the upper, making it so that the breathability of the shoe has been greatly increased. This synthetic mesh material is soft while remaining durable and resistant to the elements while remaining breathable.

Comfort

Just as with its improved breathability, the Asics Gel Storm 2 benefits from improvements that were made over previous incarnations of the Gel Storm series. Specifically, the upper is more breathable and pliable than previous versions as well as a great deal more comfortable. The upper fabric lining has a seamless construction that makes it much easier to run without socks if you so choose. It's also quite effective at reducing skin irritation and comfort, making the entire running experience far more comfortable.

Style

The Asics Gel Storm 2 finds a nice balance between the two very popular trends of shoes going for a minimalist look versus those that decide to go with vibrant color options. The majority of the shoe features a neutral color such as gray or black while vibrant colors pop against this backdrop. This is very similar to what we've seen in the past with Asics' Gel Equation series. Asics likely assumes that it can provide style options that are appealing to just about anyone, and they're mostly correct.

Durability

Just as the breathability of this shoe depends largely on the upper, the durability of the Asics Gel Storm 2 depends a great deal on the outsole itself. Just as we've seen with the Asics Gel Equation series, this running shoe features an Asics High Abrasion Rubber construction that is as light as it is durable. The rubber has been placed in strategic positions to ensure that the ordinary wear and tear you'll find on a running shoe won't affect this one as much. This results in a shoe that you can take on a great number of runs, not having to quickly buy another pair like would be the case with other shoes.

Protection

Just as the durability of the shoe rests heavily in the hands of the outsole, so too does the outsole provide for the majority of the protection. Since it's made from such a durable and high-traction material, you can be assured that it will protect your foot from impact while running. Since this running shoe was built specifically for running on the road, it's important that a shoe be capable of taking the sometimes extreme impact of hard, paved roads.

Responsiveness

The midsole does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to this shoe's responsiveness. It does this job well with its molded EVA construction which gives the shoe plenty of responsive cushioning as well as shock-absorption when the foot lands on the ground. This responsiveness extends to the upper, which is quite welcome. The upper uses a breathable mesh that is soft while being strong, resilient while being responsive. You shouldn't have any problems trying to get this shoe do what you need it to do.

Support

The arch support on the Asics Gel Storm 2 is neutral, so this would be a good shoe for those who have either no arches or very slight arches. It can be very difficult to find a running shoe that will accommodate such a problem, so it's refreshing to know that Asics has you covered. The midsole contributes to the effort, providing a high level of comfort that several reviewers have praised. These responsive materials that are used in the midsole are made to deliver cushioning and a responsible level of underfoot support.

Terrain

The Asics Gel Storm 2 has been specifically designed to run well on roads or other paved surfaces. This is due in large part to the Asics High Abrasion Rubber that's been specifically designed to be both tough and good for traction. This means that you'll be able to take the impact of the road without doing serious damage to your foot. The shoe itself is light, so your gait won't at all be affected by a run. The traction is designed to keep to the road well, and when you take into account that this rubber is extremely resistant to wear and tear, you have an excellent road runner.

Price

Price is where the Asics Gel Storm 2 really excels. Even with all of the major features that the shoe is packing, this latest offering from Asics is incredibly cheap. from the low end, you could possibly be paying as little as $40, and as much as $70. When you consider the fact that this is around what you'd be spending for just a midlevel gym shoe, the Asics Gel Storm 2 is quite affordable. Price shouldn't be the only consideration, even though it is very important. You also need to consider the features that the shoe is offering. This shoe offers a lot of features at a very low price.

Traction

Traction is yet another category where the Asics Gel Storm 2 really excels. Its Asics High Abrasion Rubber technology really takes effect here. The rubber has been strategically placed in all of the locations on the shoe that are most susceptible to wear and tear, effectively lengthening the lifespan of your running shoe. When you consider that the shoe is incredibly cheap, you'll be saving a tremendous amount of money on a shoe that's already feature-rich to begin with. The traction of this AHAR outsole is considerable, and means that you won't have to worry about keeping stable contact with the road.

Flexibility

Some running shoes have constructions that don't allow for much flexibility, all with the intent of focusing on durability and traction. The great thing about the Asics Gel Storm 2 is that you get this durability, traction, and much more, all without having to give up anything in terms of flexibility. In fact, the flexibility is greatly enhanced in this shoe, due in large part to the low profile construction. Your freedom of movement will also be greatly impacted, your foot freed up to move naturally in the shoe as you run.

Stability

The stability on the Asics Gel Storm 2 is quite admirable, due in large part to the ample cushioning that the interior of the shoe provides. On that front, it's a dual effort from the midsole and the upper, both of them cushioned enough to keep your foot stable and unable to shift too dramatically in the shoe. When a shoe is this cushioned, you'd typically see a commensurate increase in weight, but this isn't really the case with the Asics Gel Storm 2. The shoe packs quite a punch when it comes to features, including cushioning, but doesn't weigh too much. The outsole of the shoe usually provides most of the weight, and since this shoe's outsole is constructed from the relatively lightweight AHAR, this problem is rendered moot.

Drop

No shoe is perfect, and you had to expect there'd be some sort of catch at some point with this running shoe. The heel to toe drop on the Asics Gel Storm 2 is 10mm for both the men's and women's versions. While this isn't terrible, it definitely impacts your stride in a certain way. You should definitely keep this in mind when you're making your purchasing decision, but also remember all of the benefits and features that this shoe has to offer as well.

Key Features

- Low profile construction
- Increased cushioning
- Padded collar and tongue for lockdown fit
- Improved durability
- Removable sockliner
- Lightweight nature

Bottom Line

When it comes to features, the Asics Gel Storm 2 is packed with the things that runners are always looking for in a running shoe, and it accomplishes all of this while still remaining light and affordable. There's a great deal of cushioning in the Asics Gel Storm 2, and many reviewers have praised the shoe for keeping the shoe comfortable. As a result, you can run for longer distances without having to worry as much about blisters. The shoe is quite durable and protective of your foot, thanks in large part to the Asics High Abrasion Rubber outsole that keeps the bottom of the shoe staying strong. Offered at a reasonable price, the Asics Gel Storm 2 is a natural choice.