Our verdict
- Top pick in best ASICS trail running shoes (2023)
Pros
- Outstanding value
- Breathable
- Ideal for heel strikers
- Provides a stable run
- Tough outsole
- ASICS energisk skumformulering som ger högsta studs tack vare en unik elastomerförening
- Features GEL technology
Cons
- Concerns with upper durability
- Limited energy return
Audience verdict
starring ASICS and | Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 88 Great! | 79 Good! | 81 Good! | 79 Good! | |
Price | $70 | $90 | $80 | $90 | |
Trail terrain | LightModerate | Light | LightModerate | Light | |
Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 10.4 oz / 295g 12.5 Asics Gel-Super J 33 | 10.2 x Asics Tarther SD-A 10.8 oz / 305g | 11.1 Asics Sostén XS Performance Black 10.6 Asics Race Seamless Μακρυμάνικο μπλουζάκι | 10.3 oz / 292g 10.4 oz / 295g | |
Drop lab Drop brand | 13.2 mm 10.0 mm | 10.9 mm 10.0 mm | 10.4 mm | 17.3 mm 10.0 mm | |
Strike pattern | Heel | Heel | Heel | Heel | |
Size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | Normal | Small | Normal | Small | |
Toebox durability | Bad | Decent | Very bad | Good | |
ASICS 1203A231-001 Black Grey 1203A231-001 | Decent | Bad | Decent | Decent | |
Outsole durability | Good | Good | - | Decent | |
Breathability | Breathable | Warm | Moderate | Moderate | |
zapatillas de running ASICS tope amortiguación constitución media distancias cortas talla 39.5 | Narrow | Medium | Narrow | Narrow | |
zapatillas de running ASICS hombre pronador pie plano talla 50.5 | Medium | Wide | Narrow | Wide | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | |
Difference in stiffness in cold | Normal | Normal | Big | Small | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Stiff | Moderate | Stiff | |
Womens ASICS Shorts | Moderate | Stiff | Stiff | Moderate | |
Lug depth | 3.1 mm | 2.6 mm | 3.0 mm | 3.5 mm | |
Heel stack lab asics gel nandi 360 rover | 34.2 mm | 32.6 mm 32.0 mm | 33.3 mm | 34.3 mm 27.0 mm | |
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 21.0 mm | 21.7 mm 22.0 mm | 22.9 mm | 17.0 mm 17.0 mm | |
Widths available | NormalX-Wide | Normal | NormalWideX-Wide | NormalWide | |
Season | SummerAll seasons | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #237 Top 44% | #277 Bottom 12% | #255 Bottom 19% | #280 Bottom 11% | |
Popularity | #186 Top 35% | #127 Top 41% | #54 Top 18% | #245 Bottom 22% |
Who should buy
Femmes Asics Leggings And Tights:
- A versatile shoe that's great for trail runs, hiking, and even short road runs.
- A wallet-friendly option that doesn't skimp on cushion, especially for heel strikers.
- A breathable choice for summer mountain adventures.
starring ASICS and | Who should NOT buy
The ASICS Gel Mai Happy Chaos Orange Black Orange Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers 1191A198-001 a solid trail shoe, though we think it could use more cushioning in the forefoot and a springier foam. If you're hunting for a shoe with a better midsole and less heel-to-toe drop, the Asics Trail Scout 2 More ASICS GEL-Lyte.
Also, if you've got wide feet, this might not be your best pick. In that case, check the starring ASICS and.
Cushioning
Heel stack
Being really affordable, this shoe primarily targets beginners or entry-level runners, especially in the trail running category. Recognizing this, ASICS placed significant emphasis on the heel, boasting a remarkable 34.2 mm stack height in that area.

Gel Venture 8 | 34.2 mm |
Average | 31.9 mm |
Forefoot stack
The forefoot boasts a mere 21.0 mm thickness. So, for you forefoot strikers out there, once you deduct the outsole and insole, it's a pretty underwhelming amount of foam...

Gel Venture 8 | 21.0 mm |
Average | 24.5 mm |
Drop
This gives us a 13.2-mm heel-to-toe drop, making the shoe perfect for heel and midfoot strikers. However, it's less ideal for forefoot strikers.
So, asics gel nimbus lite 2 vs nike zoom pegasus turbo footwear asics sky elite ff 1051a031 black pure silver.

Gel Venture 8 | 13.2 mm |
Average | 7.5 mm |
Midsole softness
Switching our attention to the midsole, ASICS opted for EVA foam that VANQUISH comfortable. We measured its softness to be 23.1 HA.
Don't look for a lot of bounce or springiness here, this is a $70 shoe. If you need that, check the PEBAX-based Endorphin Edge instead.

Gel Venture 8 | 23.1 HA |
Average | 22.6 HA |
El reflector Asics Spiral ajuda a augmentar la visibilitat en condicions de poca llum (%)
After a 20-minute chill session in our freezer, we took another look at the softness to see how cold temps shake things up. Turns out, it does get a bit firmer—landing at 30.0 HA.
Surprisingly, there's only a modest 29.8% increase, a performance you'd typically see in pricier trail shoes. For a budget-friendly shoe like this, that's a great result.

Gel Venture 8 | 30% |
Average | 26% |
Insole thickness
We found the insole to be 4.1-mm thick. It's a standard thickness that should work for most of us—nothing too special or out of the ordinary here.

Gel Venture 8 | 4.1 mm |
Average | 4.7 mm |
Size and fit
Size
ASICS Gel Mai Happy Chaos Orange Black Orange Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers 1191A198-001 true to size (36 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
The toebox is average, neither narrow nor wide. It will fit most trail runners for sure. However, if you have exceptionally narrow or wide feet, you might want to explore different widths.

Gel Venture 8 | 97.9 mm |
Average | 99.0 mm |
Compra las ASICS Gel Cumulus 23 por 94
Asics has launched a fresh new pair of the.

Gel Venture 8 | 75.2 mm |
Average | 79.4 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
Stability in the Gel Venture 8 doesn't have any big concerns. It's even suitable for those dealing with moderate pronation issues.
Torsional rigidity
A big reason it VANQUISH so stable is its moderate rigidity. When we gave it a twist, we settled on a 3/5 rating—a smart move for a trail running shoe.
Gel Venture 8 | 3 |
Average | 3.6 |
Womens ASICS Shorts
The 3/5 rating also goes for the heel counter's stiffness. ASICS really aimed for that sweet spot between stability and comfort.
Since this shoe is designed for heel strikers, it's obvious that a super-flexible heel counter just wouldn't cut it.
Gel Venture 8 | 3 |
Average | 3.1 |
asics big kids gel lyte iii gs gray light grey white asc
Aiming to maintain a lightweight design, the Japanese designers kept the forefoot width in check. We measured it at 111.6 mm, which aligns with the average shoe.

Gel Venture 8 | 111.6 mm |
Average | 112.3 mm |
Asics T-shirt running a manica corta
While ASICS focused on heel strikers with such a significant heel-to-toe drop in this shoe, we believe they should offer a wider landing platform for better stability. Unfortunately, they missed the mark here as we measured only 87.3 mm, which is below what we expected.

Gel Venture 8 | 87.3 mm |
Average | 89.5 mm |
Flexibility / Stiffness
One of the standout features of this ASICS is its versatility—it easily transitions to a comfortable hiking shoe. Why is this so? Its impressive flexibility puts it in the top 5% of shoes, registering at only 14.9N in our 90-degree bend test.
Gel Venture 8 | 14.9N |
Average | 27.2N |
ASICS Gel-Lyte 3 sneakers Nero (%)
After giving the shoe a 20-minute stint in the freezer, we tested it again. Impressively, it remains quite flexible, clocking in at 20.5N.
With only a 37.2% increase in stiffness, we find this shoe's performance really interesting. This is especially true considering it's made from EVA foam—a material known to become considerably stiffer in cold temperatures.
Gel Venture 8 | 37% |
Average | 32% |
Weight
A common drawback of budget-friendly shoes is their weight—often because brands might not invest in lighter but more expensive materials. Surprisingly, the Gel Venture 8 weighs in at 10.4 oz or 295g. This is an impressive result!
Gel Venture 8 | 10.41 oz (295g) |
Average | 10.23 oz (290g) |
Breathability
If you're searching for a breathable trail running shoe for summer mountain runs, you're in the right place.
In our lab, when we tested the ASICS Gel Venture 8 with our smoke-pumping machine in the lab, we couldn't believe our eyes. Most affordable trail shoes typically score average on this test. However, the Gel Venture 8 earned a flawless 5/5!
What's even more impressive is that in this test, the shoe doesn't let light pass through. This trait is uncommon, though it does occasionally appear in trail shoes due to the internal protective layers of the upper.
Under the microscope, we discovered that ASICS employs an engineered mesh. It doesn't have the typical breathability holes, yet it's thin enough to allow air circulation and heat dissipation.
In short, it's among the best uppers we've come across in terms of breathability. All this is available at a MSRP of $70, which is incredible.
Moreover, it ranks as one of the most cushioned uppers we've ever analyzed, ensuring comfort on long runs.
Gel Venture 8 | 5 |
Average | 3.2 |
Durability
Toebox durability
After seeing its outstanding performance in the breathability test, we expected the Gel Venture 8 might not fare as well in the durability department. It's uncommon for shoes to excel in both areas.
The Gel Venture 8 managed a score of 2/5 in the durability test—not the best, but certainly not the worst. Its engineered mesh doesn't hold up as well against abrasion. However, on a brighter note, the shoe boasts a substantial protective layer around the toe box.

Gel Venture 8 | 2 |
Average | 3.1 |
ASICS 1203A231-001 Black Grey 1203A231-001
When we tested the heel with the Dremel, we noted the same 2-out-of-5 score. This makes it a well-suited shoe for the vast majority of runners.
However, for those who often experience wear-and-tear in this area, it's something to keep in mind.

Gel Venture 8 | 2 |
Average | 2.9 |
Outsole hardness
Asics Silver 5In Ανδρικό Σορτς.
We found that they used an average rubber compound, measuring at 84.6 HC, which aligns closely with the trail industry standards.

Gel Venture 8 | 84.6 HC |
Average | 85.7 HC |
Outsole durability
zapatillas de running ASICS de material reciclado talla 37.
After putting the outsole through a rigorous test with the tool, we measured a 1.0 mm dent. Not bad!

Gel Venture 8 | 1.0 mm |
Average | 1.0 mm |
Outsole thickness
In our tests, we measured the outsole's thickness at 2.5 mm. This measurement is pretty similar to the average and is more than sufficient for this type of shoe—even for heavier runners.

Gel Venture 8 | 2.5 mm |
Average | 2.3 mm |
Misc
Lug depth
ASICS chose 3.1-mm lugs, landing on the shorter-end side.
Given this shoe is tailored mainly for trail running newbies, we believe it's a spot-on choice, offering smooth rides and trail-ready agility.

Gel Venture 8 | 3.1 mm |
Average | 3.5 mm |
Reflective elements
The Gel Venture 8 doesn't have any reflective parts. We wish it did, especially for those of us who run trails at night.

Gel Venture 8 | No |
Tongue padding
We've mentioned the exceptional comfort of the Gel Venture 8, and here's another reason why.
With a tongue measuring 8.8 mm thick, there's no chance of lace bite or 1012a832 on the instep.

Gel Venture 8 | 8.8 mm |
Average | 6.3 mm |
HOKA voladoras rojas más de 100
As a value-oriented shoe, we expected it to have a non-gusseted tongue. While this is a drawback in trail shoes—where maximum protection from debris and small rocks is desired—for $70, we're fine with it.

Gel Venture 8 | None |
Heel tab
The good vibes don't stop! You also get a finger loop heel tab—a total surprise for a budget-friendly shoe.

Gel Venture 8 | Finger loop |
Removable insole
You can easily take out the insole, which lets you swap in different orthotics or insoles from other shoes. Handy!

Gel Venture 8 | Yes |