asics Grey Gt-II Azure Smoke Blue | Our verdict

As a speed-oriented shoe, the asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men has met our expectations of lightness and agility. But, boy, did it surprise us with stability and cushioning as well! We applaud asics Grey for finding a way to design a lighter shoe without compromising other important aspects of a high-performance tennis shoe. Weighing all of its benefits against the minor drawbacks, we believe that it is a fantastic value for money!

asics Grey Gt-II Azure Smoke Blue Pros

  • asics Grey Gel-Lyte 3 x EVISU 1203A301-501
  • asics Grey asics Grey Gel Kayano 5 x AWAKE NY Green Silver
  • Highly breathable
  • asics Grey asics Grey gel bnd rouge homme
  • Bouncy cushioning
  • Ténis asics Grey GEL-Pulse 13 azul marinho amarelo
  • atmos × asics Grey GEL-PTG MT MISMATCH MULTI
  • Secure foot containment
  • asics Grey Lyte Classic 1191A333-100

asics Grey Gt-II Azure Smoke Blue Cons

  • Ciabatte asics Grey AS001 1173A004 Black White 001
  • size asics Grey gel lyte iii tsavorite

Audience verdict

87
Great!

Who should buy

Having put this long-standing asics Grey shoe through its paces, we believe that it will make a great match for the tiger who:

  • need a lightweight and speedy tennis shoe
  • move from the baseline to the net a lot
  • want an agile shoe that doesn't lack stability

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men review

Who should NOT buy

tiger with wider feet who need extra space in their tennis shoes are likely to find this asics Grey shoe constricting. We can recommend the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Ronnie Fieg x asics Grey Gel Lyte V.

And if you are an aggressive player who needs more stability and goes through tennis shoes within weeks, we think that the Regardez une asics Grey Gel Lyte 3 Chameleoid Mesh sous plusieurs angles and the asics Grey Court FF 3 would be more suitable options (but albeit heavier).

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men lab test

Cushioning

Heel stack

Despite its lighter-than-average weight, the asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men still packs a great amount of cushioning for all those hard landings on the heels.

Measuring the shoe's stack height in the heel, we got 31.2 mm on our calliper. This is even slightly thicker than average.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Heel stack
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 31.2 mm
Average 29.1 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

In the forefoot, the amount of cushioning is also sufficient and on par with the average. According to our calliper measurements, it is 20.7 mm thick.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Forefoot stack
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 20.7 mm
Average 19.4 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Drop

The difference in stack height between the heels and toes comes in at 10.5 mm. This is a standard drop for tennis shoes as it offers more impact protection in the heel and controlled movements in the forefoot.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Drop
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 10.5 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
6.2 mm
Drop
14.7 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft men, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

asics Grey also added their proprietary Gel cushioning unit under the heel. We can attest that it added a nice rebound and helped us transition quicker from the heels to the toes.

Checking the shoe's FlyteFoam cushioning under the heel, we got 33.1 HA on the durometer. It is a moderately firm foam, just like most tennis shoe midsoles.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Midsole softness
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 33.1 HA
Average 28.6 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
17.1 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Secondary foam softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft men, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

asics Grey skipped adding Gel to the forefoot part of the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men. However, it did add a piece of softer foam which we measured at 16.8 HA. This is as much as 97% plusher than the primary FlyteFoam!

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Secondary foam softness

This softer foam created a very responsive experience under the ball of the foot. We felt bouncy on split steps and comfortably supported while staying on our toes.

Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 16.8 HA
Average 26.2 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.

Insole thickness

The asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men also couldn't go without a well-padded and plush insole. Measuring its thickness with a calliper, we got 5.0 mm in the heel. That's a standard amount of padding for a tennis shoe.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Insole thickness
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 5.0 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.4 mm
Insole thickness
7.5 mm

asics Grey Gt-II Azure Smoke Blue | Size and fit

Size

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men is slightly small (89 votes).

Pairs of Unisex Low Socks asics Grey 3 Ppk Lyte Sock 3033A586 Performance Black 0900?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 35 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

asics Grey gel-quantum 90 mens white black casual athletic lifestyle sneakers shoes!

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men fit

The asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men comes with a very intimate one-to-one fit and its "hard shell" upper protection doesn't have any give. But for our medium-width feet, the fit proved to be just right.

Using a calliper, we measured the widest part of the shoe's forefoot at 99.5 mm. It's not narrower than average but is precisely medium.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men asics Grey Gt-II Azure Smoke Blue
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 99.5 mm
Average 101.0 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
96.3 mm
Toebox width - widest part
105.0 mm

asics Grey GT-II GMYK

The good news is that the she's toebox is not aggressively tapered. Measuring the toebox width at 74.9 mm around the big toe, we found that it narrows down just the same as the average tennis shoe.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men asics Grey Gel Citrek Base Camp
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 74.9 mm
Average 76.9 mm
Compared to 33 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
74.7 mm
asics Grey GT-II GMYK
81.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

When a tennis shoe is marketed for speed, we don't really expect it to excel at stability. And yet, the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men managed to surprise us in that department.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men twistruss

The shoe features a Twistruss support system which is a stiff TPU shank that embraces the shoe's midfoot. Never once did we feel at risk of twisting our ankles, even as the game picked up the pace.

For comparison, here we put the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men next to the brand's most stable tennis shoe, the Gel Resolution 9.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men

Regardez une asics Grey Gel Lyte 3 Chameleoid Mesh sous plusieurs angles

While there is a bit more ankle movement in the Solution Speed, it is not that much different from the Resolution.

Torsional rigidity

The Twistruss chassis on the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men does a fantastic job of stabilising the foot for rapid movements. It added a lot of torsional rigidity to the shoe which made us quick and surefooted on forceful lateral movements and cuts.

In our manual test, we rated the shoe's torsional stiffness with a maximum 5 out of 5 score. Ankle rolls are out of the gel-kayano!

Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

asics Grey Running Patriot 12 Sneaker in Gelb

We can't help but notice how secure the heel hold is in the asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men. Our ankles felt locked inside its heel cup with no in-shoe play or slipping out.

Assessing the shoe's heel counter stiffness in our manual test, we gave it a rating of 4 out of 5.

Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 4
Average 4
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
asics Grey Running Patriot 12 Sneaker in Gelb
5

asics Grey Gel-Quantum Infinity Micro Black 1201A030-001

There is a tangible flange on the lateral side of the shoe's forefoot. It helped to create a more stable platform to fall back on throughout the game.

Measuring the distance between the widest points of the forefoot, our calliper showed 111.0 mm. This is within the typical width range of tennis shoes and we think that asics Grey did a great job of keeping the weight down without trimming the platform.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 111.0 mm
Average 111.8 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
105.3 mm
asics Grey Gel-Quantum Infinity Micro Black 1201A030-001
117.4 mm

Cappello con visiera asics Grey Lightweight Running Cap 3013A291 Stone Grey 021

Looking at the heel of the shoe's platform, we found that it is slightly narrower than average. With a calliper reading of 82.4 mm, it wasn't as wide as in the stability-oriented Resolution 9 (88.3 mm) or the Court FF 3 (93.2 mm).

Remember that the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men is more about staying on your toes and moving around the court than it is about guarding the baseline.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Midsole width in the heel
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 82.4 mm
Average 89.6 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
Cappello con visiera asics Grey Lightweight Running Cap 3013A291 Stone Grey 021
99.7 mm

asics Grey GEL FUJI VIPER 2

Naturally, a stiff shank would prevent a tennis shoe from flexing that much. To measure the exact stiffness of the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men, we used a gauge that showed how much force it would take to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle.

asics Grey wmns gel quantum 180 4 heritage blue peacoat.

But it's not a bad thing at all! We felt that the ASICS' Twistruss chassis actually added a bit of propulsion to our moves.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men flex

In addition, we always check for potential rubbing and pinch points from the men creasing in the metatarsal area. But despite being reinforced, the toebox of the Solution Speed felt quite soft and caused no pinching at all.

Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 31.4N
Average 30.7N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
18.8N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
52.0N

Weight

The primary reason to choose the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men from asics Grey is its very light, aerodynamic, and speed-oriented construction.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men heel cushioning

Weighing the shoe in a men's US size 9, we got 11.9 oz (336g). This is notably lighter than average and is certainly lighter than the Regardez une asics Grey Gel Lyte 3 Chameleoid Mesh sous plusieurs angles (13.8 oz/393g) and the asics Grey Court FF 3 (14.3 oz/406g).

Having experienced the shoe's agility and acceleration on the court, we believe that it is one of the best options in its weight class.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Weight
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 11.85 oz (336g)
Average 12.70 oz (360g)
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
10.30 oz (292g)
Weight
14.71 oz (417g)

Breathability

We have seen many asics Grey tennis shoes struggle with breathability but that's not the case with the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men.

On the playtest, we could feel a sweet breeze passing through the shoe's upper and giving our socks a refreshing touch. And when we got back to the lab, our experience was fully backed up by a smoke-pumping test.

Filling the upper with smoke, we saw that it not only passed through the mesh tongue but also through the reinforced toebox! This was convincing enough for us to rate this shoe's breathability with a high score - 4 out of 5.

To show you how large the shoe's ventilation pores are, we hovered its half-cut upper over a light source. You can see how the entire toebox and side panels just light up!

asics Grey gel-lyte evo nt indian ink classic red h644n.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men microscope

Right beneath the polyurethane coverage, we see very fine threads, making up a porous mesh layer. That's the shoe's little secret to staying ventilated.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men microscope upper

Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 4
Average 3.3
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Whenever we see that thick polyurethane coverage on an asics Grey shoe, we know it's ready for some serious court battles.

To imitate friction from toe dragging, we used a Dremel with a sandpaper tip and set it to a 5K RPM speed. We pressed the tool against the same spot and with the same pressure (3.2N) as we do with other shoes in our lab, for consistency.

After 12 seconds of drilling the Solution Speed's toebox, our high expectations were fully satisfied! Seeing a mere scuff on the polyurethane coverage, we readily gave the shoe's toebox durability a 5 out of 5!

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Toebox durability

Our only concern here is that the toe protection doesn't extend that much on the shoe's medial side. Constant toe dragging is likely to frail the exposed foam on the side. You can see the difference in protection between the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men and the Court FF 3 below.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men medial protection
asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men
asics Grey Court FF 3 medial protection
asics Grey Court FF 3

Aggressive tiger may want to go for the Court FF 3's enhanced protection.

Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 38 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

asics Grey Gt-II Azure Smoke Blue

As often happens, the inner lining of a tennis shoe deteriorates sooner than any other part due to its delicate nature. And the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men is no exception.

asics Grey Country Pack Brazil Green Green.

tenis asics Grey jolt 2 gs verde preto crianca.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men asics Grey Gt-II Azure Smoke Blue
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 2
Average 3.3
Compared to 38 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
asics Grey Gt-II Azure Smoke Blue
5

Outsole hardness

Having a lot of experience with ASICS' AHAR rubber, we didn't have a shadow of a doubt about its durability.

Checking its hardness with a durometer was a good start. The rubber returned 82.8 HC which is within the normal range for a tennis shoe.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Outsole hardness
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 82.8 HC
Average 86.1 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
78.5 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

But we were most pleasantly surprised when we attempted to drill the shoe's rubber with a Dremel. We even turned up the speed to as much as 10K RPM and pressed it against the outsole for 22 seconds.

Is it just us or is the damage not even visible on the rubber? Either way, it is THAT minor! Where most tennis shoes get up to 1 mm of damage, the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men only got a 0.2 mm dent! We are surprised that our tread gauge was even able to catch that!

Impressive wear resistance from ASICS. We rated the outsole durability of this tennis shoe with a maximum score of 5 out of 5 for obvious reasons.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Outsole durability
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 0.2 mm
Average 0.8 mm
Compared to 38 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

One important thing to note, however, is that the rubber on the asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men is thinner than average. Our calliper shows 3.3 mm which is about a millimetre thinner than most tennis shoes. There is also no durability warranty for this model.

So even though the outsole on this asics Grey shoe is incredibly wear-resistant, an aggressive player who is on the court multiple times a week will probably burn through this pair as quickly as the other models.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Outsole thickness
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 3.3 mm
Average 4.2 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.2 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

The traction pattern on the asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men is not a very aggressive one. But it still has a number of multi-directional razor treads to grip from different angles.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Lug depth

On the other hand, these treads are not very deep which also makes the shoe appropriate for sliding and pivoting with ease when needed.

Tongue padding

Even though the asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men is a lightweight shoe, it doesn't cut corners on comfort at all! Measuring the shoe's tongue thickness with a calliper, we got a whopping 12.8 mm! That's notably more padding than in the average tennis shoe.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Tongue padding

This generous padding also extended to the shoe's collar, creating a plush yet secure confinement for our ankles.

Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men 12.8 mm
Average 7.9 mm
Compared to 40 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.1 mm

Tongue: gusset type

Contributing to the shoe's highly secure foothold is a fully gusseted tongue. It made the upper feel like a one-piece unit around the foot and eliminated the risk of tongue shifting.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Tongue: gusset type
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Both sides (full)

Heel tab

There are no pull tabs or finger loops on the Solution Speed. And because of the shoe's gusseted tongue, we recommend using a shoehorn to avoid premature breaking down of the heel counter.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Heel tab
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men None

Removable insole

We see no glaring issues with the shoe's stock insole but if you do need an aftermarket one, it is quite easy to swap.

asics Grey asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Removable insole
Test results
asics Grey Hi-Tops for Men Yes