A trail shoe has a lot riding on it. It’s up to the shoe to protect its wearer from a stumble or even a serious injury thanks to tricky terrain on trails. And let’s face it, almost all trail terrains have parts where it almost feels impossible to proceed. But the ASICS GEL-Venture 5 relishes in this circumstance and handles it with grace. It’s why it’s one of the best running shoes on the market today.
Why We Like It – ASICS GEL-Venture 5
ASICS shoes have a history of being some of the best running shoes on the market. Years ago ASICS released their Gel-Venture series of shoes. These shoes have remained the gold standard among running shoes since then, and the GEL-Venture 5 shoes are no different from their predecessors and still offer great support and a smooth running experience.
- Effective shock-absorbing gel cushioning
- Excellent customer reviews
- Trail-Specific Outsole
- Quite heavy
- Basic design
Performance
The ASICS GEL-Venture 5 running shoes provides an excellent running experience on both trails and flat roads thanks to some clever features like the plush underfoot cushioning system that provides fantastic arch support. The rearfoot gel cushioning may make you feel off-balance when you first try the shoe, mainly because of the 10mm heel drop, this feeling usually diminishes quickly. All of this support comes with a price, though, and that price is heavy. Literally, the shoe weighs more than your average pair. The Nike Revolution 3 are lightweight, the lightest we know, if you desire a pair of really light shoes. You can compare them to the Nike FlyKnit.
Design
Some shoes in ASICS’ gel venture series have a surprising correlation between style, usability, and quality. This is especially rare for a trail-running shoe, but it does happen. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen with the Venture 5 but that’s not always a bad thing. Ask yourself: if your buying shoes for running do you want them to be stylish or do you want them to be functional? If you’re absolutely sure you want a shoe that’s both good for running and stylish, take a look at the KUBUA Running Shoes. Interested in a shoe with a sockliner that offers impeccable moisture management? Read our Asics mens gel venture running shoe review.
Value
In customer reviews the responsiveness of the Venture-5 running shoe has been consistently praised. The responsiveness is generally higher than other comparable trail running shoes thanks to ASICS’ advanced gel cushioning system. The trail-specific outsole provides runners with protection against tricky terrain which is almost guaranteed when running a trail. Check out the Saucony Cohesion 11 if you’re looking for a shoe that’s still good on trails, a little more on the affordable side, and still offers good support while you’re running on a trail or road.
ASICS GEL-Venture 5 Wrap Up
ASICS shoes have been, and always will be at the rate they’re going, an excellent investment for running shoes. What they lack in pizazz and lightness they more than make up for in their cushioning system and protection of trail runners. If you’re a seasoned runner or wanting to jump head-on into running, ASICS shoes will never be a bad decision.
