Latest revision as of 07:15, 25 September 2015

My initial happiness with the Lyte 33 turned to disappointment as its flawed forefoot started to cause problems. As noted under 'structure' below, the Lyte 33 is likely to cause blisters or undue stress under the forefoot, which is a real shame. Other than this problem, the Lyte 33 is a really likeable shoe. Its shape is closer to fitting the human foot than many shoes, it's flexible, has a nice upper and the cushioning is soft (where it's not digging in). If Asics could address this problem without creating new issues, the next version could be a great shoe. For now, I'd suggest avoiding version 3 and it's rated as "Not recommended." (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

Asics Gel-Lyte33 top	Asics Gel-Lyte33 bottom
Asics Gel-Lyte33 inside	Asics Gel-Lyte33 outside

1 Characteristics

A slice through the Lyte 33 showing the problem in the forefoot.

• Why you’d buy it. The forefoot problems of the Lyte 33 limit how far you're likely to be able to run in them without issues, so it's hard to recommend them.
• Cushioning . The Lyte 33 good, soft cushioning for its weight, and while it's not as well cushioned or as light as the Asics Gel Hyper Speed, it's initially quite comfortable. However, as noted below under 'structure', the cushioning is also this shoe's weak point.
• Drop. The 7mm of drop I measured unloaded was only 4mm when worn, and I found the Lyte 33 worked well in practice.
• Structure. It's common for (bad) running shoes to use multiple densities of foam to attempt to limit rear foot movement (Pronation). While the Lyte 33 doesn't do that in any meaningful way in the heel, it does have two densities of foam under the forefoot. You can see the two colors of foam in the pictures, with the blue foam being stiffer than the white foam. I could not feel any difference in the way my foot moved, but the junction between the two types of foam created a line of pressure down the forefoot. I found I could not run far in the Lyte 33 without this pressure line threatening to cause a blister, and I've heard other reports of runners having forefoot discomfort with this shoe.
• Flexibility. The Lyte 33 is agreeably flexible, with flex groves that Asics think will allow the shoe to bend more naturally. I don't think the angle of the flex groves worked any better than any other shoe, but they didn't cause any problems wither. .
• Outsole. The Gel Lyte 33 has firmer outsole over most contact patches, though there is a strangely placed gap under the small toes. This is another situation where a shoe designer did something for appearance rather than function. There is a small risk of the shoe picking up stones, but I didn't have an issue.
• Shape. The Lyte 33 has a far better shape than most shoes, and while it's not as good as the Altra range, it is a step in the right direction. I still had to cut open the toe box, but it wouldn't take the designers to change the shoe much for that to be unnecessary. (I recommend cutting open the toe box of virtually all running shoes, with the exception of a few shoes like some Altra shoes. When you have some worn out shoes, you should try cutting open the toe box. I've found that it's a big improvement, allowing my toes to move naturally and engage for toe off, as well as reducing the possibility of blisters.)
• Upper. The upper is a little thicker than many lightweight shoes, but it's mostly seamless. There is a small amount of padding around the rear of the foot, plus good padding around the ankle opening. Given the better shape than most shoes, the upper is nice and comfortable.
• Tongue. The Lyte 33 has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces. The tongue is much better padded for a lightweight shoe than I expected.
• Lacing. The Lyte 33 has round laces, but I didn't find they came lose as easily as similar round laces. They're not ideal, but not awful either.
• Heel Counter. The Lyte 33 has no real heal counter, which is great!

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Asics Gel Lyte 33 at Zappos Buy Asics Gel Lyte 33 at Road Runner Sports Buy Asics Gel Lyte 33 at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Asics Gel Lyte 33 at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 Cushioning and Shoes

It's intuitively obvious that the cushioning in a shoe will reduce the impact on your body when running. However, The Science of Running Shoes indicates that the reality is rather more complex. While slight cushioning may reduce the effort needed to run by improving your Running Economy, most scientific research indicates that more cushioning does further improve Running Economy. In addition, cushioning does not generally reduce impact and may actually increase it. This is counterintuitive, but is likely to be due to the way a runners mind and body adapts to softer cushioning. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence is far from complete and it's hard to give clear recommendations. I believe that some runners will prefer more cushioning, while others prefer less, and typically those running further have a fondness for greater cushioning. I also believe that a shoe should be as light as possible, and a shoe should justify its weight with the cushioning it provides. My advice is to decide what level of cushioning you're looking for, and then find the lightest shoes that also fit well and are comfortable.

3 Visualizing the Attributes of the Asics Gel Lyte 33

How Asics Gel Lyte 33 compares showing rearfoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.	How Asics Gel Lyte 33 compares showing forefoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.
How Asics Gel Lyte 33 compares showing the price against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.	How Asics Gel Lyte 33 compares showing the loaded drop against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.

4 Comparisons

Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.

4.1 Asics Gel Lyte 33 and Asics Gel Hyper Speed

The Lyte 33 is a nice shoe, and if it weren't for the flawed forefoot cushioning, it would be worth considering instead of the Asics Gel Hyper Speed. The Lyte 33 is nearly 25% heavier, but not quite as well cushioned as the Hyper Speed. However, its better shape and nice upper could have redeemed it. You can only really consider the Lyte 33 if you're not running far enough for the forefoot problems to annoy you.

Asics Gel-Lyte33 top	Asics Gel-Lyte33 bottom	Asics Gel-Lyte33 inside	Asics Gel-Lyte33 outside
Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside

4.2 Asics Gel Lyte 33 and New Balance RC5000

Compared with many shoes, the Lyte 33 is lightweight, but it's more than twice as heavy as the New Balance RC5000. The Lyte 33 has more cushioning, but given the forefoot problems, I'd rather do a marathon in the RC5000 than the Lyte 33.

Asics Gel-Lyte33 top	Asics Gel-Lyte33 bottom	Asics Gel-Lyte33 inside	Asics Gel-Lyte33 outside
New Balance MRC 5000 top	New Balance MRC 5000 bottom	New Balance MRC 5000 inside	New Balance MRC 5000 outside

4.3 Asics Gel Lyte 33 and Asics GT 2000

I tend to compare shoes against my benchmark "normal running shoe", the Asics GT 2000. Even in this comparison, the Lyte 33 is still let down by its forefoot hotspot. I'd have a hard time choosing between the two shoes; the GT 2000 feels like a clog compared with the Lyte 33, but the Lyte 33 would give me forefoot problems over any distance.

Asics Gel-Lyte33 top	Asics Gel-Lyte33 bottom	Asics Gel-Lyte33 inside	Asics Gel-Lyte33 outside
Asics GT2000 top	Asics GT2000 bottom	Asics GT2000 inside	Asics GT2000 outside

5 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
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