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* {{H:flexibility}}. The DS Racer is less flexible than you'd expect for a lightweight shoe. This is partly due to the extensive outsole, and partly the hard plastic shank that Asics call their "Trusstic System". There are some gaps in the outsole that improve flexibility at those points, but that causes the shoe to crease at specific points, which are not necessarily the points your foot bends. I found the lack of flexibility reduced the comfort of the shoe, even when compared with shoes like the Hoka. This is possibly because the massively cushioned Hoka shoes don't bend, but they do compress in a way that allows the foot to bend within the shoe.
* {{H:outsole}}. There's a good layer of harder rubber outsole over the forefoot contact areas, and most of the heel.
* {{H:shape}}. The DS Racer is not designed to fit the human foot, and I had to [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box]] for my feet to move naturally.
* {{H:upper}}. In today's market, nearly every shoe has a comfortable upper. Unfortunately the DS Racer bucks this trend and I found it rather uncomfortable. The upper seems quite thick and inflexible, with reinforcement strips that make things even worse. When combined with the outsole that causes the shoe to crease at specific points, I found the upper dug into the top of my foot. I also found the ankle opening caused pressure, even though it was well padded.
* {{H:tongue}}. The DS Racer has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces. The tongue has some padding, but it also a seam half way up that's less than ideal.