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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Asics Piranha SP Review}}
The Piranha is an ultralight shoe that provides a reasonable level of cushioning for its weight. This is less cushioning than most runners will be looking for, and it's cushioning to weight ratio is not as good as the best. In the same weight range, the [[New Balance RC5000RC5000]] is ~25% lighter with similar cushioning, the [[Saucony Endorphin]] is similar weight and cushioning but zero drop, and the [[New Balance RC5000v2RC5000v2]] is a similar weight but a lot better cushioned. So the Piranha is a good shoe, and gets my "recommended" rating, but there are shoes that are better. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
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=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. If you're after an ultralight, fast shoe with low levels of cushioning, but not quite minimalist, this is worth considering.
* {{H:cushioning}}. The Piranha Piranha is reasonably well cushioned given its weight of only 4.2oz. There is a lot less cushioning than you'd find even in shoes that most people think of as light weight like the [[Asics Gel Hyper Speed]], but even the Hyper Speed weighs half as much again. The Piranha has just enough cushioning for me to consider it an optimal rather than a minimalist shoe. The lack of cushioning in a minimalist shoe reduces [[Running Economy]], but the Piranha Piranha allows me to run with just the same biomechanics as I would in a far more cushioned shoe. * {{H:drop}}. The Piranha Piranha has 4mm of drop, and I didn't have any biomechanical issues. The drop is only 3mm when worn, which is close to zero drop for most people. * {{H:structure}}. The Piranha Piranha uses a single density of foam and has no "arch support" to cause foot problems. The hole in the underside is a bit of a stone trap, but it didn't cause me issues. * {{H:flexibility}}. The Piranha Piranha is very flexible due to its thin midsole combined with several gaps in the outsole.* {{H:outsole}}. The Piranha Piranha uses the small, hard plastic lugs over the forefoot that are common in this type of lightweight shoe. These are not trail lugs, but provide great grip on asphalt.
* {{H:shape}}. Sadly the Piranha is like most running shoes and has a toe box that is not designed for humans. I recommend you [[Shoe Modifications| cut open the toe box open]] to prevent toe problems. {{H:TryCuttingShoes}}
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is thin, inflexible and almost completely seamless with no padding, but I found it quite comfortable. There upper is not quite as breathable as I'd like, but it's better than most heavier shoes. I upper is tougher than you might expect from a shoe this light.
* {{H:tongue}}. The Piranha Piranha has a traditional tongue with a tab to attach it to the laces. The tongue is so thin that I had problems keeping it flat when I put the shoe on, but it fine once it was on. * {{H:lacing}}. The Piranha Piranha has traditional flat laces that stayed tied without a problem.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. There is no real [[Heel Counter]], just a tiny tab that reinforces the back of the heel.
=How Far Can I Run in the PiranhaPiranha? =
Different runners want different levels of cushioning, so this shoe may not suit everyone. Some runners want a [[Maximalist]] shoe when they run a 5K, while others will run a 100 mile race barefoot. Most people find that as the distance increases, they want a little more cushioning to protect their feet from the pounding and to offset a little of the fatigue that sets in over time. You can see from the charts below how the cushioning compares with other shoes I've tested for some comparisons. Remember that a thicker, firmer shoe would have the same cushioning rating as a thinner, softer shoe, but would feel rather different. For me, the Piranha is a little under-cushioned for the marathon distance, but if you want something that spans the minimalist/optimal border this could work for you.
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=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}