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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Asics GT 2000 2 Review}} The GT 2000 is my benchmark "normal running shoe", and I think of it as a great implementation of a number of bad ideas. The GT 2000 is..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Asics GT 2000 2 Review}}
The GT 2000 is my benchmark "normal running shoe", and I think of it as a great implementation of a number of bad ideas. The GT 2000 is nicely engineered, but its features go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]]. I'm always surprised and impressed that so many people can run as well as they do in traditional running shoes. I only run in the GT 2000s when I'm comparing them against something else, and all too often the GT 2000 feels like a wooden clog rather than a running shoe. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. If you're looking for a traditional running shoe, then the GT 2000 is a great example, but I strongly suggest you look for something better.
* {{H:cushioning}}. The GT 2000 is quite poorly cushioned for its weight. While it has a thick heel, the foam is quite hard on the inside edge of the heel in an attempt to prevent [[Pronation]]. The rear cushioning is similar to shoes that are far lighter, and the forefoot cushioning is not much better.
* {{H:drop}}. The GT 2000 does not have as much of a drop as many traditional shoes. I find that its 6mm drop is more than I'd like, but it only causes slight changes to my biomechanics. Many traditional shoes have 10mm drop, which means my heels tend to scrape on the forward swing and I become more of a heel striker.
* {{H:structure}}. The GT 2000 has quite a bit of over engineering, with multiple densities of foam and some gel to interfere with your biomechanics. It also has a hard plastic arch section that I dislike.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The GT 2000 has little flexibility, and I find it feels overly rigid. While the flexibility is similar to a [[Minimax]] shoe, in practice those shoes have massively cushioned midsoles that allow the foot to flex within the shoe as the midsole compresses. I find the GT 2000 feels far more like a clog than even the biggest Hoka shoes.
* {{H:outsole}}. There's a good layer of harder rubber outsole over all the contact areas on the GT 2000, which should help with its longevity.
* {{H:shape}}. Like most shoes, the Asics GT 2000 seems to have been designed by someone who has never see an human foot. Cutting open the toe box helps quite a bit.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is unpadded in the forefoot, where there are also a number of overlays and seams. The rear of the shoe has good soft padding, especially around the ankle opening which is deeply padded.
* {{H:tongue}}. The GT 2000 has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces, and the tongue has lots of thick, soft padding.
* {{H:lacing}}. The round laces don't stayed tied as well as I'd like, and rather unusually the laces are a little short. Most shoes have laces that tend towards the long side.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The GT 2000 has a hard, ridged heel counter that comes quite a way forward. Thankfully, the thick padding insulates your foot from the negative effects of the heel counter.
{{BuyShoes|RRS=T|AZ=T|ZP=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==Asics GT 2000 and Asics Gel Hyper Speed==
The GT 2000 has an advantage over the Hyper Speed with better padding in the upper, especially in the tongue and ankle opening. However, in every other area the Hyper Speed is vastly better. The Hyper Speed is just over half the weight of the GT 2000, but provides better cushioning and is a lot more flexible. Running in the GT 2000 after the Hyper Speed feels like you've put on a wooden clog. The weight difference impacts your [[Running Economy]], and the calculations suggest that an average runner in the Hyper Speed is around 8 seconds/mile faster than in the GT 2000. (In practice, I feel like it's a bigger difference than that.)
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]
|}
==Asics GT 2000 and Hoka Clifton==
The [[Hoka Clifton]] is the best [[Minimax]] shoe by far, combining massive cushioning with light weight. By comparison, the GT 2000 is nearly 50% heavier, but provides far less cushioning. The GT 2000 has a little more padding in the rear of the upper, and a much nicer tongue, but that's about it's only advantage.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]
|}
==Asics GT 2000 and New Balance RC5000 ==
This is a rather extreme comparison as the GT 2000 weights over three times as much as the RC5000. The GT 2000 gives a lot more cushioning than the RC5000, with better padding in the upper, especially in the tongue and ankle opening. Running in the GT 2000 after the RC5000 feels like you've put on wooden clogs and ankle weights. My calculation suggests that an average runner in the RC5000 is around 12 seconds/mile faster than in the GT 2000, though I suspect it's a bigger difference than that in practice.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]
bottom]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
The GT 2000 is my benchmark "normal running shoe", and I think of it as a great implementation of a number of bad ideas. The GT 2000 is nicely engineered, but its features go against [[The Science of Running Shoes]]. I'm always surprised and impressed that so many people can run as well as they do in traditional running shoes. I only run in the GT 2000s when I'm comparing them against something else, and all too often the GT 2000 feels like a wooden clog rather than a running shoe. {{H:WhatToLookForInShoes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|250px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. If you're looking for a traditional running shoe, then the GT 2000 is a great example, but I strongly suggest you look for something better.
* {{H:cushioning}}. The GT 2000 is quite poorly cushioned for its weight. While it has a thick heel, the foam is quite hard on the inside edge of the heel in an attempt to prevent [[Pronation]]. The rear cushioning is similar to shoes that are far lighter, and the forefoot cushioning is not much better.
* {{H:drop}}. The GT 2000 does not have as much of a drop as many traditional shoes. I find that its 6mm drop is more than I'd like, but it only causes slight changes to my biomechanics. Many traditional shoes have 10mm drop, which means my heels tend to scrape on the forward swing and I become more of a heel striker.
* {{H:structure}}. The GT 2000 has quite a bit of over engineering, with multiple densities of foam and some gel to interfere with your biomechanics. It also has a hard plastic arch section that I dislike.
* {{H:flexibility}}. The GT 2000 has little flexibility, and I find it feels overly rigid. While the flexibility is similar to a [[Minimax]] shoe, in practice those shoes have massively cushioned midsoles that allow the foot to flex within the shoe as the midsole compresses. I find the GT 2000 feels far more like a clog than even the biggest Hoka shoes.
* {{H:outsole}}. There's a good layer of harder rubber outsole over all the contact areas on the GT 2000, which should help with its longevity.
* {{H:shape}}. Like most shoes, the Asics GT 2000 seems to have been designed by someone who has never see an human foot. Cutting open the toe box helps quite a bit.
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is unpadded in the forefoot, where there are also a number of overlays and seams. The rear of the shoe has good soft padding, especially around the ankle opening which is deeply padded.
* {{H:tongue}}. The GT 2000 has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces, and the tongue has lots of thick, soft padding.
* {{H:lacing}}. The round laces don't stayed tied as well as I'd like, and rather unusually the laces are a little short. Most shoes have laces that tend towards the long side.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The GT 2000 has a hard, ridged heel counter that comes quite a way forward. Thankfully, the thick padding insulates your foot from the negative effects of the heel counter.
{{BuyShoes|RRS=T|AZ=T|ZP=T}}
{{ShoeGraphs}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==Asics GT 2000 and Asics Gel Hyper Speed==
The GT 2000 has an advantage over the Hyper Speed with better padding in the upper, especially in the tongue and ankle opening. However, in every other area the Hyper Speed is vastly better. The Hyper Speed is just over half the weight of the GT 2000, but provides better cushioning and is a lot more flexible. Running in the GT 2000 after the Hyper Speed feels like you've put on a wooden clog. The weight difference impacts your [[Running Economy]], and the calculations suggest that an average runner in the Hyper Speed is around 8 seconds/mile faster than in the GT 2000. (In practice, I feel like it's a bigger difference than that.)
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]
|}
==Asics GT 2000 and Hoka Clifton==
The [[Hoka Clifton]] is the best [[Minimax]] shoe by far, combining massive cushioning with light weight. By comparison, the GT 2000 is nearly 50% heavier, but provides far less cushioning. The GT 2000 has a little more padding in the rear of the upper, and a much nicer tongue, but that's about it's only advantage.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]
|}
==Asics GT 2000 and New Balance RC5000 ==
This is a rather extreme comparison as the GT 2000 weights over three times as much as the RC5000. The GT 2000 gives a lot more cushioning than the RC5000, with better padding in the upper, especially in the tongue and ankle opening. Running in the GT 2000 after the RC5000 feels like you've put on wooden clogs and ankle weights. My calculation suggests that an average runner in the RC5000 is around 12 seconds/mile faster than in the GT 2000, though I suspect it's a bigger difference than that in practice.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 top]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 bottom]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 inside]]
|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]
bottom]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 top]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 bottom]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 inside]]
|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
