I have tried out many shoes throughout my time running. Some have been great, some have been so-so and some have caused issues to where I can never wear them again.
That is kind of the name of the game when it comes to running shoes. Today I am focusing on a shoe that I truly love. That doesn’t happen often, but it has!
One of the ways that I tend to be able to keep my shoes longer is that I have several different pairs of shoes that I alternate depending on what type of workout I am doing. I have lighter, quicker shoes for speed and tempo runs and then heavier trainers for my long and easy runs.
I was recently given the opportunity to try out the ASICS Gel-Fit Sana.
When I first took them out of the box I noticed almost immediately how light and flexible they were. They actually adapt and support your foot with the inner lining from the heel to the forefoot, while providing a barefoot-like sensation.
I’ll stop there and say that I for one have always been a little hesitant when it comes to “barefoot” running shoes. I have always needed a bit more cushion than most of them provide.
I took these out of the box and realized immediately that these were going to be just fine. Not only where the flexible and light but they also had a decent amount of cushion in them to support my foot during running. I knew these would be a great shoe to use during speed and tempo work.
Christmas morning was the first day I had planned to end my run with some strides. I figured it was a great time to try them out and see how they felt. I went out for my 7 miles and during the last 1-1.5 miles threw in some strides.
The shoes felt super light, but I could still tell there was enough cushion to not cause any issues. During my short strides I felt like I was floating on air. It’s really amazing what light shoes can do!
These shoes were perfect for the run and I also mentally for me as I had been having a tough week up until that point with my running. I felt the best I had since my marathon. It was a great and much needed run overall for me!
Let’s get into a little more detail about the ASICS Gel-Fit Sana shall we?
- Features a Flexible Fit system with flexible support bands from heel to forefoot.
- Designed with a stretchable mesh upper and MONO-SOCK upper construction, it gives a shock-like fit and feel that makes it secured and comfortable to wear.
- A smooth inner lining and lightweight, low-profile midsole.
- Total weight of 5.6 oz
- Available in 6 different color options
No matter what your color preferences are, most likely they have an option that will suit you!
The inside of the shoe is one entire piece. In fact, you could get away without having to wear socks if you wanted. I always wear socks, typically compression, so I haven’t used this feature but I could see it being very convenient for some.
The only negative when it comes to these shoes is that they are a bit difficult to get on. Since they are all one piece on the inside, you really have to loosen the shoe a lot to get it on. Other than that, the toe box seemed wide enough to not cause any problems and they didn’t rub or cause any other issues on my feet.
If you are looking for a new speed shoe, or simply just a new shoe to add to your running collection I would HIGHLY suggest the ASICS Gel-Fit Sana!
Do you use separate shoes for quicker runs or workouts?
What is your favorite light-weight shoe?
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of ASICS.
I use a separate shoe for tempo runs/intervals/racing… Mizuno Wave Hitogami. I like the lightweight ones, it makes me feel really spring-y on race day, hehe. These are cute shoes and I love the purple and blue color! I’ve never had Asics before but I tried some out at a group run and liked em.
I use a very similar shoe to this one – Nike Free 3.0. Very thin and light. It almost doesn’t feel like you have a shoe on. I am a mid-foot strike runner, so the lack of a think sole has never bothered me. I used to wear them 100% of the time but read that you should mix up your shoes. I now I wear them only for speed/tempo/racing. For long runs and recovery, I now wear Brooks Pure Cadence. It took a lot of miles to get used to the thicker sole, but I like them now. My legs appreciated the extra protection during the long mileage weeks of the Hanson’s training plan!
*thick sole – not think… ugh. Wish there was an edit. And I forgot…
-Run with joy!-)