AUSTIN: If you love the Brooks Adrenaline GTS series, that performance review is forthcoming. I mention this only because I’m running in that fan-favorite alongside this shoe— the ASICS GT-2000 8. Both models are popular for sure, but to my utter surprise, I liked the ASICS GT-2000 8. more. Yes, you heard that correctly— the ASICS bested the Adrenaline.
The ASICS GT-2000 8 is an overhauled version of its predecessor. This version features a completely redesigned two-layer mesh upper, and it even cut some weight, which is always a good thing.
AUSTIN: Like the prior versions before it, the GT-2000 8 retains most of the same characteristics that appeal year after year: rear and forefoot GEL, DuoMax, FlyteFoam, and the Guidance Trusstic System. By the way, GTS… weird because both Brooks and ASICS have latched onto that acronym.
The result of these foundational technologies, unsurprisingly, is a daily trainer that’s soft and provides a moderate amount of stability. This newest version dropped a sliver of weight, from 10.5 to 10.3 in a US M9. Personally, I’d like to see this shoe drop to 9 ounces flat, but that may be a big ask for a moderate stability shoe. To be honest, it’s a big ask for any ASICS shoe, based on the construction of the outsole, midsole, and upper.
Oddly enough, the GTS 2000 8, despite being a stability shoe, still comes in at a half-ounce lighter than the Gel Nimbus 22, a neutral daily trainer.
I did love the ride of the GTS 2000 8 though. I figured it would fall flat or feel clunky based on the weight and high drop, but since I run on my forefoot, I instantly noticed and appreciated the responsiveness.
It’s a far, far cry from a carbon fiber plate shoe like the Carbon X or Vaporfly; still, the pop is noticeable. I stuck with warm-ups and easy and longish runs in the 2000. At faster paces, it managed okay, but I wasn’t dazzled (that honor currently goes to the New Balance FF 1080 v10).
Lastly, it’s a durable shoe, like almost any ASICS. The AHAR (ASICS High Abrasion Rubber) outsole will no doubt last longer than the rest of the shoe.
Shop ASICS GT-2000 8
AUSTIN: Like other ASICS shoes we’ve recently reviewed (e.g. Gel Nimbus 22), the GT-2000 8 isn’t exactly breaking boundaries, even with this retooled midsole. While small adjustments have been made, there needs to be a refresh of the GEL technology at some point.
The colorways are what you’d expect of ASICS. A few shoes splash, but darker colors dominate the scrolling from the top of the page to the bottom, and the design isn’t a very modern look. That makes me wonder what an ASICS shoe with just two colors would look like. Nothing more.
Shop ASICS GT-2000 8
AUSTIN: The GT-2000 8 is a respectable trainer. I like it, but given what I’ve read about the completely retooled Saucony Guide 13—finally free of ISOFIT!—I’m much more inclined to see how that PWRRUN+ midsole feels on the roads.
Also, after noticing the Guidance Trusstic System initials, I was curious about the same acronym being used for the Brooks GTS Adrenaline. I think I knew this at one point, but it means “go-to shoe.” Even so, I didn’t regularly reach for the Adrenaline when I had to decide between that and the GT-2000 8; no, I moved my hand to the right of the footwear rack and grasped the heel collars of my trusty ASICS for some chilly, November runs.
You can pick up the ASICS GT-2000 8 at Running Warehouse for $119.95 (featuring free 2-day shipping and free 90-day returns) by using the shop link below.
Shop ASICS GT-2000 8
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