Training Shoe: ASICS Gel Empire 2
A niche shoe for the late-stage overpronator
By David Spetnagel
As featured in the September 2006 issue of Running Times Magazine
ASICS Gel Empire 2
$110
Men’s 7-15; Women’s 6-12
The Empire 2 is actually the fourth version of ASICS’ shoe for the late-stage overpronator. ASICS blames the ho-hum reaction to the first three models on the difficulty in identifying late-stage overpronation. We agree. Why consider a niche shoe unless you’re confident you fall into that niche? You may consider the Empire if your overpronation results primarily from a floppy-footed toe-off, not an overly flexible heel/midfoot. Easy-to-spot symptoms of such runners are a significantly splay-footed gait and calluses on the side of the big toe joint caused by foot rotation, not a too-snug fit. While most shoes focus their stabilizing features in the heel and midfoot, the Empire adds control features in the forefoot. Wear-testing and dissection confirmed that these control features, a small plastic shank under the big toe and a low-profile midsole, are quite subtle.
Pronation Factor: Moderate Overpronators