Asics GlideRide Max Performance Review

Most thought the GlideRide was dead. It was a curious decision by Asics since the GlideRide 3 was so darn good. But I’d heard whispers…little birdies saying the model might have some life left. So I wasn’t shocked when the Asics GlideRide Max appeared at my door. 

I was definitely surprised it happened so quick. I also didn’t expect the GlideRide to return with a “Max” moniker like it’s an iPhone with a larger screen size. But, as a GlideRide fan, I’ll take it.

The Asics GlideRide Max looks the part of a beefed up GlideRide, like an old flame who moved on, got even fitter, then waltzed back into my life. And let’s be honest, when that happens, you’re not hanging up the phone. And I didn’t either (Editor’s Note: it’s your job to review running shoes…don’t act like you could just ignore a potentially popular new running shoe).

After snapping some pics of the Asics GlideRide Max, I quickly got it on feet for a longer recovery run and hoped it would deliver that familiar GlideRide feel…but MAXXED (Editor’s Note: ok, that was unnecessary).

Upper

On that first run and subsequent longer runs, I had the distinct feeling that the GlideRide Max felt almost exactly the same as the GlideRide 3 that loved and left us two years ago. Like exactly the same…the fit of the upper especially.

The comfy tongue that’s thin but packed with airy layers to provide fantastic lace pressure protection and a plush top of foot feel. It’s also fully gusseted like the GlideRide 3 and stays locked in place.

Also like the GlideRide 3, the Asics GlideRide Max fits narrower in a tight but comfortable way. There’s padding all around the heel and tongue with multiple layers of engineered mesh everywhere else making it feel plush.

One drawback of the luxurious upper is it does the same thing it did in the previous GlideRide 3, destroy breathability. So it’s not the best summer shoe in humid climates, but it’s darn comfortable.

Midsole

Kudos to the Asics product and design teams, they created something that will get GlideRide fans nodding vigorously when trying them on in store. It’s a hard thing to make a shoe feel the same underfoot while updating the midsole with new materials and technology.

But does it feel too similar to the GlideRide 3? I think so. I expected more of a dynamic feel underfoot feel with 12mm more foam in the forefoot and heel. Unfortunately, the GlideRide Max just doesn’t have the same pop off the ground as its predecessor.

Now, the entire shoe industry has gotten more bouncy over the past couple years so that could be part of it, but Asics also removed the TPU forefoot plate and replaced it with a hard-pressed EVA plate. I’m skeptical the hard-pressed EVA plate does much, if anything. The GlideRide Max is more squishy/sinky than squishy/poppy and that’s a miss. The fun of the GlideRide 3 was the bounce after the squish and it’s just not there in this iteration.

The Asics GlideRide Max is built for lots of miles instead of having the ability to occasionally work in some uptempo work as its heritage would indicate. The new FF Blast Max introduced as the top layer of foam on the GlideRide Max feels very soft but it’s hard to tell the difference between it and the FF Blast Plus Eco that lies below it. The step in softness is apparent compared to the all FF Blast Plus Eco midsole the Asics Gel Nimbus 26, but apart from that, I can’t really tell much about it. Asics said more details on FF Blast Max will come later so I’m interested to see what they end up revealing about this new super soft foam.

Outsole

There’s not much to say here other than there’s plenty of rubber coverage that appears to be durable. The outsole is almost the same as the Nimbus 26 with more rubber at the medial midfoot and a hexagonal pattern up front that’s elongated in the back (whereas the Nimbus 26 uses a rounded “u” shaped pattern all over).

I don’t anticipate any traction or durability issues. The GlideRide Max is built to last a lot of miles.

Pros

• Plush, comfortable upper
• Soft and squishy midsole
• Highly stable

Cons

• Lack of bounce/pop
• Breathability
• Price

Is the Asics GlideRide Max wide foot friendly?

No, like its predecessors, the Asics GlideRide Max is narrow foot friendly. Wide footers will need to turn to the other stars in the Asics lineup.

Is the Asics GlideRide Max worth $170?

I don’t think so. It’s a solid long run or recovery day shoe that brings the GlideRide feeling back, but I’d have a hard time choosing it over lower priced Asics options like the Novablast 4. The Novablast 4 delivers many of the same benefits (though a lot less midsole foam), more versatility, and a more accommodating fit for only $140.

Asics GlideRide Max Summary

As a big time GlideRide fan, I wanted to love the Asics GlideRide Max, but I just didn’t. There’s not enough value or fun factor to get me to pay the $170 asking price. It’s a GlideRide experience for sure, but it’s lost some of the allure. It’s a long run shoe for runners with feet that run narrow, and while it will serve that use case well, I wish it was slightly more versatile.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While Asics did send a pair of the GlideRide Max to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.