Asics Gel Pulse 9 Running Shoes Review

It has been almost three months since I received brand new kicks from Asics South Africa. Since then, I have literally been gliding on the road in the Asics Gel Pulse 9.

 

The shoes have so far helped me to effortlessly hit two personal 5k bests. I have covered a distance of 45 kilometres thus far in these shoes and now feel that at this point, I can share with you a thorough review of Asics Gel Pulse 9.

 

If I were asked on the spot to summarise my experience with the Asics Gel Pulse 9, I would say that it is an affordable, practical, beautifully lightweight and comfortable shoe built for short to medium distances runs. Now, let’s get into a detailed Asics Gel Pulse 9 running shoes review.

 

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Breaking in the Shoes

 

 

 

My normal shoe size is 7 (UK 41, US 8). When Asics asked me what my shoe size is, my answer was size 8 because I usually go one size up when buying running shoes although it is often recommended that one goes half a size bigger.

 

 

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Straight out of the box, the shoes were very tight- I had to double-check the size label to see if I had indeed received size 8. Despite being tight at first, the shoes didn’t take a long time to break-in.

 

I walked around my house in the shoes for a couple of hours the first day and the second time I wore my Gel Pulse 9s, I walked for less than a kilometre around my bock. After that, the shoes did feel loose and comfortable enough to run in.

 

 

Quick Tip: You should never run a race in new shoes. You need to break in your new running shoes by walking around in them until they are loose enough for a run.

 

5 Things I loved about the  Asics Gel Pulse 9

 

1. Colour

 

First of all, the colour of my shoes (porcelain blue, white and Victoria blue) is simply beautiful, it was really love at first sight with this pair. I understand that we all have different tastes and if this colour doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are five other stunning colours available in the women’s range that you can choose from.

 

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2. Grip

 

The grip on the Asics Gel Pulse 9 is totally impressive. On one of the days that I ran in the shoes, it had just rained and so the ground was quite wet.

 

In the past, I have owned shoes that just make it really hard to run on wet ground. The Gel Pulse 9 is one of those superior shoes that you can run in, come rain, come sunshine. I experienced no slipping or sliding while running on the wet tarmac. Pure bliss!

 

 

3. Fit/Breathability

 

Breathability and fit are some of the important factors that can make or break a running shoe.  The Asics Gel Pulse 9 upper is partly air mesh and partly synthetic leather.

 

The light mesh allows for ample airflow, while the synthetic leather holds the mesh together, giving it that ‘snuggly hug’ kind of fit that prevents any kind of sliding inside the shoe.

 

4. Comfort

 

The cushioning in the Asics Gel Pulse 9 is neither thick nor light. The shoe has just the right amount of cushioning needed to absorb impact during the runs, as well as provide overall comfort.

 

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You might want to know that the Gel Pulse 9 has Asics’ signature GEL in the heel of the shoes for superior shock absorption combined with the SpEVA midsole which gives the runner a comfortable cushioned ride.

 

 

5. Insole

 

Another thing I loved is that the insoles are not glued to the shoes so if at any point you feel that the need to remove and replace them with podiatrist recommended insoles, you can easily do so.

 

Cons

 

While I really love, love the Gel Pulse 9, I have to also say that this shoe might not be the one for you if you have fairly wide feet because it runs a bit small. Other than that, there are no other disadvantages to this shoe.

 

Where to buy Asics Gel Pulse 9

 

If you are in South Africa, TotalSports or Sportsmans Warehouse are the lead stockists of the Gel Pulse 9 as well as all other Asics shoes.

 

You can also buy the Asics Gel Pulse 9 and any other Asics running shoes on Amazon.

 

My final thoughts

 

If you are a beginner or short distance runner, this is the best running shoe for you. I can assure you that you will have plenty of happy rides in the Asics Gel Pulse 9.

 

I would like to hear your thoughts. Are you a short distance runner? What do you look for when buying your running shoes? Let me know in the comments section.