Asics has already shown us that they can produce safe, lightweight, fast-feeling trainers. So what happens when they try to introduce a natural, not-quite-but-almost-minimalist feel to their shoes?

Disappointing results, if the Asics Gel-Neo33 is any indication. The shoe’s unique engineering offers certain advantages, but not the lightweight, natural ride for which it was designed.

The Feel

The Neo’s midsole may resemble that of the Nike Free, but don’t expect the same flexibility. This shoe offers little more bend than the standard Cumulus, Nimbus, or 2160. I’m hoping that this is a result of the surprisingly stiff medial post, and that the other shoes in the 33 line are a little more yielding.

But the 33-style midsole isn’t without merit. Its flatness allows it to make contact with the ground along its entire length. This means a stable, smooth ride. It also makes for great road feel.

The Look

Supercool, especially in the Blue/Limeade colorway.

The Fit

The Neo’s upper is meant to lock feet down, but it does its job just a little too well. It takes lots of tinkering with the laces to keep the shoe from pinching the bridge of the foot. This is far from the barely-there feeling that performance and minimalist shoes usually provide. Once the laces are properly adjusted, though, rest assured that they will not slip.

This shoe also seems to run a little narrower in the toebox than most Asics. Longtime Asics wearers may have to go up half a size to fit into it.

The Bottom Line: The Neo’s weight and fit lands closer to a standard trainer than the performance shoe it’s meant to be.

The Mizuno Waverider has many fans. Over the last 15 years, it’s provided runners a smooth, light and surprisingly cushy feeling.

So it’s surprising to see how quietly the most recent iteration launched. The Wave Rider 15, which most retailers won’t carry until mid-November, is already available to east-coast runners.

You can buy the newest ‘Rider at City Sports– a full month earlier than anywhere else.

Read Rod Foley (Mizuno USA’s Footwear Director)’s breakdown on the City Sports blog.

Many runners (myself included) felt dissapointed by this shoe’s 14th iteration; until last year, the ‘Rider was famous for its lightweight, natural feel– and its Mizuno fit. These runners will be happy to know that the Wave Rider 15 has returned to its roots.

On testing the shoe, I found that the toe box is wider than the 14th version (though not as baggy as the 13′s). Mizuno also lowered the profile and dropped the heel, restoring their beloved “go fast” feel.

If you’ve loved past versions of this shoe, or if you’re looking for a zippier long-distance trainer, the Wave Rider 15 is an excellent choice. You can try it now at certain City Sports locations.

When these guys appeared on the shoe wall at my sports store, I knew I would need a pair. I had already heard good things about their efficiency and comfort. Actually seeing them, though, I fell in love. They look like little samurai retainers, appropriate since “musha” is japanese for “warrior.”

I didn’t just buy them for the asthetics, however. I’ve been searching for new performance shoes for my shorter workouts and, of course, for The Broadstreet Run. The Green Silence is a good shoe, but my own pair give me blisters. I need the classic Mizuno fit, and I wanted to see how the waveplate technology works in a racing shoe.

I took them on their first road test yesterday, and they performed well. I like how smooth they feel, even though they lack the bounciness of the ‘Silences. I also favor a slightly stiffer forefoot in performance shoes; while the Musha is far from rigid, it’s not as flexible as, say, the T5, Kinvara, or Free. This means less comfort but a quicker snap-off in my stride– something to help a turtle with turnover.

Ever since I was so disappointed by the most recent iteration of the Asics Cumulus, I’ve been running in the Mizuno Wave Rider. I’ve put enough mileage on these babies that I feel prepared for an official review:

Pros:

It’s Lightweight: Runner’s World categorizes the Riders as a performance shoe. I wouldn’t go that far, but at 10.4 oz., it’s extremely light. Most shoes with similar cushioning weigh 2-3 oz. more (doesn’t sound like a lot, but you’ll feel the difference).

The smooth ride: I couldn’t believe how fluid my feet felt through the gait cycle when I ran in these. The Cumulus isn’t a clompy shoe, but these made them seem like wooden clogs.

The fit: Mizuno has been tricking out most of its shoes with independent eyelets, special mesh on the upper, and a special tongue in order to eliminate pressure points. In short, it’s worked.

Cons:

It’s bad for heavier runners: There just isn’t enough shoe underfoot for heavy (200+ lb) runners. At 190 lbs, I feel like I’m pushing the shoe’s capabilities. If you have a plodding pace and/or extra pounds, look elsewhere.

It’s uncomfortable when you’re not running: As unobtrusive as these shoes are when you run, the opposite is true when you stand or walk. Uncomfortable may be too strong a word, but you’ll certainly be aware of them on your feet.

Bottom line: These shoes will make even a turtle feel zippy, though heavier runners will need more cushioning.

After 5 years of reliable service, the Asics Cumulus has finally let me down. Or at least, the newest model has. Up until now, the shoe has performed great, taking me through season after season of training. But this new model has been such a pain that I’ve decided to call it quits… At least until Asics fixes one important problem.

First, the good stuff:

1. The Gel. As is the case with any Asics running shoe (at least, those costing more than $85), this shoe’s heel is chock-full of gel. It’s heavier than the foam that fills most of the midsole, but it works wonders for attenuating shock. I’m a heavy distance runner and a heavier heel-striker. Switching over to the Cumulus years ago gave me the shock absorption I need, and my poor shins rejoiced.

2. The Cushioning. The entire interior (say that ten times fast) of the Cumulus is lined with memory foam. The result is extremely plush, soft-feeling cushioning. The Asics Gel allows for this without a decrease in shock-absorption; compare this with many Adidas shoes, which have such soft cushioning– with nothing below it– that heavier runners aren’t protected from the impact of running.

3. The Trusstic System. Many other shoes have something similar to Asics’ Trusstic system, but it’s worth mentioning here. The Trusstic System is a rigid plastic shank that connects the heel to the forefoot of the shoe. It’s meant to keep the foot from twisting too much or too little; amongst other things, this prevents the knee injuries to which I’m prone.

4. The price. The Cumulus runs about $100 in most stores. For some runners, that no doubt sounds expensive. But compare this to the very similar Asics Nimbus or Saucony Triumph, both of which are usually $20-30 more expensive.

Now, the bad:

1. Gel defects. Most runners never experience this, but it does deserve mention here. Any shoes containing Asics Gel has a low chance of being defective (when I say low, I mean that it’s only happened to me once in about 20 pairs; this is probably high compared to the runnerwide average). This defect allows water or air to get into the chamber which usually holds the gel. I haven’t noticed any difference in the shock-attenuating abilities of the shoe, but it does squeak. It sounds nit-picky, but imagine 20+ mile runs, in the silence of morning, with one squeaky shoe.

2. The profile.

The newest iteration, number 12, has a profile cut to make room for the calceneus (the bone that sticks out on the sides of your ankle). Sounds like a good idea, right? But the profile was raised dramatically in the back of the shoe. This makes the Cumulus about as effective as high-top basketball sneakers when one is doing repeats. Worse yet, it has been shredding my socks and blistering the skin underneath. It took me forever to figure out why my achilles suddenly began sporting such extensive abrasions.

Imagine my disappointment when the culprit turned out to be the faithful Cumulus, my running partner of so many seasons. This is the reason why the Cumulus and I have parted ways (at least temporarily). It isn’t a bad shoe. Quite the opposite; it’s a great shoe with one very fixable problem. Asics, if you hear me, please give me my favorite shoes back.