ASICS Slowcush Review - Max Stack Cushion
The ASICS Slowcush is a big, soft, comfortable max-stack shoe that absolutely nails what it was built for: recovery runs and easy miles. It has just gone on sale, and it is aimed squarely at the days when you want your running to feel as easy as possible.
It is also, without question, the most orange shoe I have ever been sent. Oddly, I've grown to like it. Some people will look at a shoe this big and call it a walking shoe, but this review is about how it performs as a running shoe.
Specs
The Slowcush costs £185 and is available at sportsshoes.com. It runs a huge 48mm stack at the heel and 40mm at the forefoot, giving an 8mm drop.
The midsole uses FlyteFoam Lux Plus, a new compound, with a small PureGEL insert in the heel. Underfoot is hybrid ASICSGRIP rubber, and up top is a soft, stretchy knit upper with a stretchy pull tab at the back.
My pair is a UK 9.5, which fits true to size and weighs 310g. The base is very wide, and lockdown is decent. Its closest rivals are max-stack cruisers like the Mizuno Sky Prime and the Saucony Paramount Max.
Foam and ride
The new foam is soft and comfortable, and its job is protecting your legs, not returning energy. ASICS won't say exactly what's in it, only that it isn't EVA.
The brief is simple: a smooth ride that saves your legs and joints after a full week of training. With 48mm under the heel, ASICS has clearly worked hard on stability, and it shows.
The PureGEL in the heel stays from previous ASICS models. Honestly, I don't notice it at all, but it can only add to the shoe. From the top, the Slowcush looks a lot like the Nimbus, yet I find its fit and overall comfort nicer than the Nimbus.
Performance
The Slowcush arrived just as I started my taper, so I've used it exactly as intended. Almost all my miles in it have been easy runs at around 8:30 per mile or slower, and it has soaked them up beautifully.
For a shoe this size, it is remarkably smooth. It also feels noticeably lighter on foot than its 310g suggests, which surprised me given how much shoe there is.
When marathon training starts again next year, this is the shoe I'll reach for on a four-to-six-mile run the day after a long run or a race. Hand on heart, running in it through my taper has been a real pleasure.
What I like
The foam is the star. It isn't overly soft, just the right blend for an easy, recovery-focused shoe, and with this much of it underfoot the comfort is spot on.
As with nearly every ASICS shoe I've worn, the Mega Blast aside, the fit and feel are excellent. I've had no rubbing or hot spots at all.
The ASICSGRIP outsole has been great too. I ran in it in pouring rain without a problem, and wear at my usual spot is minimal so far.
Stability deserves real credit. Making a shoe this tall feel stable is hard; compare it with something like the New Balance More, which is far less stable. The step-in feel is lovely, and I don't mind the look either.
What I don't like
The biggest drawback is the £185 price. Affiliated members of my running club get 15% off at sportsshoes.com, which brings it down a fair bit.
The upper is a little too thick for me. It's still warm here in the UK, and my feet have run hot. The laces aren't the best either, and the stretchy knit tongue could be improved, though neither is a deal-breaker.
My last point is versatility. This is very much an easy-day shoe, and at £185 you'd want a bit more range. In fairness, I've only used it for taper miles, and I suspect you could pick the pace up in it a little.
How it compares
Its closest rival is the Mizuno Sky Prime, and I'll say which I prefer in my review of that shoe. Against the Saucony Paramount Max, I prefer the Slowcush.
It's a slightly unfair comparison, but the Puma MagMax Nitro is the more versatile option, because its Nitro foam really lets you pick up the pace. The Slowcush stays firmly in its easy-and-recovery niche.
Verdict
The Slowcush is simply a good shoe. It's extremely comfortable, the foam is soft and smooth without being unstable, the fit and width are excellent, and it stays stable despite 48mm of stack.
Only two things hold it back: the price and maybe the name. I think it should have been called the Nimbus Max. As it stands, it may cannibalise the Nimbus, which now sits awkwardly as a max-stack daily trainer, so I'm curious what ASICS does with the next version.
At £185 it's pricey, but so are its rivals, and these shoes tend to get discounted. If you can get it cheaper, it's well worth grabbing for recovery and easy miles. As a self-confessed max-stack addict, it's also the shoe I'll slip on after a marathon for the trip to the airport. You can get discounts on your next running shoe purchase at Sportsshoes.com by either becoming an affiliated club member with FORDY RUNS Running Club where you will get 15% off or you can join the club for free and get 10% off your next purchase by getting our latest discount code from our website
