Asics Gel Resolution 8 Men's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.6

Stepping into this latest edition of the Gel Resolution, our playtesters found a familiar feel with a slight upgrade in out-of-the-box comfort. Jason appreciated the fact that these shoes offered a comfortable fit for his wider feet. He said, "I typically need a break-in period with Gel Resolution shoes. Even though this latest version still required one, it was much shorter. It took about 30 minutes to an hour before the shoes felt optimally comfortable. The fit was fine for me even though it was regular width because the uppers were soft enough to stretch and accommodate my wider feet. The Gel underfoot continues to provide excellent cushioning, and now with the addition of Flyte Foam, the shoes feel plush and responsive."

Chris was able to hit the ground running with no comfort issues. He said, "I loved the comfortable ride I found in the Gel Resolution 8s. I was able to play in them right out of the box and let them break in on court. The uppers felt more flexible in the vamp area, and it felt like they flexed and moved with my feet better. As always with Asics shoes, the level of cushioning was excellent. My arches felt well supported, and I had no aches or strains. When it came to fit, I thought the shoes felt similar to the Gel Resolution 7s in that the length fit was roomy and the width a true medium."

Mark found a slightly more forgiving fit with this latest edition. He explained, "In terms of fit, the Gel Resolution 8s are not much different from the prior version. However, the upper on the 8s is a little more supple. As a result, they did not require any sort of break-in period for me. In fact, the upper was elastic enough for me to rethink my sizing for these shoes, and if I did this test all over again, I would probably go down a half size. From my first step into the Gel Resolution 8s, the comfort level was top notch. As far as the arch, its medium height is about the same as previous models of the Gel Resolution, and although our test for this shoe was during the winter months, I can still give it high marks in the ventilation category."

Troy ended up going down a half size, but he found that the overall comfort stayed true to the Gel Resolution name. He said, "As soon as I slipped these shoes on, I knew that my feet were in a familiar and comfortable place. When it came to fit, I was actually surprised to find them slightly long. I tried them on and walked around for a few minutes before deciding that I should go down a half size. Besides that, they felt nice and snug, but I could tell that the upper material was softer and more pliable than with the previous version. The insole, midsole and rubber outsole came together to provide me the well-padded and comfortable ride that I have come to expect from Gel Resolutions. The uppers of these shoes not only offered more comfort and flexibility, but they also breathed a bit better than the Gel Resolution 7. Other than going down a half size, this update was a great fit for me, and the comfort was right up there with the best Gel Resolutions; it might actually be the most comfortable Gel Resolution yet."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.7

With an updated upper that includes a Dynawrap and Dynawall construction to enhance its locked-in feel, the Gel Resolution 8s excel when it comes to support and stability. Chris said, "The support and stability were excellent in the Gel Resolution 8s. I found the shoes to feel sturdier on court than the Court FF 2s, but not quite as fast. I had zero issues sliding around inside the shoes and was able to get a fully locked-in fit. I loved how the Dynawrap system cinched the shoes around the forefoot of my feet to give me a very secure ride. Lateral stability was excellent, and I liked how the shoes gave me a solid base to push off of when I was looking to change directions."

Troy agreed with Chris' assessment, adding, "As with most iterations of the Gel Resolution that I have tried, this update made my feet feel very locked-in and supported. I was really glad that I decided to go down a half size because after a couple of wears these shoes broke-in and supported my feet perfectly. Lateral stability was more than enough for my movement. The addition of Dynawall was a nice touch for these shoes. It seemed to allow the uppers to be pliable and comfortable while adding a solid amount of lateral support. I felt like these shoes were going to support me no matter how much force I applied while moving and changing directions. I never had to think or worry about the support and stability."

The updated technologies gave Mark solid footing while still allowing him to feel light on his feet. He said, "The Gel Resolution tennis shoes have always been among my favorites since I still depend on my movement to stay in and win points. The Dynawall and Dynawrap technologies help provide a high degree of support and stability while still maintaining a lightweight feel."

As a player who will chase down every ball, Jason enjoyed the Gel Resolution 8's improved, locked-in feel. He said, "The addition of the Dynawall on the lateral side has made an already stable shoe even more so. That's what I loved about these shoes the most. They felt super stable when I was moving laterally, even when I was sliding out. I've always had an issue with heel slippage with these models, and I felt it again with the Gel Resolution 8s, but all I needed to do was use the last eyelet and the slippage was no longer an issue."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.4

The Gel Resolution family has always been known for its solid durability, and with a six-month outsole durability guarantee, it's hard to find any faults in this category. Troy found the outsole life duration of the Gel Resolution 8s to be similar to past iterations. He said, "Like with most Gel Resolutions I have tried, the overall outsole durability was good. These are about as durable a shoe as you will find on the market. It seemed like the rubber compound was a bit softer than the Gel Resolution 7s, and it made the shoe flex a bit easier while sprinting. However, durability was very similar to the Gel Resolution 7s. There is a significant amount of protection at the tip of the shoe to protect against toe-dragging. I would put these shoes right up there with the adidas SoleCourt Boost and the Babolat Propulse Fury AC when it comes to having a sturdy outsole."

"I thought the durability was right on par with other Gel Resolution shoes," Jason added. "Which is to say, it's great. Because I loved wearing these to play, I put a good amount of hours (18+) on them, yet there's still lots of tread left. Thanks to the six-month durability guarantee, those who are really harsh on their shoes can rest easy."

Chris' comments mirrored those of his fellow playtesters. He said, "My pair of Gel Resolution 8s held up very well. I found a similar amount of wear on the outsole under the big toe of my right foot that I found in the Gel Resolution 7s. The uppers and toe tips held up equally well. If you've worn any of the past three versions of the Gel Resolution family, you should expect just as much durability here."

Mark noticed some subtle wear in the toes after putting a significant number of hours on his shoes, but not enough to hinder play. He said, "I have about 25 hours of play in my pair of Resolution 8s, and the toe area of the outsole is becoming smooth, but I still have a ways to go before I can redeem that sole warranty."

Traction - Score: 4.6

For the eighth iteration of the Gel Resolution, Asics updated the outsole with full ground contact and AHAR+ rubber in a modified herringbone pattern. This provided our playtesters with a winning balance of grab and give, as well as good traction maintenance. Mark put the shoes to the test on a variety of courts, and he had no issues. He said, "The tread pattern and outsole rubber compound of the Gel Resolution 8s are pretty similar to the prior iteration, which is another reason I enjoyed this playtest so much. Our indoor court is slow and gritty, but other local courts are not as slow and not always clean. That said, Asics' latest Gel Resolution 8 adapted well to every hard court I played on, providing me with the proper blend of grip versus slip."

Chris found a good amount of stick, but with some leeway for sliding. He explained, "The level of grip was pretty solid in these shoes. I was able to get plenty of traction on quick starts and changes of direction. There was more traction compared to the Court FF 2s, which are better for sliding out of shots. I was still able to slide easily in the Gel Resolution 8s, but slightly more commitment was required to get them to break free."

The Gel Resolution 8s provided Troy with just enough traction to stay in complete control of his on-court movement. He said, "As I mentioned in the durability section, the outsole felt slightly softer than the Gel Resolution 7 outsole. I loved the traction on these shoes, so I felt very much in command of how well I could brake and take off again. They weren't so sticky that stops felt harsh, nor were they too slick. As I wore these shoes and the tread wore down a bit, they felt just as good and maintained traction throughout the playtest."

Jason enjoyed being able to slide in and out of shots while still feeling grounded. He described, "These are probably on the slicker end of the traction spectrum, but I loved that about them. There was still all the grip that I needed when I was taking off for a ball, but when I was trying to change direction quickly, these shoes allowed me to slide to a stop easily."

Weight - Score: 4.3

On the scale, the Gel Resolution 8s weigh in slightly heavier than the 7s. However, none of the playtesters found it a hindrance, rather, it added to the solid nature of the shoes. Jason summed it up, saying, "Don't judge these shoes by their static weight. Once I put them on and hit the court, the weight was never an issue. Are there lighter feeling shoes out there? Yes. But these don't feel cumbersome or clunky at all. With as much stability and durability as they offer, the added weight is to be expected."

After spending time with both the Gel Resolution 7s and 8s on his feet, Troy wasn't able to notice much of a weight difference on court. He explained, "Sometimes the specifications of racquets and shoes don't always translate to how they feel on court. That was the case for me with these Gel Resolution 8s, which came in slightly heavier than the Gel Resolution 7s, but felt just as light, if not lighter. I still wear my Gel Resolution 7s quite often, so it was an easy side-by-side comparison. I think they felt just as light because the uppers and soles of these shoes flexed more easily. There wasn't as much of a break-in compared to the Gel Resolution 7s."

Chris felt the weight distribution gave him a stable ride without weighing him down. He said, "The Gel Resolution 8s felt substantial on court. I wouldn't call them heavy, but I definitely got the sense that I had more shoe under me compared to the Court FF 2s and Solution Speed FFs. With that said, I moved well in these shoes. The weight that is in the Gel Resolution 8s felt like it was put to good use in creating a durable and stable ride."

Mark added, "These shoes are a little heavier than the Gel Resolution 7s, but even though it was something I noticed, it did not all hinder my movement. To me, the new Gel Resolution 8s felt more complete and more plush than prior models. In terms of playing in a lightweight shoe at the expense of comfort, I will always err on the side of comfort. With the Gel Resolution 8s, I did not have to make much of a sacrifice to get both."

Overall - Score: 4.5