ASICS’ newest plated shoe isn’t just another max cushioned daily trainer; it’s one of the most versatile. I make the case for why it’s also one of the most underrated shoes, in this ASICS Glideride Max review.
The ASICS Glideride Max is a shoe that’s glided under most radars (See what I did there?). You’d be forgiven if you’d never heard of the shoe—well, not by me. I would never pardon such a blunder. There’s simply no excuse not to be familiar with every single one of the hundreds of running shoes on the market. And the thousands of other shoes that were once on the market. Do you even run, bro?
For the unserious runners who weren’t aware of the shoe, there were three versions of the Glideride before ASICS decided to pull a “Brooks,” while inflating the ego of every loser named Max…by adding the word “Max” to the shoe’s name. Real original, ASICS.
Blame it on the max cushion trend…and a lack of creativity. Because if a shoe doesn’t have “Max” in its name, can it even be considered a maximum cushioned shoe?
The Glideride has even glided under the radar of ASICS loyalists (See what I did there, again?), taking a backseat to fan-favorites like the Novablast, Superblast, Gel-Nimbus, Gel-Cumulus, and Metaspeed Sky and Edge. But I’m here today—or, whenever you’re reading scrolling this stellar subpar shoe review, to make the case for why the Glideride Max deserves your attention.
ASICS Glideride Max Review
Weight: 10.2 oz/287 g (US M9) | 9.0 oz/251 g (US W8)
Stack height: M: 44/38 mm | W: 43/37 mm (6 mm drop)
Price: $170
Ride and Midsole
Let’s not bury the lede of this shoe; the Glideride Max has a plate — a ¾ length pressed-EVA plate, sandwiched in between its gigantic midsole foam. Pretty cool, right?! EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) is the most common midsole foam used by companies; it’s also the “missionary position” of midsole foams. Hmm, perhaps it’s not so cool, then.
I mean, it’d be much cooler if it had a carbon fiber plate like in the ASICS Magic Speed and Metaspeed series. And, yes, it’d be so much more dope if it had a nylon plate, like in Saucony’s Endorphin Speed. But an EVA plate is still better than no plate, right? Right?!
While the EVA plate isn’t as propulsive as a carbon fiber plate (duh), it still delivers a great rebound underfoot when paired with the responsive FF BLAST™ MAX foam, which makes its debut. (It also appears in the Novablast 5.) And with an extremely generous stack height of 44/38 mm, there’s plenty of ASICS’ most energetic foam, to date.
Suspiciously, the women’s version sits one millimeter lower at 43/37. So much for gender equality! It’s 2025: we’ve come so far, yet, clearly, we still have so far to go. The peppy midsole provides a soft landing without being mushy like a bowl of overcooked, dry, and flavorless oatmeal. (Isn’t that all oatmeal?)
The rockered sole design, providing smooth toe-offs, is truly the cherry on top for what is quite the efficient ride. The shoe’s geometry and midsole work together beautifully for a pair that can go the distance. The Glideride Max has quickly become one of my go-to long-run shoes during marathon training. I comfortably ran up to 18 miles in the shoe—well, as comfortable as you can be running for 2+ hours.
While it is a plated shoe, not all plates are created equal. So much for plate equality! Again, it’s 2025: we’ve come so far, yet, clearly, we still have so far to go. While the combo of the lively foam and plate make it easier to pick up the pace, the Glideride Max isn’t a shoe I’ll do speed work in; it’s a bit too heavy for tempo runs. Besides, I always lace up carbon fiber plated shoes for those faster days; it’s just so much easier.
Upper
A dreamy, engineered mesh upper paired with an OrthoLite™ X-55 sockliner provide great step-in comfort and a secure lock-down from the first mile to the last. My only very small gripe here is the annoying pull tab on the gusseted tongue. I mean, c’mon! A tongue pull tab?!
My opinion on heel pull tabs has been well documented over the years—namely, they’re asinine and tacky. Two pull tabs on one shoe is overkill. Hell, one pull tab on a shoe is overkill—they’re useless! All they do is add weight! It’s not hard to put on and remove running shoes—if you need help with this, you shouldn’t be running. Anyway, the tongue is thin, but supportive.
Outsole
According to ASICS, their HYBRID ASICSGRIP™ outsole combines ASICSGRIP™ rubber and AHARPLUS™ materials to help provide advanced grip for various terrains and advanced durability. Whatever. Who cares—it’s the bottom of the shoe; you can’t even see it while running. Bottom line: there’s a sufficient outsole with solid traction, even in wet conditions.
Weight
For a shoe with such a tall stack height, a plush upper, and a plate, 10.2 ounces for a men’s size 9 is nothing to complain about. Of course, that won’t stop people from whining; some folks just love to hear the sound of their own voice. It’s a shame, because their voice has got quite the nasally, shrill pitch. Think: nails on a chalkboard. The bouncy FF BLAST MAX midsole and EVA plate make the shoe feel a bit lighter than its listed weight.
Price
$170 for a plated shoe is pretty standard; Saucony’s Endorphin Speed 4 is $170, and the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 with a Pebax plate is $180—although, I argue it should also be $170. On a scale of soft to firm, the Glideride Max sits in the middle, between the softer Endorphin Speed and firmer Hyperion Max. The Glideride Max is also the heaviest of the trio, and perhaps the “slowest.”
Sure, $170 is still a yacht-load of money. But when you consider the quality of midsole foam, comfort, durability, and, again, the plate, it’s not an egregious price point. If it were any more expensive, it’d clearly be overpriced. You hear that, ASICS? You better not raise the price of this shoe in the next edition!
Aesthetics
Now we come to the most objective part of a running shoe, and, clearly, the most important: its appearance. The Glideride Max greatly improves upon the look of the previous Glideride editions. It’s a much more modern-looking shoe with stylish colorways to choose from. My Birch/Black model boasts a unique, light green color you rarely see out on the roads. Running is a fashion contest, after all.
Conclusion
There’s one pair in every shoe brand’s lineup that glides under the radar (See what I did there, yet again?). The Glideride Max is that shoe for ASICS. The Gel-Nimbus, Gel-Cumulus, Superblast, and Novablast hog the spotlight, but the Glideride Max deserves some shine. It would benefit greatly from being better marketed as a versatile daily trainer, akin to the aforementioned Endorphin Speed and Hyperion Max.
This is one of the most underrated shoes on the market. It’s a pair that gets no buzz, despite being a max cushioned daily trainer that looks great and performs even better. I have no hesitation lacing this pair up for any distance; it eats up miles in comfort while providing a responsive ride.
The Gideride Max is available on ASICS’ site, or wherever you prefer to empty your wallet on shoes.
ASICS graciously provided this shoe to me at no cost for wear testing. I was not compensated for this ASICS Glideride Max Review and ASICS did not get an opportunity to see this review before I published.
