Asics Gel 1080 £65

Hi!

Anyone out there tried 2080s which were out a few days ago? I'll be going to a running shop where there'll be the first ones I ask to try, but any early feedback would be good :-)

Thanks, Iain
Posted: 06/12/2002 at 16:06

Hiya - I've just bought a pair of 2080's and 2070's today (so that I can take them home and compare) and I must admit I really prefer the 2070's. The 2080's have stability (don't really like the look) but the 2070 seems to have the same stability but with more cushioning...
Posted: 30/12/2002 at 19:32

I mean 2080's and 1080's. (I prefer the 1080's)...
Posted: 30/12/2002 at 19:33

Thanks Robyn - just in time too - I'm going up the the running shop tomorrow :-)

I always find it tricky to compare shoes - the old ones are almost by definition pretty worn out and wouldn't feel the same as a new pair of the same ones, and new ones take a while to wear in.

Any comment on the fit? I've got the wider fitting 2070s, and while I like the wider toe box, the heel is quite loose on me.


Posted: 30/12/2002 at 21:06

Well - I've got what my friends like to describe as "elephant feet" so I can definately relate to wide!! I found the 1080's fit a little more snug which I like (not tight), and the width seems to be constant throughout. The 2080's however only seem (to me) to be broader in the toe which I don't really like as I then tend to move around in front area. The 1080s feel more secure with more cushioning. I don't know if you were aware but Asics do come in width sizes too but I found the "D" (which is the wider fit) to be too loose so I stuck to regular fit. Do you know that you can affect the tightness of the heel with the way you do your laces..?
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 09:23

i have decided for the first time in my life to stick with what I like! A pair of Kayano VIII's for £70! Cheaper (don't know whether they're better!) than the 2080 by five whole English pounds!
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 10:28

Ha, ha...scrooge! I 've just been in Runners Needs at Liverpool Street and the latest Kayano's are going for £105 but they are VERYY NICE!!!! Just as well I didn't see them yesterday when I was in a spending mood!
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 10:37

Mrs Fox bought me the new Kayano 9's for Christmas - 95 quid mail order from Start Fitness in Newcastle, next morning delivery and excellent service. Noticeably comfier ride, slightly lower in the ankle/cradle but much improved on the Kayano 8's (previous shoes, also excellent). Reading other threads on the Kayano's it seems the 8's were less populat than the 7's but the 9's have been well reviewed.

Didn't recomend them to Iain as this shoe lark gets very technical and the 2080 is not in the same category as the Kayano according to RW definitions. But as an untechnical user they're fantastic!

Apologies if Kayano users have hijacked the 2080's thread!
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 10:56

Well... Kayanos are in the same catagory so ner!
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 11:06

Hi Jon. Got the mag wrong - Running Fitness has one as Support and the other as Motion Control (don't know which way round and wouldn't really know the difference). This was news to me but doesn't change the comfort I suppose. Too bad Iain's going to get back from the shops and find he's only got 2nd best eh?




Posted: 31/12/2002 at 11:17

Well... The Kayano was supposed to be the more supportive big brother of the 2000 series I think... Still ain't quite motion control though!
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 11:29

Back from teh shops - ended up going for the 1080s after all! I wish I'd read this thread more carefully beforehand as I was thinking you'd been praising the 2080 over the 1080, and was unsure about my choice!

I don't need that much anti pronation, so they should be okay, and one factor which persuaded me was the fact that the forefoot in the 1080s is more flexible. I (and several other people down my club) had a lot of trouble with the 2070 because of this, even though we liked the 2060 (forefoot is more flexible in that too).

I also liked the fit on the heel better, although it wasn't that much of an issue. I solved it on the 2080s by loop lacing - thanks for the tip on that, even though I did know it, it was kind of you to pass the info on :-)

Oh well - we'll see how they suit me in practice in a few weeks - going to try them out on the treadmill for a while before venturing outdoors, and then see how I get on with them over 20 miles!! That's a hell of a difference from running up and down Palmer Street a couple of times, although that's a lot better than just running in a shop!

A big thumbs up to Run and Become, they were enormously patient, gave plenty of advice without being over directive, and even gave me the benefit of the doubt over a credit note. Basically the pair of shoes I returned had been credited at full value, whereas I strongly suspect I got 10% discount on them (couldn' swear to it, but it made sense) so the credit note should have been for that price - 10% lower. I was quite happy to accept that but they insisted on giving me the full value.

Anyone know why they never have male assistants?
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 14:02

I bought some yesterday from Sweatshop, Reading. Asked for motion control (as I'm a flat footed overpronator!) shoes - tried on New Balance 854 and 2080. Bought both to try for a change (currently in Brooks Ariel but find these very heavy although the support is good but I seem to run like an elephant in them, ie whole foot comes down at once!).

Hope to get out for a short run in them sometime in the next couple of days.

CC
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 14:04

Whoohoo - that's exactly where I bought my 1080's yesterday (Run and Become)! 1080's take charge of the forum again.... :-)
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 14:14

Just felt a bit odd buying what seems like the "poor relation" of the two.
Posted: 31/12/2002 at 14:43

Hi, got a pair of 2080s for xmas,so far so good,my last pair of runners were air max, 2080s are lighter and let in more air in.
Posted: 06/01/2003 at 01:25

Got the 2080s just before Crimbo and I like them. Also using NB 845s at the moment which seem a bit more stable so I'm using them for the muddier stuff of Jan & then the 2080s will earn their keep when the road races kick in next month.
Posted: 06/01/2003 at 12:34

I took my 2080s out for their maiden voyage yesterday (kill or cure for my cold/sinuses!). A lot lighter than my current shoes but support seemed OK and not too obtrusive. Should have done a shorter run than 5 miles though! Think I will do 10Ks etc in the 2080s and keep my heavier motion control shoes for long runs. Also, I have trail shoes for offroad/cross country etc so think I've got all bases covered!

CC
Posted: 06/01/2003 at 13:26

I also got some 2080's for Christmas. Ive already got 2070's but they didnt have any in my size so I thought I would give the 2080's a go. Took them out for a 7.5 miler the other day and they felt fine.

However, I have to have a rant about the shop. Got them from Sports Shoes in Bradford and the guy who sold them to me kept trying to persuade me to go for the Gel Kayanos. Ive had advice on buying trainers a few times before and not once has a Gel Kayano been recommended, I always seem to be pointed towards the 2060 / 70 / 80 range. I really get the feeling that he just wanted me to stump up the extra £30. Now thats not what I expect from a running shop. Im back down south now so Ill go somewhere I trust next time.
Posted: 06/01/2003 at 17:01

I've run in Asics for 15 years. The 2080s are the best version of the 2000 series yet. They offer a broader forefoot than the 2070s which provides noticibly more forefoot cushioning than the 2070s. The Kayano is a good shoe and is built on the same last as the 2000 series and contains more cushioning, but it won't last any longer than the 2080 (more cushioning does not make a shoe more durable)and it's considerably more expensive. I do run in the Kayano for long runs. The 2080 is a winner. Happy running :)
Posted: 06/01/2003 at 21:31

Hi
Just bought a pair of 2080's
Done 1 and a half mile around the house and they seem the best asics yet!
Posted: 14/01/2003 at 20:20